Homemade Chewy Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

Homemade chewy fruit & nut granola bars — easy to make, sturdy, and full of flavor. Packed with rolled oats, raw nuts, seeds and dried cranberries, these bars are dairy-free, gluten-free, freezer-friendly, and ideal for snacks or lunchboxes.

Thick, chewy fruit & nut granola bars made at home — sturdy, flavorful, and perfect for on-the-go snacking or freezing for later.

These chewy fruit and nut granola bars combine the hearty texture of rolled oats with the crunch of raw nuts and seeds, and the bright sweetness of dried cranberries. They are bound together with almond butter, coconut oil, honey, and brown rice syrup to create bars that hold together well without becoming overly hard. Brown rice syrup is the important ingredient that creates the ideal chewy texture and structural integrity.

This recipe was developed to recreate the soft, chewy granola bars found at specialty food stores, adjusted for home baking. The result is a reliably chewy bar that stays intact when handled, stores well in the refrigerator or freezer, and travels easily when wrapped individually.

Tips & Tricks For Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

1. Use brown rice syrup for the best chew and binding. Substituting all honey or maple syrup will usually result in bars that don’t hold together as well.
2. Feel free to swap different nuts, seeds, or dried fruits to suit your taste, but keep the total volume of mix-ins the same so the balance of dry to wet ingredients remains consistent.
3. To keep these bars vegan, replace the honey with additional brown rice syrup. The flavor will change slightly, but the texture will remain dependable.
4. Store bars in the refrigerator to extend shelf life and make them firmer. They can also be kept at room temperature for several days if stored in an airtight container.
5. For easy grab-and-go portions, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap before storing. If freezing, wrap individually and place in a freezer-safe bag or container; move bars to the refrigerator to thaw when ready to eat.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup oat bran
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¾ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup raw cashews, chopped
• ¼ cup raw walnuts, chopped
• ¼ cup slivered almonds
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil* (measure after melting)
• ¼ cup creamy almond butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey (or extra brown rice syrup for vegan)
• ½ cup brown rice syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides for easy removal. Lightly spray or brush the parchment with olive oil or nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, oat bran, cinnamon, salt, dried cranberries, pepitas, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped cashews, chopped walnuts, and slivered almonds. Stir until evenly mixed.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, creamy almond butter, vanilla extract, honey, and brown rice syrup until smooth and well combined.
4. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated. The mixture will be thick and sticky. Transfer it to the prepared baking dish and press firmly into an even layer using the back of a spatula or a piece of parchment paper to compress the mixture.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top turns lightly golden. Baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven; watch for a uniform light brown color.
6. Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang and place on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16 (2×2 inch) bars, or cut to your preferred size.
7. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for several days or in the refrigerator for longer freshness. For freezing, wrap individual bars and place in a freezer-safe bag or container.

Notes

Nutrition Information (estimated)