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Starving kids raiding the snack cabinet after school? These homemade granola bars will satisfy their cravings with a toasty mix of coconut, pecans, and chocolate. Chewy, chocolatey bliss!
It’s just past 3 pm and your kids come bounding in the door, tossing aside backpacks, shirking off jackets, and kicking off shoes. They make a beeline for the kitchen and throw open the snack cabinet doors scouring the shelves for something to eat.
They resemble the cast of Survivor, looking like food-deprived scavengers searching for something carby and filling to squelch the rumbling in their bellies. Instead of the normal boxes of processed crackers and bars, how about surprising them with homemade granola bars? Chewy and satisfying, sweet and toasty.
Homemade granola bars are surprisingly easy to make and immensely versatile. My version is packed with my boys’ favorite flavors…pecans, coconut, and chocolate; but dried fruit, seeds, and nuts can easily be interchanged. The bars keep for a few days in an airtight container on the counter, or for several weeks in the freezer.
Let’s make Homemade Granola Bars
- Mix the oats, pecans, and coconut on a lined baking sheet.
- Toast in a 350 degree oven for about 20 mins, stirring occasionally.
- When the mixture is toasted and golden, add the flax seeds.
- While the oat mixture toasts, make the syrup. Heat the oil, butter, sugar, maple syrup, salt and vanilla in saucepan until fully dissolved.
- Combine the oat mixture and syrup.
- Add the chopped chocolate to the oat mixture.
- Press into the lined pan, press firmly and chill at least 2 hours. Remove from the pan using the overhanging parchment as “handles”.
Tips for success
- Parchment paper is my secret weapon for making homemade granola bars. Take the time to carefully line the baking pan that you press the granola mixture into before chilling. The overhanging parchment will help you easily remove the granola from the pan before cutting it into bars.
- Make this recipe your own by swapping equal amounts dried fruit or nuts for the chocolate pecans. Some tasty variations could include almond/dried cranberry; peanut/raisin; walnut/dried dates.
- Don’t have coconut oil in your pantry? Swap extra virgin olive oil or double the butter.
Still hungry?
Make a batch of my homemade granola. So good over yogurt, oatmeal, or even by the handful!
Starving kids raiding the snack cabinet after school? These homemade granola bars will satisfy their cravings with a toasty mix of coconut, pecans, and chocolate. Chewy, chocolatey bliss!
- 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup pecans, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2/3 cup real maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1/3 cup flax seeds
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan and line it with parchment, on the bottom and up the sides, allowing the paper to hang over the edges so you can easily remove the granola once it is set. Set aside.
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Mix the rolled oats, pecans, and coconut flakes in a large bowl and pour onto the prepared baking sheet. Evenly spread out on the baking sheet and bake for 20 mins, stirring frequently.
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While the oat mixture toasts, combine the dark brown sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil, butter, vanilla, and sea salt in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and stir until fully dissolved.
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When the oat mixture is toasted, remove it from the oven and add the flax seeds.
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Combine the oat mixture and sugar mixture in a large bowl, stirring well. Add 2/3 cup chocolate chips and spread in the prepared pan evenly.
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Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips over the top and firmly tamp down the granola in an even layer. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to cool thoroughly.
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Once cooled, carefully remove the granola from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into 16 rectangle bars. Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days. They will keep for weeks in the freezer, wrapped.
- Parchment paper is my secret weapon for making homemade granola bars. Take the time to carefully line the baking pan that you press the granola mixture into before chilling. The overhanging parchment will help you easily remove the granola from the pan before cutting it into bars.
- Make this recipe your own by swapping equal amounts dried fruit or nuts for the chocolate pecans. Some tasty variations could include almond/dried cranberry; peanut/raisin; walnut/dried dates.
- Don't have coconut oil in your pantry? Swap extra virgin olive oil or double the butter.
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