These Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars are soft, chewy, and packed with flavor. Made with homemade, grain-free granola and just two other simple staples, they’re the perfect mid-afternoon snack or an easy add-on for school lunches.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 50 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 6 bars
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 288 kcals and 9 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Homemade granola, eggs, dairy-free chocolate chips and dried fruit.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and can be grain-free.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: These grain-free granola bars are soft, chewy, and incredibly easy to make with just a few nourishing ingredients, making them perfect for snacks or grab-and-go fuel.
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Skip the overpriced store-bought stuff and make a batch of these grain-free granola bars instead. They’re soft, chewy, and actually hold together (no sad crumbs in the bottom of a lunch bag). You can use any homemade granola you love, whether it’s a nut-based one or a crunchy classic like this homemade high-protein granola, and they’re an easy make-ahead snack right alongside my healthy snacks for busy moms.
With three kids, I can’t justify spending a small fortune on “healthy” granola bars that are either loaded with ingredients I don’t love… or somehow still leave everyone hungry 30 minutes later. Making your own means you control everything and still save money.
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💭Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: Any homemade granola will work for this recipe, and in addition to it, you only need 2 other ingredients!
Flavors: Making your own granola bars means that you can adjust the flavors and change them up frequently.
Texture: This dairy-free granola bar recipe is different from most because the end result is soft and chewy, not crunchy.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Homemade granola: The kind of granola you use will alter the texture of the bars a bit. I originally made the bars with my gluten-free nut-free granola recipe (which is also grain-free).
- Add-ins: You need either dairy-free chocolate chips or dried fruit to make the soft, chewy granola bars really come together.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Dried fruit: Switch up the fruit for different flavors. Just make sure if you’re using bigger fruits, to chop them into smaller pieces. Dates, apricots, or dried blueberries are always delicious choices.
Spices: Adding some extra cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract brings out a whole new warming flavor.
Drizzle: Make the grain-free granola bars extra indulgent by drizzling them with coconut milk caramel sauce.
How To Make Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients.
Step 2: Mix until sticky and portion into a lined loaf pan.
Step 3: Bake for 21-25 minutes and let cool fully in the pan before slicing.
Expert Tips
Texture of the bars: If your homemade granola is softer, like with apple pie granola, the bars will have a chewier texture. If your granola is crisp or crunchy like granola with cinnamon, your bars will also be.
Cooling: The granola bars will look soft coming out of the oven and be very delicate. Let them cool fully before you slice them, and know that they firm up the longer they set or when placed in the fridge.
Storing: These gluten-free, dairy-free granola bars are best stored in the fridge for 5-7 days. They will firm up a bit if your granola is oil-based, which also helps them hold together well and ensures they're not crumbly.
Freezing: Granola bars can also be stored in a freezer-safe bag in a single layer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, let them thaw fully in the fridge overnight. I do find that they don’t hold together as well once thawed as they did originally. Still delicious though.
Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars FAQ's
Yes, you can freeze homemade granola bars. Freeze them in an airtight container or wrap individually and then place them in a bag for up to 2 months.
Yep, you can make homemade grabola bars with store-bought granola. Just make sure to choose a granola that’s not overly oily and isn’t too chunky, or you'll have crumbly bars. Likewise, keep an eye on the final few minutes of baking so that the nuts look toasted and not burnt.
Granola bars become hard usually from overbaking or using a granola that’s already super crunchy/dry. Keep an eye on bake time and let them cool naturally.
More Gluten-Free Recipes You'll Love
If you tried this Grain-Free Granola Bars Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups Nut and grain-free granola room temperature or cooled
- ⅛ Cup Dairy-free chocolate chips or dried fruit
- 2 Eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together the ingredients until sticky.
- Line an 8x4 loaf pan with parchment paper and pour the granola mix into it. Smooth it out and press down so that there's no air pockets.
- Bake for 21-25 minutes until mostly cooked. It will look underdone coming out of the oven but firms up on cooling.
- Let the granola bars cool completely before slicing them.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Vana Verouti - Lose Fat Fast says
Very tasty and easy to make! My daughter loved them!
Thanks for this delicious recipe:)
fitasamamabear says
So glad your daughter enjoyed them (did she leave any for you?!).
Michaela @ Wild & Precioud says
Another mouth-watering recipe from you... thank you!! In addition to the beautiful photos and yummy inspiration, I especially appreciate how simple and straightforward your ingredient lists are. You prove that delicious food doesn't have to be complicated. Off to whip up a batch today!
fitasamamabear says
Wow thanks bunches for the compliments- I feel like I'm still finding my way so I appreciate it! I hope you enjoy them, I made a batch last night!
kai says
oh wow. this looks delish! i love granola. i will surely try this recipe. thanks!
fitasamamabear says
I'm a granola addict too- let me know how you like them!
Echoesofhervoice says
This looks pretty easy to make and they look delicious. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
fitasamamabear says
Hpe you enjoy them!
Casey the College Celiac says
These look FABULOUS! I love enjoy life foods and I LOVE granola bars, so this is a winning recipe for me!
fitasamamabear says
Haha you really can't go wrong with granola- really it's the best thing in life. But I didn't know about enjoy life until roughly two years ago.. now I'm addicted!
Christie Moeller says
These look amazing a pretty easy to pull off. Totally giving them a try!
xoxo Christie
fitasamamabear says
Hope you enjoy them!
Clint Mamuri says
Looks very yummy, and easy to do. I will definitely try this when I have the chance. I think I can add more fruits like berries to it.
fitasamamabear says
You can definitely add more dried fruit to it/interchange. I love adding dried blueberries 🙂
Mandy Allen says
Wow! These sound delicious! I don't know about being for children, I'd like some in my lunch box too!
Enjoy the journey!
fitasamamabear says
Haha sometimes sharing with children is hard... make a double batch 😉
Kelvin says
I love chewy bars! Didn't know how to make them at home! Thanks!
fitasamamabear says
No problem- enjoy!
Ying says
These look delicious- I'll have to try this for an afternoon snack next week!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks! They're definitely tasty 🙂
Jenna says
YUM totally bookmarking these! I have to try them, your pictures are perfect too because it looks so yummy!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks for the compliment Jenna! I'm still perfecting my picture technique so I really appreciate it 🙂 but seriously... these bars are addictive 😉
R.M. says
I love granola bars!!! I can't wait to make these!!
fitasamamabear says
Enjoy!
Jenn says
I am going to be going on vacation soon and I am so adding this to my list of foods that I want to make! Sounds delicous!
fitasamamabear says
Love it! they're definitely tasty!
Lynn Woods says
I'm not a fan of chocolate chips, but my husband is. I'll have to make these for one of his snacks during the day.
fitasamamabear says
Not a fan?! Gah I'd die without them- okay a bit extreme lol you could sub it out for an add in you enjoy though (walnuts, extra dried fruit etc) 🙂
Kimberly Hsieh says
This looks SOOO delicious! It is also really easy to make so I will definitely try it out 🙂
fitasamamabear says
Just try not to eat all the granola before you make the bars 😉 (said from experience lol)