Healthy Chewy Gluten-Free Granola Bars

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These homemade Healthy Chewy Gluten-Free Granola Bars are chocked full of oats, sunflower seeds, cranberries, flax seeds, chocolate chips, and sweetened with honey! A delicious gluten-free and dairy-free snack.

Granola bars lined up in a row on a piece of white parchment paper.

These healthy chewy granola bars are chocked full of the good stuff.

Whole-grain oats, almond flour, cranberries, sunflower seeds, flax seed, and chocolate chips, make this a delicious option come snack time.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients and substitutions
Video
Step-by-step instructions
Tips
FAQs
More gluten-free snack bars
📖 Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Easy recipe
A healthy snack that can be made ahead
No artificial flavors or high-fructose corn syrup!

Ingredients and substitutions

Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.

Ingredients to make snack bars separated in small bowl.

Oats - Affordable, easy to find, what's not to love? While naturally gluten-free, check for certified gluten-free on the packaging if you need to avoid wheat cross-contamination.

Almond flour - This gluten-free flour helps bind things together. If needed, gluten-free oat flour can be substituted by weight.

Flaxseeds - I love using seeds in energy bites, so I've added them to this granola mixture. They add a good dose of protein and fatty acids. Feel free to sub in chia seeds or hemp seeds.

Sunflower seeds - These little seeds have a great crunch and flavor as well as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Pumpkin seeds or pepita would make a great substitute.

Dried cranberries - Adding a pop of flavor and texture, dried cherries or other small dried fruit would work well as a swap.

Coconut oil - A healthy fat and the ingredient that helps hold things together plus gives our gluten-free bars their chewy texture.

Honey - This is a great way to add sweetness without adding refined sugar. Maple syrup would work as a sub here. It doesn't have to be organic maple syrup but do make sure it is 100% pure if following a gluten-free diet.

Dairy-free chocolate chips - Whether you prefer dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips, it's totally up to you! Of course, if dairy is not an issue, real chocolate chips are fine too.

Video

Step-by-step instructions

Before you start: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 pan with coconut oil or line it with parchment paper.

Oats, seeds, and chocolate chips in a glass bowl.

Honey in the center of an oat mixture in a glass bowl.

Step 1: Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Pour the wet ingredients—cooled coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract—into a well in the center of the bowl. Stir with a rubber spatula until the mixture is evenly coated.

An oat and seed mixture pressed into a baking pan.

Freshly baked in oats in a rectangular pan.

Step 3: Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and using a piece of parchment paper, press the mixture firmly down into a single layer in the pan.

Step 4: Bake until lightly golden, then cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.

Store baked snacks wrapped with plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature.

Freshly cut homemade granola bars on white parchment.

Tips

Lining your pan with parchment and leaving an overhang means you can easily remove the entire baked bar once cool. This will allow you to use a very sharp knife and cut clean bars. It's not easy to slice with the sides of the pan in the way!
Overbaking will result in crunchy granola bars that may crumble slightly once cut. Still delicious!

FAQs

How do I store homemade granola bars?

Store the cooled and sliced bars in an airtight container. For an even easier grab-and-go quick snack, wrap it in foil or other wrappers. You can even wrap it individually and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What oats should I use?

Reach for gluten-free old-fashioned or rolled oats for these healthy whole-grain bars. They will allow for the best texture. Instant oats or quick oats won't have the same result.

Are granola bars gluten-free?

Store-bought granola bars can be gluten-free, but it depends on the specific brand. Traditional granola bars often contain naturally gluten-free oats, but there is a risk of cross-contamination during processing with gluten-containing grains.

Some manufacturers offer gluten-free granola bars, which are produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities. To ensure that a granola bar is gluten-free, it's important to check the product's label or make your own at home!

Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!

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