This healthy homemade granola bars recipe takes your favorite granola bar taste and flips it inside out…literally! Dipped in chocolate & topped with yums!
The combination of the tulip-man starting his own company and my 5 hours train ride to and from school each day has quickly turned our schedule from laissez faire into utter chaos. Okay, maybe I’m the only one running around like a headless chicken in the morning, but food is important and I tend to spend 99% of those chaotic minutes each morning preparing our food for the day.
Breakfast > fixing crazy morning hair.
But I’m finding ways of making mornings less chaotic. Overnight oats and smoothies play leading roles. But with it being our almond spotlight and all, I thought I’d branch into the energizing world of granola bars. So today we’re serving up Inside Out Granola Bars, a healthy homemade granola bar with all the basics on bottom, dipped in chocolate, and topped with yums!
Have you ever made granola bars? They’re seriously so much fun to make. I always get this really great sense of fulfillment when I make them. Like “I definitely could have bought these at the store, but these are healthier AND more filling AND more delicious.”
And I’ve played around some with throwing in off the wall ingredients, like these bulgur granola bars, but today I just wanted to master granola bars. Simple, delicious, boost to your morning healthy homemade granola bars.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats 160 g
- 1 ½ cups rice krispies 50 g
- ½ cup chopped almonds 65 g
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup almond butter 130 g
- ½ cup honey 118 mL, can sub maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract 5 mL
- 1 large bar dark chocolate 200 g, or dairy-free alternative
- ½ cup trail mix 35 g, or a mix of ¼ cup seeds of choice + ¼ cup dried fruit of choice
Instructions
- Dries: In a large bowl, combine rice krispies, oats, almonds, and salt.
- Wets: In a microwave safe bowl, combine almond butter and honey, then microwave for 30 seconds, or until hot and pourable. Mix vanilla into almond butter mixture.
- Stir: Gently combine hot almond butter mix with the dry oat mix.
- Shape: Line a 9×13 inch dish with parchment paper and spoon your granola mixture in. Press firmly so that the granola is really compact (I like to use the bottom of a glass for pressing). Pop granola in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up, then cut it into 9 to 12 bars.
- Assemble: Melt chocolate (either using a double boiler or in the microwave) and transfer to a shallow dish. Gently dip one side of each bar into the chocolate, using a spoon to evenly coat it if needed. While the chocolate-coated side is still warm and melted, sprinkle on the trail mix. Put the bars back in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm up completely, then enjoy!
Bethany @ athletic avocado says
Homemade granola bars are soooo much tastier than the store-bought version! These granola bars got all the goods and chocolate ftw!
Sarah says
Right?? And you can tailor make them to be JUST what you want them to be š Thanks so much for dropping in, Bethany!
Lynne says
What a great recipe! It all came out exactly how it was supposed to. I didn’t have any almond butter, so I used peanut butter. It worked great. Maybe not as good for you as the almond butter, but it was the natural kind. Yummy.
A big Thank You!
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Lynne, I’m so happy to hear you like them! I’m sure the peanut butter version tasted just fine š Only reason I didn’t use it is I’m allergic!
Tai Anh Dep says
Would you suggest using desiccated coconut or coconut chips? If i use desiccated coconut, do i have to bake them in the oven too?
Sarah says
Yes! I think either would work well in this recipe (you may have an easier time incorporating in the desiccated coconut though). You shouldn’t have to bake them, though you could toast the coconut in a pan first if you want a little toasty flavor.
Shawna says
Hello! I used maple syrup instead of honey. Even after freezing, it did not set (came off in crumbles). Is this because of the maple syrup or because I did not press hard enough on the mixture in the pan? š
Sarah says
Sorry to hear that, Shawna! It could be the maple, but I’ll add this recipe to the list of those to be retested š
Crystal says
what can I substitute for rice krispies? none of those in the house.
Sarah says
I love rice krispies in particular because they’re so light and crunchy, but you could use any cereal really!