As parents of littles, you think they need all the snacks and have to plan on packing multiple options for them whenever you leave the house. Then you get to teens and pre-teens and suddenly the abundance of snacks you THOUGHT was a lot looks like a drop in the hat compared to what you need for the big kids. My goodness, do we go through the granola bars at our house; so much so that I was inspired to play with the idea of a homemade chewy granola bar.
I have a couple other granola bars that I have created (Check out these almond joy bars and simple baked granola bars), but these are more crunchy than not and my kiddos much prefer chewy granola bars.
What I think is a secret ingredient/step to these granola bars is the thin layer of dark chocolate spread on the parchment before pressing the bars into the baking pan. When looking at recipes across the Internet, the main complaint of a chewy granola bar is that it doesn’t stay together. This layer of chocolate helps give the little bit of support needed to hold the bars together. And I mean, who doesn’t love a little extra chocolate?
While these bars are rather thick, you can certainly press them into a larger pan to make them thinner. You may need a bit more melted chocolate than what I have measured here and the baking time will decrease. Bake them a bit too long? They just won’t be chewy anymore, but they will still be delish!
Let’s start creating!
Your Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup flax meal
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup chopped nuts
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- ½ tablespoon coconut oil
Your Steps to Chew Granola Bars
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare a 9 by 13 inch baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and then lining with parchment paper (or foil, but then spray the foil with cooking spray as well). Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, flax meal, baking soda, and salt.
Combine the ½ cup coconut oil and peanut butter in a small bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or so, just to melt it when you stir to combine. Stir in the maple syrup and vanilla. Pour into the dry mixture and stir well to fully combine. Add the mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Stir once more.
In a small bowl, add the dark chocolate chips and ½ tablespoon coconut oil. Place in the microwave and heat in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate in the prepared pan, bringing the chocolate up the sides about ½ inch or so.
Press the oatmeal mixture into the pan, making sure to be firm doing so. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes. Be sure to cut into the bars as soon as they come out of the oven. I like to do this with a bench scraper (like this one!). Allow to cool and then cut into bars once more.
The parchment paper allows you to pull all the bars out of the pan. This will help prevent them from breaking apart. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
Chewy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup flax meal
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup chopped nuts
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- ½ tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare a 9 by 13 inch baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and then lining with parchment paper (or foil, but then spray the foil with cooking spray as well). Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, flax meal, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine the ½ cup coconut oil and peanut butter in a small bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or so, just to melt it when you stir to combine. Stir in the maple syrup and vanilla. Pour into the dry mixture and stir well to fully combine. Add the mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Stir once more.
- In a small bowl, add the dark chocolate chips and ½ tablespoon coconut oil. Place in the microwave and heat in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate in the prepared pan, bringing the chocolate up the sides about ½ inch or so.
- Press the oatmeal mixture into the pan, making sure to be firm doing so. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes. Be sure to cut into the bars as soon as they come out of the oven. I like to do this with a bench scraper (like this one!). Allow to cool and then cut into bars once more.
- The parchment paper allows you to pull all the bars out of the pan. This will help prevent them from breaking apart. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
Looking for other after school snacks?
Let me give you a few recommendations of favorites around our house!
