100+ Recipes for Granola Bars, Bites, and Cereal (2024)

This collection of homemade granola recipes includes granola bars, bites, and breakfast cereal. Making these snacks at home is not difficult and allows you to customize the ingredients to suit your taste buds. Plus? It will save you some serious cash at the checkout stand. The hardest part will be deciding what to make first!

Originally published February 2018; this post has been updated.

The Handcrafted Pantry

100+ Granola Recipes

Granola bars are a great snack for busy days when families are on the go (hey, Little League season!) or for taking along on longer excursions. Whether you’re planning for a camping trip, taking a plane ride, or heading out on a long road trip, they’re a wholesome way to fill the hunger void.

The trouble with store-bought granola bars?

They’re expensive at a couple bucks (or more!) a pop.
They come packaged in individual wrappers that will end up in the trash.
Not all of them are as clean as the label would have you believe.

Happily, these granola recipes are easy to make at home!

Below you’ll find everything you need to start making these snacks at home. I’ve gathered recipes for a variety of basic granola bars, as well as homemade granola bars that are gluten-free, Paleo, and raw. There’s even a section that includes breakfast cookies.

5 Easy Steps to Transform Your Pantry!

Ready to switch from store bought to homemade? Let me help you make some changes! Grab my FREE five-part guide to getting started.

Get the Guide!

What you’ll need to make homemade granola bars

Most kitchens are equipped with the gear you’ll need for making homemade granola recipes, but there are a few things that will make your granola bar-making easier.

Food processor: This is a must for many of the raw recipes included here, as you’ll need to grind nuts and seeds into a fine grind.
Scoop: While not necessary for making energy bites, a cookie scoop can help keep the dough size uniform as you make them.
Silicone baking mat: I’m a big fan of these baking mats, as they prevent sticking and eliminate the need for the disposable parchment paper called for in some recipes.

Packing homemade granola bars with less waste

If you’re switching to homemade granola bars in part because you’d like to create less waste, you’ll want to take that into consideration when you pack these to go.

Reusable snack bags are easy to make at home. If you’re not up for making your own, try these.
Stainless steel snack boxes are a bit expensive, but they are durable and will last almost forever.

Storing homemade granola

Whether you add it to yogurt or serve it with milk, you’ll want to keep your homemade granola in an air-tight container to preserve freshness. I’m a fan of 1/2 gallon canning jars for this, but there are a number of other pantry storage options here that will work, too.

Basic Homemade Granola Bars

The standard granola bar recipe requires mixing natural ingredients and pressing them into a pan or tray for baking. Cut them into squares or rectangles once they’re baked and you’re ready to snack. Most granola bar recipes freeze well, too.

from Attainable Sustainable
Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars from Raia’s Recipes
Soaked Granola Bars from Raia’s Recipes
Soft and Chewy Protein Granola Bars from Running with Spoons
Chia, Quinoa, and Banana Granola Bars from Ambitious Kitchen
Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars from Running with Spoons
Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars from Frugal Living NW

No-Bake Bars and Bites

No-bake, raw homemade granola bars and energy bite recipes don’t require any baking, making them a great option for summertime snacks. No need to turn the oven on and warm the house up to pull these recipes together. Some of these recipes are pressed into a tray and cut into bar shapes; others require rolling into balls for a bite-sized energy boost.

Raw Apple Pie Energy Bitesfrom So, Let’s Hang Out
No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Chia Seed Bars from Running on Real Food
No Bake Granola Bars from Live Simply
Bite Sized Power Bites from Conveying Awareness
Snack Bars from Traditional Cooking School
Cherry Nut Larabarsfrom Live Simply
Enzyme Rich Larabars from Traditional Cooking School
Raw Power Energy Bars from Small Footprint Family
No Bake Almond Butter Granola Bars from To Simply Inspire

Paleo Granola Bars

These grain-free granola bar recipes work for those who are sticking to special diets like Whole 30 or aiming for a lectin- or gluten-free diet. Double check the ingredients for these granola recipes to make sure that these fit your required eating plan.

