Healthy Chewy Granola Bars
These Healthy Chewy Granola Bars are perfectly chewy, soft, and made with nourishing ingredients you can feel good about!
They’re gluten free, refined sugar free, have a boost of protein, and can easily be made dairy free, too!
I tried to keep these superfood friendly with some chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, extra dark chocolate, and cranberries, but you can use any toppings or mix-ins you’d like!
More flavor combinations
Strawberries and cream – with freeze dried strawberries and white chocolate chips
Smores – sub some of the brown rice crisps for crushed graham crackers and add some mini marshmallows
Peanut butter cup – add mini peanut butter cups, or peanut butter chips. You can also add about 3 tbsp peanut butter to the mixture. Add a tad more of a dry ingredient (think 2 tbsp more protein powder) to even out the wet and dry
Chocolate lovers – Use chocolate brown rice crips, add milk and dark chocolate chips, and/or a drizzle of melted chocolate to top!
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Chewy Granola Bars
- They’re made with nourishing ingredients
- They contain healthy and fiber rich carbohydrates to fuel your workouts or hikes
- They have healthy fats like pumpkin seeds and chia seeds
- They’re got a boost of protein too
- The texture is just like your favorite store bought quaker chewy granola bar!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter, or vegan butter or coconut oil (butter brings out the best flavor)
- 1/3 cup honey (pure maple syrup may work, but it’s not quite as sticky as honey)
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 2/3 cup rolled oats (certified gluten free if needed)
- 1/3 cup vanilla protein older
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 brown rice crisps
- Toppings (feel free to use your favorite mix-ins)
- 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp dried cranberries or raisins
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips
Process
- Heat butter, honey, and coconut sugar over stove top, whisking until fully dissolved and combined
Remove from heat and vanilla
In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients, except chocolate chips, so they don’t melt
Pour warmed mixture over oats mixture and stir to fully coat dry ingredients
Press mixture into an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper
Top with more toppings of choice and after cooled about 10 minutes you can press your chocolate chips in
Refrigerate 2 hours, slide into bars, and enjoy!
I love how easy it to just add all of the ingredients together, mix, and pour!
Variations for Dietary Preferences
- Higher protein – up the protein in equal amounts that you would take away the oats. For instance – Use 1/2 cup protein power and 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
- Honey – can use agave. Pure maple syrup isn’t quite as sticky as honey
- Coconut Sugar – ca sub brown sugar
- Chia seeds – can omit if you prefer
- Toppings – use any mix-ins you’d like! Or try one of these flavor combinations
- Strawberries and cream – with freeze dried strawberries and white chocolate chips
- Smores – sub some of the brown rice crisps for crushed graham crackers and add some mini marshmallows
- Peanut butter cup – add mini peanut butter cups, or peanut butter chips. You can also add about 3 tbsp peanut butter to the mixture. Add a tad more of a dry ingredient (think 2 tbsp more protein powder) to even out the wet and dry
- Chocolate lovers – Use chocolate brown rice crips, add milk and dark chocolate chips, and/or a drizzle of melted chocolate to top!
If you make these Healthy Chewy Granola Bars I’d love to your thoughts! Or tag me on social media so I can see your creations!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1/2 brown rice crisps
Mix-ins
- 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp dried cranberries or raisins
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Heat butter, honey, and coconut sugar over stove top, whisking until fully dissolved and combined
- Remove from heat and vanilla
- In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients, except chocolate chips, so they don’t melt
- Pour warmed mixture over oats mixture and stir to fully coat dry ingredients
- Press mixture into an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper
- Top with more toppings of choice and after cooled about 10 minutes you can press your chocolate chips in
- Refrigerate 2 hours, slide into bars, and enjoy!