have you ever made homemade granola bars? it is so easy to make and they are great to customize. this granola bar recipe is just a jumping off point so feel free to make these your own!
As a 90s baby I grew up with the best snacks. A classic snack we all loved was a granola bar. They were my favorite when I came home from school, of course a chewy bar was a classic. Unfortunately, chewy bars are not vegan but this recipe is so everyone can enjoy it. It is also naturally sweetened with dates and maple syrup.
the ingredients
- Pitted Medjool Dates: if you can’t find medjool dates that will be totally fine to use whatever dates you have access to however, medjool dates are the best.
- Rice Cakes: adds a crispy rice texture to the granola bars.
- Old Fashioned Oats: these are the main ingredient of granola bars of course! Just be sure to use old fashioned oats, don’t use steel cut.
- Grade A Maple Syrup: this is used to help sweeten the recipe.
- Peanut Butter: I prefer to use powdered peanut butter PB2 for this recipe. Any nut butter or even sunflower seed butter or tahini will work great here. This helps to bind the granola bar.
- Vegan Mini Chocolate Chips: I like the ones from Enjoy Life for this. The chocolate chips are a fun addition and remind me of the classic chocolate chip chewy bar.
date paste
The key magic to this recipe is the date paste or date butter. First, you will soak pitted dates in boiling water for about 10 minutes. This helps to soften the dates. Then you will blend the soaked dates in a ⅓ cup (80ml) water until it turns into this beautiful date paste consistency. The date paste helps to sweeten and bind the granola bars. I love using dates for this because it tastes so delicious.
how to make granola bars
After you make the date paste the process is so simple to make a granola bar! First, you will add the oats, half of the chocolate chips, and the rice cakes into a big bowl. For the rice cakes you will need to crunch them up with your hands into little pieces. Then you will add in the date paste, maple syrup, and peanut butter. Mix it all together and then you have made the granola bar mixture!
pressing the granola bar mixture
Once you have made the granola bar mixture you are going to press it into a small pan. You need 2 pans of the same size. The best size to use is a ⅛ sheet pan. So, you will place a piece of parchment down on the bottom. Then scoop in the mixture and start to press. Use the spatula and continue to press it down and into the corners. Now you will place another piece of parchment paper on top and then the other sheet pan and press it down to really compress and condense. Add the vegan chocolate chips on top and give another press and then you are done.
more snack recipes
granola bar faq
- Are these gluten free? As long as you use gluten free oats, yes.
- Are these nut free? No, but you can swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini.
- Are these soy free? Yes.
- How long do these last? Up to 1 month in the freezer or 1 week in the fridge.
- How do you store these? In the fridge or freezer.
- What else could I add to these? Feel free to customize these with things like mini vegan marshmallows, dried fruit, raisins there are so many options!
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Granola Bar Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 pitted dates
- ⅓ cup water
- 3 rice cakes
- 1 ¼ cups old fashioned oats
- 3 tablespoons mini vegan chocolate chips, divided
- 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
- 6 tablespoons powdered peanut butter
Instructions
- Add the pitted dates to a small bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl add the oats and half of the vegan chocolate chips. Use your hands to break up and crunch the rice cakes into small pieces.
- Once the dates are soft add them into a blender along with ⅓ cup water from the bowl they were soaking in. Blend for 40 seconds on until they are broken down into a smooth date paste.
- Pour the date paste, peanut butter, and maple syrup into the bowl. Mix everything together until it is all coated.
- Pour the mixture on the parchment lined baking sheet. Use a spatula to help press it into the corners. Then cover it with a piece of parchment paper and use the other pan of equal size to press it down and compress. This may take a few times. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over top and then press down one more time.
- Place in the freezer and chill for at least 1 hour to harden.
- Remove and cut into as many pieces as you like. Then place back in the freezer or fridge and enjoy when you like.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are based on my gram measurements put into Cronometer. Yours may vary, they are to help you get an idea.
- You can cut these into as many granola bars are so you like.
Nutrition
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