Copycat Kind Bar Recipe from Wholesome Yum
Homemade Protein Bars from Fit Mitten Kitchen
Grain Free Granola Bars from My Darling Vegan
Mocha Almond Kind Bars from Plaid and Paleo
Paleo Pumpkin Energy Bars from Unbound Wellness
Nut Free Granola Bars from Raising Generation Nourished
Low Carb Granola Bars from Beauty and the Foodie
Paleo Granola Bars from Oh The Things We’ll Make

Gluten-Free Granola Recipes (Bars and Bites)

Gluten-free recipes often include grains like oats and quinoa that are not a fit for grain-free, paleo plans. The paleo granola bars above may fit within a gluten-free diet, though, so be sure to give those a once-over. (Hard to keep up, isn’t it?)

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bars from Dishing Delish
Grain Free Nut Butter Breakfast Cookies from Vintage Kids, Modern World
Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars from The Good Hearted Woman
5-Ingredient No Bake Granola Bars from Naturally Loriel
No Bake Chocolate Chip Walnut Energy Balls by Drugstore Divas
Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Squares from My Gluten Free Kitchen
Fig Breakfast Bars from Raising Generation Nourished
Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars from Beaming Baker
Chewy No Bake Granola Bars from The Big Man’s World
No Bake Almond Cranberry Bars from Life Made Sweeter
Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bars from Running with Spoons
Savory Power Bars from QuitoKeeto
Chewy Granola Bars from Schneiderpeeps

Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? Sounds indulgent, but similar to a granola bar recipe, these cookies feature natural ingredients and less sugar than your average cookie. They take a bit more effort than making granola bars, but they’re a tasty alternative to baked granola bars.

Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookies from Rootsy
Granola Breakfast Cookies from Common Sense Homesteading
Grab and Go Banana Breakfast Cookies from The Cook’s Pyjamas
20-Minute Breakfast Cookies from Chef Savvy
Breakfast Oatmeal Craisin Cookies from Dishing Delish
Breakfast Cookies from Spend with Pennies
Apple Pie Breakfast Cookies from Kristine’s Kitchen
3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies from One Clever Chef
No Egg Gluten Free Coconut Cookies from Low Carb Yum
Energy Cookies from Cooking Classy
Blueberry Breakfast Cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction
No-Bake Grain Free Breakfast Cookies from Health, Home, and Happiness
Eggless Almond Flour Cookies from Rachna’s Kitchen
Grain Free Pumpkin Raisin Cookies from Raising Generation Nourished
Paleo Pumpkin Spice Protein Cookies from One Clever Chef
Hazelnut Flour Keto Cookies from Low Carb Yum
Easy Breakfast Cookie from Teaspoon of Goodness
Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies from To Simply Inspire
Breakfast Cookies from Farm Fresh Feasts
Breakfast Snack Cookies from Schneiderpeeps
Sugar-Free Breakfast Cookies from Homestead Lady

Homemade Granola Cereal

Most store bought cereal is full of ingredients that don’t exactly fit with a wholesome eating plan. And goodness, they’re expensive! Try some of these granola recipes for making your own breakfast cereal at home.

How to Make Granola: Breakfast Cereal That Won’t Break the Bankfrom Attainable Sustainable
Sunflower Granola from Homespun Seasonal Living
Persimmon Granolafrom Attainable Sustainable
Paleo Granola from The Real Food Dieticians
Maple Pumpkin Granola from Attainable Sustainable
Paleo Cinnamon Granola from Jay’s Baking Me Crazy
Strawberry Granola from Delicious Obsessions
Maple Pecan Cinnamon Granola from Garlic and Zest
Pumpkin and Spice Granola from Delicious Obsessions
Easy Granola with Honey and Nuts from Inside the Rustic Kitchen
Sweet & Crunchy Oats and Honey Granola from Reformation Acres
Pumpkin Coconut Almond Granola from Grow Forage Cook Ferment
Fruit and Nut Granola with Chia Seeds and Coconut from Delicious Obsessions
Coconut Pumpkin Granolafrom Casey the College Celiac
Grain Free Paleo Granola from West Coast Mommy

100+ Recipes for Granola Bars, Bites, and Cereal (2024)

FAQs

What binds granola bars together? ›

While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey! When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together.

