The Best Dang Granola Bars Ever {EVER.}
The Best Dang Granola Bars EVER are NO BAKE, loaded with oats, nuts, dried fruit, and covered in chocolate.
Okay so these are the Best Dang Granola Bars Ever.
And when I say Ever, I mean EVER. Until I make another one that tops it. But for now puh-leez buh-leeev that these are IT.
I've been living and breathing granola bars for about a week now, which seems like a weird obsession in lieu of the freezing cold weather that we all can't stop talking about. I maybe should have been baking bread or something, but granola bars are WHERE IT'S AT.
Oh. And since we are talking about cold weather... I just realized that it's been a hot minute since I updated you guys on Norma Kitty Jean. If you have no idea who Norma Jean is, just enter her name in the search bar up there. Enough crazy cat pictures to last you a lifetime.
Anyway. There is this kitty who I alternately call 'Porch Kitty' and 'Buddy' because he is my buddy and basically lives on my porch. I think he belongs to the neighbors but we all know how that works out.
Total sucker that I am, I've been feeding this guy for months, made him a little kitty shelter outside, and put old sweatshirts in the dryer for him to snuggle with on cold nights.
Shhhhhhh. I know.
So I started seeing weather reports last week about the freakish cold and I immediately started to worry about my Porch Kitty. Then I got a text message from my mom reading, "Hope your outside kitty will be ok!!!"
And now you guys know where I get it from.
The wind started blowing and it got COLD. Fast. Chad and I were walking in the door and there was Buddy sitting on the steps. I'm sure you know what happened next.
So Buddy aka Porch Kitty aka Norma Jean's Worst Nightmare came in and purred and snuggled Lucy Dog on the couch while she gave me crazy eyes like, "Is this guy serious?"
And the answer is yes. Yes he is so snuggle serious. It all fell apart when Norma Jean figured out there was an intruder.
My girl, diva to the max that she is, HATES this cat. When he was outside she routinely tried to smack his face through the window. Inside she followed him through the house hissing and giving him the stink eye. She was appalled that I thought she should share her food.
She went to hide under the bed. Buddy made the mistake of trying to be friends. Norma Jean smacked him in the face and returned to her sulking under a different bed.
Drama.
So that's your update. Norma hates everyone, does not like to share, and is the Queen of the World.
{but I let Buddy sleep on the couch anyway}
Granola Bars are a drama-free zone. These are no-bake (well... you have to toast the oats but that doesn't count), no fuss, low sugar, drizzled in dark chocolate, stuffed full of nuts and seeds and dried fruit and whatever else you can jam in there.
They are awesome for a snack, perfect for breakfast on the run, will fit in your fanny pack at the gym (but please don't wear a fanny pack. please.), and are pretty much all-around awesome. REALLY the best.
If you don't have lots of food stuffs on hand to put in granola bars (because maybe you all don't hoard almonds, chocolate chips, and dried cranberries like I do), I know a shortcut! Grab a bag of your favorite trail mix. All the nuts and fruits are already in there! Some of them even have M & M's.
I made these granola bars for the Leftovers Club! Leftovers Club was a group of food bloggers that got together to share the inevitable leftovers that come from testing and re-testing recipes.
If you are interested in tips and tricks on treats you can mail [like granola bars!] scroll past this printable recipe.
The Best Dang Granola Bars Ever {EVER.}
The best dang homemade granola bars ever! Stuffed full of toasted oats, seeds, dried fruit, nuts, honey, maple syrup, and dark chocolate. These are a staple around here! The active cook time in this recipe is short but you will need to allow time for the bars to set up.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned oats (if GF is important to you use certified GF oats)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 - 1 ½ cups dried cranberries (or other add-ins such as raisins or other dried fruits - chopped if you need to, nuts, sunflower seeds, pepitas, chocolate chips; all your favorite things!)
- 5 ounces dark chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and scatter the oats in a 9 X 13 pan. Let them toast, stirring at least once, for about 15 minutes. When they are done they will look slightly golden and you will smell the toasty oats.
- Line a 9 X 9 pan with parchment paper or foil. You want a piece large enough that the sides will come back over and cover the top of the bars once you fill the pan.
