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Easy Chewy Homemade Granola Bars with Honey and Dried Fruit

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These chewy granola bars are sweetened naturally with honey and packed with dried fruit, offering a perfect balance of chewiness and crunch. They are quick to make and perfect for on-the-go snacking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (about 180 grams)
  • ½ cup honey (120 ml)
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter (125 grams)
  • ¾ cup dried fruit mix (about 100 grams) – dried cranberries, apricots, and cherries
  • ½ cup chopped nuts (60 grams) – walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • A pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal (optional)
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips (about 60 grams) (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting.
  2. In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, chopped nuts, dried fruit, flaxseed meal (if using), ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir well.
  3. In a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan, gently heat honey and peanut butter together until smooth and runny (about 30 seconds in the microwave, stirring halfway). Add vanilla extract and mix well.
  4. Pour the honey-peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly until every oat is coated and the mixture sticks together.
  5. Transfer the mixture to the lined pan. Press down firmly and evenly with a spatula or wet hands.
  6. Bake for 20-22 minutes until edges are golden but center is still soft.
  7. Cool completely in the pan for at least 45 minutes (or refrigerate for 20 minutes to speed up).
  8. Lift bars out using parchment overhang and cut into 10-12 bars with a sharp or serrated knife.
  9. If adding chocolate chips, sprinkle them over the bars immediately after baking while still warm and gently press in before cooling.

Notes

Press the mixture firmly into the pan to prevent crumbly bars. Warm honey and peanut butter gently to avoid burning. Cool bars completely before cutting to maintain shape. For nut-free version, omit nuts and use sunflower seed butter. Vegan adaptation replaces honey with maple syrup and uses dairy-free nut butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: granola bars, homemade granola bars, chewy granola bars, honey granola bars, dried fruit snack, healthy snack, easy granola bars

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/easy-chewy-homemade-granola-bars-with-honey-and-dried-fruit-recipe/