Read The Full Story ›

Is making your own granola bars cheaper? ›

They save well (wrap and freeze them for up to two months), are more affordable than store-bought bars, and don't contain the long list of unpronounceable ingredients. Plus, your kitchen will smell like a bakery while these granola bars bake. Ahhhh.

Get More Info Here ›

Should you soak oats before making granola bars? ›

Fill the bowl up with water to completely cover the mixture – enough that you can stir to combine. This soaking process will help the oats and seeds digest better. After the oat/seed mixture has soaked 8-12 hours, add the rest of the ingredients and combine.

Read The Full Story ›

What makes granola clump together? ›

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

Show Me More ›

How do you keep homemade granola bars from falling apart? ›

If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.

Discover More Details ›

What is the best glue for granola bars? ›

Honey and brown sugar help make a glue for the bars.

The honey and brown sugar really helps with keeping the bars together. Chocolate chips added to the mixture help, too. We add some to the granola mixture while it is still warm.

Read The Full Story ›

Is 2 granola bars a day too much? ›

Consuming one or two bars per day as a snack is generally acceptable, but should be balanced with other nutritional needs and the overall diet. Individuals should be cautious of their total daily intake of calories, sugar, fat, fiber, and sodium to maintain a balanced diet.

Know More ›

How long do homemade granola bars last? ›

Store them in the fridge or freezer.

I recommend storing them with a sheet of parchment paper between layers so that the bars don't stick together. They'll keep for up to a week in the fridge, but you can also freeze them for up to 2 months.

Show Me More ›

Do granola bars count as junk food? ›

Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don't let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fibre.

Learn More ›

What happens if you don't soak oats? ›

By soaking your oats you neutralize the phytic acid. This soaking allows the beneficial enzymes to work and increases the number of vitamins and minerals present that your body will absorb. On the plus side, the process of rolling oats removes at least part of the bran, where a large portion of the phytic acid resides.

Explore More ›

Why do you rinse soaked oats? ›

Gently rinsing soaked oats not only helps them to be less “pasty” in texture, but also helps to reduce any sour flavor that may develop as a result of the soaking process.

Explore More ›

How do you get homemade granola to stick together? ›

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Egg White

The egg white is whisked until frothy (20 to 30 seconds will do it), then stirred into the oat mixture. The idea is that the egg's protein will help the oats bind to each other and create delicate clusters.

Know More ›

What to avoid in granola? ›

Saturated Fat

Some granola recipes or brands have a lot of saturated fat, often from ingredients like coconut oil. A diet high in saturated fat can harm your heart. Hence, aim for granola packed with more unsaturated fats, such as nuts and seeds.

Discover More ›

Why is my homemade granola not crunchy? ›

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

Keep Reading ›

Why is my granola bar not crunchy? ›

Baking time: Increase the baking time for your granola. The longer you bake it, the drier and crunchier it will become. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning, and stir it occasionally during baking to ensure even toasting.

Know More ›

What is a good binding agent for granola? ›

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

Show Me More ›

What is the binder in granola? ›

The binder is what helps the base ingredients clump together into clusters. Traditionally this is usually a sugar syrup, but it's possible to use any ingredient that has the power to bind. Egg - Egg whites are a great binder for granola if you are trying to avoid sugar.

Know More ›

What is a good binder for protein bars? ›

Overall, raisins are an excellent binder that perform well when used in protein bar applications and could be used as a binder in many other applications. BENCHTOP PROCESSING METHOD: In a food processor or buffalo chopper, blend whole raisins, half the nuts, all the egg white, salt, vanilla, and yogurt powder.

Read The Full Story ›

How do you make granola bind? ›

Make sure that whichever granola recipe you use, it calls for some liquid, typically oil of some kind (I recommend olive oil for a subtle earthy, floral flavor, or melted unrefined coconut oil for subtly coconutty flavor). The liquid will help the chia seeds to gel, ensuring the granola sticks together.

Get More Info Here ›