There’s something nostalgic about an ooey-gooey, crunchy granola bar. Store-bought options are convenient, but the ingredients aren't always the most nourishing. The good news: you can make a version that tastes just as good — if not better — with a handful of simple pantry staples. One of the best parts is how customizable they are. You can swap in whatever nuts, seeds, or dried fruit you have on hand.
These homemade bars don’t just bring back the nostalgia, but they’re also rich in fiber and healthy fats, making them a balanced snack. They’re perfect to prep ahead for the week and easy for both adults and kids to grab and enjoy.
Let’s get into how to make them.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup mixed seeds of choice (sunflower & pumpkin seeds used in this recipe)
- ½ cup dried fruit of choice (cherries used here)
- ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut shreds
- ⅓ cup tahini (or runny nut butter of choice)
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon salt
Method:
- Mix all oats, seeds, and coconut together and spread on a baking sheet
- Toast these ingredients in the oven until fragrant- about 10 minutes
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a large mixing bowl
- Bump the oven down to 300f
- Combine the tahini, honey, orange zest, ginger, vanilla, and salt in a shallow pan and warm on the stove, stirring to combine
- Add the warmed liquid mixture to the bowl as well as dried fruit
- Mix together well and transfer to a lined 8x8 baking pan
- Bake at 300f for 18 minutes
- Remove from the oven and allow to set while in the pan
- Once cool, slice into bars or squares and keep in a glass container
- Best eaten within 2 weeks
