So, after giving it a try and lots of research I have a homemade gluten-free granola bars recipe for you. This recipe is for almond butter and chocolate chip granola bars. Making something like homemade granola bars never even occurred to me until recently.
Where do you start? I mean, that is something you buy at the store and have handy for a quick breakfast or snack. Granola bars can be very healthy - in theory - but have you ever thought about how many unhealthy ingredients are in them to preserve them?
These granola bars are packed with protein and taste like a cookie. Both rolled oats and rice cereal are used to add a little variety in texture. One recipe makes about 16 tall granola bars if packed into a 9x9 pan. For thinner granola bars, use a larger pan, like a 9x13.
Another cool thing I like about this recipe is that you just make them in a big pan and cut them after you cook them. Duh! Granola bars sounded so hard until I realized that I didn't have to individually form each granola bar.
Here are some tips and tricks for this recipe:
- I haven't tried these with quinoa puffs, but I'm sure they would work great, since they pretty much have the same texture as crisp rice cereal, but are just way healthier.
- You could make them healthier by leaving out the chocolate chips and not drizzling them with chocolate
- You could make them fun and colorful by putting mini M & M's in them
I hope that everyone will enjoy this recipe, even those who do not need to eat gluten-free. They are healthier for you than the bars in the store and taste even better (if I do say so myself). What would you change about the recipe if you would change anything? Try out our recipe and leave comments below and share it with your friends and family!
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Gluten-Free Granola Bars Recipe with Almond Butter and Chocolate Chips
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Cuisine: Gluten-Free
Description
These granola bars are protein packed and taste like a cookie. Both rolled oats and rice cereal are used to add a little variety in texture.
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ Cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (not quick cook or instant)
- 1 ½ Cups Crisp Rice Cereal (gluten-free)
- 1 Cup Chopped Almonds (toasted if you like)
- ¼ Cup Coconut Oil
- 1 Cup Almond Butter
- ½ t Real Salt * (only necessary if using unsalted almond butter)
- ½ Cup Coconut Milk *
- ½ Cup Honey or Maple Syrup *
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar (packed)
- 1 t Vanilla
- 1 Cup Chocolate Chips (divided)
- 1 t Butter
Instructions
- Line a 9x9 pan with plastic wrap or tin foil. Lightly grease.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the oats, rice cereal and chopped almonds. Set aside.
- Place the coconut oil, almond butter, salt, coconut milk, honey, and brown sugar in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat, whisking until smooth. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the mixture over the oat/cereal and stir until everything is well combined. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Add ¾ C. of the chocolate chips to the mixture and stir in.
- Place the oat mixture in the prepared pan and press in firmly, keeping the top level.
- Refrigerate the pan for 2 hours, or until firmly set.
- Remove the granola mixture from the pan and peel away the plastic wrap or tin foil. Slice into bars.
- Place the remaining ¼ C. of chocolate chips and the butter in a small, microwaveable bowl and heat on high at 20 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted. Place melted chocolate in a piping bag and pipe on top of sliced granola bars.
- Store in an airtight container.
Keywords: healthy, packed, easy
Trey
Haven’t tried yet, but very excited to!!! Should these stay refrigerated? Also for DF version, any substitute for butter??
Thanks!!
★★★★★
Rebecca Baron
I haven't tried it but coconut oil should work.
Laura
hello! I want to try this amazing recipe, but can I substitute coconut milk with just milk? I cant get them around my place! Please let me know! Thankyou!
Rebecca
I haven't tried it but it should work fine. I would love to know if it turns out for you. Please come back and comment and let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Maeve
Just wanted to clarify before buying all ingredients; the nutrient facts attached are for the whole sheet pan of bars or just one when cut individually?
(Type 1 diabetic so I only want to clarify) 🙂
Rebecca
Sorry. It's confusing how the # of servings is not on the nutrition label. It's up above the recipe. That label is for one bar, when the pan is cut in to 16 pieces.
Connie
Thank-you so much for this delicious recipe! My kids and I love it! We just finished the first batch made, and I am now making a double batch to take camping. Thanks again or sharing. 🙂
★★★★★
Joyce Parkes
Hi Rebecca..
Another wonderful looking recipe ..thank you. I really need the nutritional values but clicking where you say on the page does not work. What am I doing wrong?
Looking forward to trying the bars and expect they will be as tasty as usual ..
joyce
Judy
I see rice cereal listed as an ingredient. We don't eat any processed foods or try not to. i have never seen a rice cereal that I would consider clean. Can you tell me exactly what rice cereal you recommend? and why? thanks for this recipe. I can't wait to try it.
Rebecca
Well, this recipe isn't consider "clean," just gluten free. But when I want something like rice cereal but a clean version, I use quinoa puffs. I buy them on nuts.com.
Kate
These granola bars look very good. I'm always on the lookout for homemade treats for my girls and these look very yummy. Thanks for sharing.
Melanie
Super excited to try these!!! I am on a health journey, myself, trying to naturally "cure" my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. We recently went about 90% gluten free and it can be quite expensive if you're not making it all yourself!! Thank you for sharing this! My 2 little ones and I love granola bars 🙂
★★★★★
Molly
These turn out great every time. I however, substitute the almond butter for peanut butter in the same quantity. YUM!
★★★★★
Rebecca
Oh good! We are glad the recipe has worked well for you!
Dina
great healthy bars!
★★★★★
Diane
This recipe sounds great! Maybe a silly question but does coconut milk mean from the can or carton as in a milk alternative? Thanks!
Rebecca
From the can. I love the Natural Value brand.