Wednesday, 29 April 2020

How to Make Homemade Granola Bars | Super Easy and Versatile Granola Bar Recipe

This homemade granola bar recipe is free of refined sugar, full of protein, delicious, and good for you! They are so easy to make, and you can change up the bars with a variety of delicious add-ins.

This homemade granola bar recipe is free of refined sugar, full of protein, and to top that off, good for you! They are easy to make, and you can vary the bars with a variety of delicious add-ins.

I love eating clean, and I love feeling healthy and full of energy. 

And to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I eat protein-rich meals accompanied by grains and veggies. Wholesome foods and fresh ingredients are what I use to stock our kitchen at home, and I avoid cooking with processed ingredients.

But, let’s get honest here. I can go for a snack just like the next person does. Chocolate, nuts, and dried berries. ← Yum!

So, I’ll say right now that clean eating does not mean that you have to give up snacking. Good-for-you options are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I’ve come up with an extremely tasty recipe you are gonna love. It’s packed full of nuts, is sweetened with dates and raw honey, and includes chocolate morsels.

Yes, you heard right – chocolate! 

These fail-proof bars are easy to make and versatile. You can change up the add-ins whenever you want to vary the flavors. Swapping ingredients is easy. You can work with what you have in the pantry. 

Feel like almonds today? Throw them in. Wanna swap out the pecans for walnuts? Go for it. Dried cranberries? Got it. Everyday ingredients are the name of the game here. Pick and choose as you like!

These homemade granola bars are so GOOD that you’ll want to keep a batch on hand all the time!

Overhead view of ingredients for Homemade Granola Bars, some of the ingredients being raw honey, pepitas, dates, chocolate morsels, peanut butter, and nuts.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS

Making granola bars is pretty straightforward. Especially with this recipe, because you can swap ingredients out at will. If you are looking for a change of flavor, grab your favorite add-ins from the pantry and make the recipe. 

  • Roughly chop the nuts in a food processor and then place in a bowl
  • Process the dates into a paste
  • Add the peanut butter and honey
  • Transfer the mixture to a bowl, stirring in the rolled oats, chocolate morsels, and pepitas
  • Press into an 8×8 inch dish lined with parchment paper
  • Freeze for 15 minutes and cut into bars

Overhead view of a food processor full of nuts, ready to be chopped for the Homemade Granola Bars.
Overhead view of a food processor full of nuts such as almonds and pecans, after they have been chopped.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS GLUTEN-FREE

To ensure the batch of homemade granola bars is gluten-free, be careful to use ingredients that are certified free of gluten. For example, rolled oats are safe for those with gluten intolerance but may be processed in facilities that also deal with barley, rye, and wheat, which are not gluten-free. Look for products that state they are gluten-free. The same goes for your chocolate morsels or any other goodies you want to add.

Overhead image of a bowl of ingredients for the Homemade Granola Bars, including chopped nuts, peanut butter, and chocolate morsels.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS PALEO

To make these incredibly delicious bars Paleo, you’ll have to remove the oats. Oats are a whole-grain food, which makes them a no-no for anyone eating Paleo. Use ground flax seeds or chia seeds as a replacement for the oats. You can also up the amount of add-ins such as coconut.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS VEGAN

To make vegan granola bars, simply replace the quarter cup of raw honey with the same quantity of pure maple syrup. Either one will add just the right amount of sweetness. If you are adding chocolate morsels, purchase a vegan brand. You can also make your own with 100% unsweetened chocolate, coconut butter, and maple syrup.

View of the ingredients for the Homemade Granola Bars in the food processor, with raw honey being poured into the mix.

HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS

These super delicious homemade granola bars store well, and you can double the recipe without a problem at all. Once you have cut the bars (and eaten a couple, of course), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you would like to freeze some of them, you can do so for up to 3 months.

Overhead image of the ingredients for the Homemade Granola Bars, mixed and ready to press into the pan.

Overhead view of Homemade Granola Bars, cut into bars and ready to eat, with chocolate morsels on the parchment paper.
BEST ADD-INS FOR HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS

The more add-ins, the better! To make these awesomely delicious bars, try these in any combination you like!

  • Pecans
  • Walnuts
  • Peanuts
  • Almonds
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Cashews
  • Chocolate
  • Dried apricots, pineapple, mango, apples, and more
  • Coconut
  • Raisins

Overhead view of sliced Homemade Granola Bars on parchment paper, with a hand reaching for one of the bars.
MORE HEALTHY SNACK RECIPES

Looking for more healthy treats? These are some of my favorites:

This homemade granola bar recipe is free of refined sugar, full of protein, and to top that off, good for you! They are easy to make, and you can vary the bars with a variety of delicious add-ins.
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How To Make Homemade Granola Bars

This homemade granola bar recipe is free of refined sugar, full of protein, and to top that off, good for you! They are easy to make, and you can vary the bars with a variety of delicious add-ins.
Course Snack
Cuisine Easy
Keyword granola bars, homemade granola bars
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10 bars
Calories 226kcal
Author Lacey Baier

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup raw pecans
  • 1/3 cup raw peanuts
  • 1/3 cup raw almonds
  • 1/3 cup raw cashews
  • 2 cups pitted dates
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter (or almond butter)
  • 1/4 cup raw honey (or pure maple syrup)
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (uncooked)
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate morsels
  • 2 tbsp raw pepitas

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a food processor, add the raw pecans, peanuts, almonds, and cashews, and pulse several times to roughly chop.  Remove and set aside in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the dates to the food processor, and pulse until broken down into a paste.  Add the peanut butter and honey, and mix until smooth.
  • Transfer the date and peanut butter mixture to the large bowl, and add the remaining ingredients, including the rolled oats, dark chocolate morsels, and pepitas.  Stir to combine.
  • Press the mixture into a square 8x8-inch or similar casserole dish lined with parchment paper until fully pressed and compacted.
  • Transfer to the freezer, and freeze for 15 minutes to solidify.
  • Remove, and divide evenly into 10 bars.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

The post How to Make Homemade Granola Bars | Super Easy and Versatile Granola Bar Recipe appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.



* This article was originally published here

from Merah Hati Cintaku https://ift.tt/2VQdmDj
via MerahHatiCintaku.blogspot.com