- While the oats toast heat the oil in a small saucepan on the stove. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Bring it to a simmer over medium high heat. Stir to make sure the brown sugar dissolves, and turn the heat off.
- Put the toasted oats in a large bowl. Pour the hot liquid over the oats and stir to coat evenly. Stir in all your add-ins. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Fold the parchment or foil over the top of the granola in the pan and PRESS to fill the corners and flatten. Keep pressing and smooth the granola out so that it is even across the pan.
- Let the granola bars set up in a cool dry place for at least an hour. They will set faster in the freezer. I like to make mine in the evening and let them set up overnight.
- Turn them out of the pan onto a cutting board. Peel the parchment or foil away. Slice down the middle and then cut each half into 6 bars. Lay the bars on a clean piece of parchment or foil. Melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate over the sliced bars. Let it set up and ENJOY!
Notes
- grapeseed oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, melted coconut oil -- any will work here. I do not love the flavor of olive oil in this recipe but using what you like matters.
- GOOD dark chocolate makes a difference! The less sweet the better, but you wanna like the taste, so pick your favorite!
- If you are feeling very fancy you can spoon a strip of chocolate onto the parchment, place the granola bars on top, and then drizzle more over the top of the bar. This will give it a chocolate back kind of like a Luna bar.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 321Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 493mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 5gSugar: 27gProtein: 7g
For this month I was partnered with Joanne from Joanne Eats Well With Others which might be full of my favorite vegetarian recipes ever ever in the world. She made me Meyer Lemon Macarons with perfect little feet. So excited.
If you want to know more about mailing treats...
Start with this post on How to Ship Baked Goods
...and then mail someone these Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies.
Do these granola bars set up well? I've tried others where they didn't hold together and fell apart?
Hi, Rachel! Yes they DO set up well. You have to do a couple of things to make sure they set up super right though -- #1 - you have to really REALLY press them into the pan like your life depends on it. I mean pack those oats and things in there! #2 - I like to chill mine for a little while before slicing. It keeps them together.
If you use the chocolate base as shown in the photos it also really helps. Drizzling the chocolate over the top double helps hold it all together.
But I do make these without the chocolate sometimes and they come out just fine.
These bars have gotten great reviews here and on Facebook; sometimes reading through the comments will give you a few reader tips.
I hope this helps!
Let me know how it goes!
These were very good and easy. However, mine would not stay together. I did use the maximum amount of add-ins (1 1/2 cups). I am going to try them again and use a smaller amount of add-ins and see if that helps.
The chocolate made them really good. A winner for sure!
These DO look like the best granola bars ever. As much as I tried to eat the healthier ones, granola bars with chocolate are the best.
Agreed. Also - dark chocolate is healthy (thank goodness) AND there's only a little bit of sugar in these so there really are lots of good-for-you granola bar benefits! Thanks so much Susan!!!
Not only do these look amazing, but I read the ingredients and find out that I CAN HAVE THESE!!! Woohoo! I'm totally pulling out my gluten-free oats and whipping these up soon! I've really been looking for an awesome granola bar to make! I'm printing this off and pinning so I'll be sure to make this soon!
Oh yeah. You can totally have these. They are sososo good! Thanks Michelle!!
I think you and Joanne should have just sent me your goodies! These look so good--that layer of chocolate is perfect. And your cat story is freaking hysterical.
Thanks Laura!!! I'll send you granola bars for more of those little boozey loaves with currants. LOVED them!
Those do look like the best granola bars ever!
Thanks so much Faye!!
You are so sweet to feed Norma Jean. Whenever we see a stray my husband says that they have a nack for surviving out there. I cry. Sigh. And then I hope he's right. Could be trying to humor me at the moment, but his words usually make me feel better at the moment.
Oh yea, right, granola bars...I've made some once and ate the whole batch myself (over time, grant it not much time). These look AMAZING!
Cats really are survivors. But! I learned that they have really long memories like an elephant. They remember who is nice. Also I am a total sucker. Norma Jean is my girl (who was also a stray but we have had her awhile), but Buddy is the newcomer and I think he can stay 🙂
Make granola bars!!! And have an awesome weekend!!