These Chewy Homemade Granola Bars are made with less sugar than most store-bought bars (and no refined sugar) and taste 100% better! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
Meet my new favorite homemade granola bar. That’s high praise, since I’ve made a whole lot of homemade granola bars in my day. So why do I keep creating new flavors? Maybe that’s how I keep life interesting. Some people have midlife crises; I create new granola bar recipes.
Seriously, though, I made these because I am 100% in love with the flavor from this Almond Butter Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips recipe and wanted to borrow the almond butter+cinnamon+chocolate chip combo and put it into a lovely portable, healthy- enough-for-breakfast, bar form.
These homemade granola bars are chewy, with a slight crunch from the bits of almonds throughout the bar. It’s not easy to find a store-bought granola bar without any refined sugar, and even the ones that use “evaporated cane juice” typically list it as the first or second ingredient. 
These are sweetened with dates and just 1/4 cup honey. You would never know as they are plenty sweet. (Okay, okay. The chocolate chips add a bit more sugar. What can I say? Chocolate makes everything better. You can always use stevia-sweetened chocolate chips!)
There’s also no flour in these chewy homemade granola bars and they are almost vegan. If you are a strict vegan, you could substitute brown rice syrup or maple syrup for the honey. If nuts are a problem, try substituting sunflower seed butter and using seeds in place of the almonds. I think they’d still be delicious.
Finally, with just seven simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, this is the easiest homemade granola bar recipe you’ll come across. All you need is one bowl and a few minutes to whip these up. I know they’ll be a staple at my house from now on! I hope you will love them, too.
How to Make Chewy Homemade Granola Bars
Step 1: Process the dates and almonds in a food processor until they broken down into a crumb.
Step 2: Transfer the dates and almond mixture into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.
Step 3: Mix the ingredients well.
Step 4: Press the mixture into a 8X8 inch pan lined with parchment paper. Add another piece of parchment paper to the top and press the granola mixture firmly into the pan.
Step 5: Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely before slicing.
Easy and delicious, you can’t go wrong with these Chewy Homemade Granola Bars!
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Chewy Homemade Granola Bars
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 bars 1x
Description
Chewy and flavorful, these homemade granola bars will make you never want to buy the store bought kind again!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup honey or brown rice syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I prefer Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Lily’s
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Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse the dates and almonds until they are broken down. (You can also do this by hand, but it’s much easier to use the food processor.)
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine
- Press the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Add an additional layer of parchment paper to the top of the mixture and press it down well. Using a large can or jar works well.
- Remove the top layer of parchment paper (but save it) and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Add the parchment paper back to the top and again press the mixture into the pan, optional. This helps the bars stick together well.*
- Refrigerate and allow to cool before cutting into bars. Enjoy!
Notes
*Because it squishes the bars and makes them less appealing, I tried them without this step for the updated photographs. They didn’t fall apart. Just make sure you let them cool completely before cutting.
**Links to products are affiliate links.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 12 grams
- Carbohydrates: 21 grams
- Protein: 6 grams
This recipe was first published in March 2015. Photos were updated and the post was republished in February 2018 and a video added August 2019.
I started making these regularly for my family a few months ago. I didn’t have all the ingredients, namely almonds and almond butter, so I subbed those out. I used pecans and natural peanut butter and it seemed to work great. They disappear in a few days, even when I double the batch so I’ve stuck with the substitutes. I also add a lot more cinnamon and even a pinch of salt.
I hope I am made it tasty!
Just found this recipe and am making my 5th batch in 2 weeks. My kids love these in their lunch and for after school snacks. Thank you!!
Hi My grandchildren [refer not nut pieces in their bars Could I substitute craisons for the
almonds?
I think they would be way too sweet if you added dried cranberries in place of the almonds. I think adding additional oats or a little flour would work though. You can also blend the almonds very fine so there are visible pieces.
I’ve just stopped buying granola bars because it’s so hard to find them not loaded with sugar. I’ve never tried making them at home, but I have all these ingredients so I’m definitely going to try yours!
I think you’ll love these!
these would be perfect for when im working. i can stash one in my purse and carry on 🙂
Definitely!
I am making these RIGHT NOW!
If you loved the banana bread you’re going to love these! Let me know how they turn out!
I just made these today and they are FANTASTIC! I just ran out of honey yesterday so I used agave nectar and they turned out perfect! Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks SO much for coming back and letting me know you tried them! It’s so helpful for other readers to get feedback about a recipe. 🙂
Mmmmm! These bars look wonderful!!
Thanks, Marla!
I am making these TODAY! Thankfully I have all of the ingredients already at home – I’m sure the girls will love them.
I hope your girls love them as much as my little ones do!
You read my bloomin’ mind, sister! I’ve been meaning to look up healthy granola bar recipes, and this is 200% the one I’ll be making! Love how healthful, chewy, and delicious theese things are!
Serendipity! I hope you love these, Julia!