Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

There’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own snacks from scratch—especially when they taste better and are healthier than store-bought. These homemade chewy granola bars are chewy, toasty, and packed with flavor. They're super customizable and a great way to reduce waste in your kitchen by using up whatever mix-ins you have on hand.

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Delicious homemade granola bars packed with oats, seeds, nuts, and chocolate chips, freshly cut and ready to enjoy.

Why Make Your Own Granola Bars?

Store bought granola bars may be convenient, but they often come with added preservatives, excess sugar, and unnecessary packaging. Making your own at home gives you so many advantages:

• Clean ingredients: You know exactly what’s going in, no weird additives or hidden corn syrup.

• Customizable: Tailor them to your dietary needs (gluten-free, nut-free, vegan) and flavor preferences.

• Cost-effective: Homemade bars are much cheaper per serving than premium store-bought ones.

• Eco-friendly: Less packaging waste, especially if you store them in reusable containers.

• Fun to make: It’s a great kitchen project with kids or a satisfying weekend prep ritual.

  
  

Once you realize how easy and delicious homemade bars are, you'll never want to go back to the boxed kind!

A homemade granola bar, rich with chocolate chips, nuts, and seeds, is held up, showcasing a freshly cut batch on parchment paper in the background.

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

 Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups rolled oats

• ½ cup chopped nuts (like almonds, pecans, walnuts)

• ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey

• ¼ cup butter

• ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon salt

Optional Add-ins:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• Chia seeds or flax seeds

• Chocolate chips

• Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds

• Dried fruit like cranberries or raisins

Tip: Add about ½ to 1 cup total of mix-ins depending on how loaded you like your bars.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8- or 9-inch square pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal.

2. Toast oats & nuts: Spread oats and chopped nuts on a baking sheet and toast for 8–10 minutes, until lightly golden. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

3. Make the syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, maple syrup (or honey), coconut sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir frequently until the butter is melted and sugar is fully dissolved.

4. Mix: Pour the warm syrup over the toasted oats and nuts. Stir well until everything is coated evenly. Let the mixture cool slightly if adding chocolate chips.

5. Press into pan: Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan. Use a spatula, piece of parchment, or the back of a measuring cup to firmly press the mixture into an even layer. This step is key to getting bars that hold together.

6. Chill: Place the pan in the fridge and chill for at least 2 hours, or until set.

7. Cut: Lift out the chilled slab and slice into 12 bars with a sharp knife.

Storage

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

• For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

  
  

Freshly baked granola with chocolate chips sits cooling on a baking sheet, with a rustic egg shelf in the background.

The Recipe:

Did you try making this Homemade Chewy Granola Bars? We’d love to see your creations! Tag us on Instagram at Thesproutinghomestead or leave a comment below to let us know how they turned out. Happy snacking!