Love and Lemons Homemade Granola Bars
Chewy, nutty and delicious homemade granola bars made with oats, nut butter, honey, pepitas and mini-chocolate chips a healthy snack or quick breakfast that’s easy to make at home.
Equipment
- 8x8 Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
Nut Butter
- 1 cup very smooth creamy natural peanut butter (or cashew butter)
Sweetener & Flavor
- ⅔ cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp sea salt (heaping)
Dry Base
- 2½ cups whole rolled oats
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons pepitas (or crushed peanuts or cashews)
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the peanut (or cashew) butter, honey, vanilla extract, and sea salt until smooth.
- Add the rolled oats, mini chocolate chips, and pepitas (or nuts). The mixture might seem dry at first keep stirring until everything is incorporated.
- Press the mixture firmly into the parchment-lined pan. Use a second piece of parchment and the back of a measuring cup to smooth and flatten the top.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Once firm, slice into bars.
- Store bars in the fridge (up to a week) or freeze (up to 2 months). Use parchment paper between layers so bars don’t stick together.
Notes
For vegan bars: use brown rice syrup instead of honey. If using maple syrup, the mixture won’t bind well in that case roll into balls instead of bars (great as energy bites!). To vary mix-ins: shredded unsweetened coconut, chopped dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, dried currants, etc. Keep mix-ins small so bars hold together. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}