Name: Copycat Nature Valley Granola Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups rolled oats (divided, 200 g); ¼ cup vegetable oil (or any neutral oil, 60 mL); ¼ cup honey (60 mL); 1 tsp vanilla extract; ¼ cup brown sugar (50 g); ¼ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt

Copycat Nature Valley Granola Bars

By Sarah Bond, BS Nutrition, MS Sensory Science, Published Sep 05, 2024

4.85 from 33 ratings

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35 minutes

Serves 10 bars

90 Comments

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Save money by making copycat Nature Valley granola bars at home (and save time by not having to run to the store to buy them)! This homemade version is super simple to make and tastes just like the real thing. Using my food scientist background, I worked backward to duplicate the flavor and texture of this classic snack at home.

Granola bars are a great way to get nutrients on the go. Living in the mountains, I’ve eaten my my fair share, none more well-known than Nature Valley granola bars.

But if you’ve even stepped foot in a grocery store in the last year, you’re well aware that the cost of goods has drastically increased. So, in an effort to save some money, I have perfected how to make these tasty and crunchy oats ‘n honey granola bars at home.

Reader rating

★★★★★

“Perfect match to Nature Valley crunch granola bars!!!” —Jenn

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You’ll want to keep these stocked at all times

Easy to make with just pantry staple ingredients (like oats and honey!)
Quick to whip up. Most of the time to make these granola bars is spent waiting for them to bake.
Customize them by adding mini chocolate chips, dried fruit, or a chocolate drizzle.

Nature Valley granola bars copycat stacked.

Here’s what you’ll need

You probably already have these ingredients in your pantry!

Rolled Oats: Otherwise known as “old-fashioned oats”. Avoid using Instant or steel cut oats here, which don’t have the same texture.
Sweeteners: To achieve the perfect sweetness, these bars use both honey and brown sugar.
Oil: Vegetable oil helps to bind everything together. You could also use coconut oil here (or even olive oil if you don’t mind the hint of olive flavor but want the health benefits).
Vanilla Extract: Just a splash adds major flavor.
Baking Soda: This is important for developing crunch in the bars.
Salt: Salt helps to elevate the flavor of the bars, taking them from good to great.

DIY Oat Flour

Blending some of the oats creates oat flour, which acts as the binder for these bars. It’s a cheap and effective way to create texture yet still have a gluten-free bar that holds together. If you love learning how to make granola bars and plan to make more, you can also buy oat flour.

How to make Nature Valley Granola Bars

Very similar to other homemade granola bars, these involve just a few simple steps and minimal active work.

Blend some of the oats into oat flour.
Stir together the oat flour with the wet ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix in the remaining dry ingredients and press the mixture into a lined baking dish.
Bake until golden brown and firm.

Mixing granola bar ingredients together. — The mixture might seem loose, but it will hold together when pressed.

Pressing granola bars into a pan. — To press the mixture down into the pan evenly, I like to use the bottom of a cup to evenly stomp the mixture firmly into the pan.

Copycat Nature Valley Granola Bars

4.85 from 33 ratings

By: Sarah Bond

Prep: 15

Cook: 20

Total: 35

Servings: bars

Save money by making copycat Nature Valley granola bars at home (and save time by not having to run to the store to buy them)! This homemade version is super simple to make and tastes just like the real thing. Using my food scientist background, I worked backward to duplicate the flavor and texture of this classic snack at home.

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
Blitz: Add ½ cup of the oats to a blender or food processor and blitz into a flour.
Wets: Stir oat flour together with ¼ cup vegetable oil, ¼ cup honey, and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
Dries: Stir in remaining rolled oats, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt.
Press: Line a baking dish (7×9 inch or similar) with parchment paper, then transfer oat mixture into it. Press the mixture firmly down into the pan (use the bottom of a glass to flatten it).
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and firm. Immediately after taking it out of the oven, use the bottom of a glass to press the bars, flattening the top firmly. Let cool fully before cutting into bars.

Notes

Storage: These granola bars can be stored at room temperature for up to a month in an air-tight container. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Just let them thaw fully before eating.