At home or on-the-go, these soft baked granola bars are filling and delicious.
Granola bars have been tricky for me in the past. Recipe after recipe they would either completely fall apart or turn out more like dense baked oatmeal than a bar.
But I’ve finally found a perfect balance and these will be our new go-to.
I was paying $9.50 for a box of 4 healthy bars for a minute! Sure, you could buy Chewy Quaker bars or something similar for a lot less, but I’d honestly rather give my kids a homemade fully-sugared chocolate chip cookie for breakfast than hand them one of those.
Luckily these bars are as simple and delicious as homemade chocolate chip cookies but with more nutrition, and cost a fraction of the price of a fancy box of bars to make.
Why We Love These Bars
- Like I said, they save us money
- They are so good my kids literally cheer when they see them on the breakfast table
- They’re healthy homemade snack that’s actually portable
- It’s a one-bowl recipe š
- They only take about half an hour to be ready
- They’re full of nourishing ingredients and so filling
- They’re customizable
This is the part of the post where I’d usually give some tips and tricks, but honestly this recipe is so simple I don’t feel that’s necessary! You really just throw everything in your stand mixer or bowl if you’re using a hand mixer, then spread into your baking pan. One thing to note is that I love to use puffed brown rice in my granola recipes because it gives it an awesome crispy crunch. You can get this at your health food store, places like Whole Foods or Fresh Thyme, or online at Azure Standard or Amazon (this is the kind we get.)
So instead I’ll give you a few ideas for mix-ins to try:
Mix-In Ideas for Soft Baked Granola Bars
- dried cherries
- dried cranberries
- dried blueberries
- orange zest
- lemon zest
- cinnamon
- coconut chips
- crispy almonds or pecans
- pumpkin seeds
- cashews
- sunflower seeds
- chopped dried apricots
- cacao nibs
- collagen peptides! (for protein)
I suggest making these the night before you want them for breakfast, or throwing them together mid-morning for an afternoon snack. You can also make them in the morning and have them for breakfast but the longer you let them cool in the pan, the better they’ll hold together.
Pair them with Greek yogurt and a glass of milk for a protein packed breakfast, or alongside some grass fed beef jerky for a super easy snack.
Grab the printable recipe below or Pin it for later! And for another yummy and healthy breakfast idea, check out my French Toast Casserole recipe.
Healthy Soft Baked Granola Bars
At home or on-the-go, these soft baked granola bars are filling and delicious. Not too crumbly, not too dense, these are the yummiest granola bars ever, and still full of wholesome goodness.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup organic peanut butter or almond butter
- 1/4 cup unrefined virgin coconut oil melted and slightly cooled
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup organic sprouted oats (or whatever oats you have)
- 1 cup flour (I used organic AP, freshly milled would be even more nutritious)
- 1/2 cup puffed brown rice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips and/or other mix-ins
- 4 scoops collagen peptides for added protein (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. and line an 8x8 pan with parchment. Leave some hanging over the edges to allow for easy removal.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, add all ingredients in the order listed (to prevent sticking to the bottom of the bowl), except chocolate chips, and mix with the paddle attachment until combined. You can also use a hand mixer!
- Add the chocolate chips, if using, and any other mix-ins you desire. Gently mix just until incorporated. Avoid over-mixing.
- Spread and press the dough into the baking pan and smooth the top flat, being sure to press into the corners and edges.
- Bake until edges are golden brown and the center is firm. Check at 20 minutes and again at 25 if needed. These bars will set up more as they cool so do not over bake. You want them to be soft!
- Once they are fully baked, remove from oven and allow to cool. For best results, let them cool in the pan for an hour or two, then remove by lifting up parchment paper edges. Cut into squares and enjoy.
Notes
* Adding the ingredients in the listed order will help dough not to stick to the bottom while mixing. This is especially helpful with a stand mixer. Beat the eggs before adding them for even better results.
* If you're using certain mix-ins like lemon zest, orange zest, dried cranberries, etc. it might be better to go with almond butter or even sunflower butter so as not to clash with peanut butter.
* Use a sharp knife when cutting and lift and slice, do not drag, for the cleanest cut and bars that hold together best.
* If you don't want to wait an hour or two to serve, they can be served warm but they won't hold together as well. You'll definitely want a plate, and maybe a fork for stray pieces š
* These would also be delicious crumbled over Greek yogurt bowls.
* Store bars in an airtight container for 3-5 days, not that they'll last that long š
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