Author: Making them is the “easy” part, but how to store homemade granola bars seems somewhat of a mystery. Find out how easy it really is and get my husband and toddler approved tested recipe!
A friend recently asked about exactly how to replace store bought granola bars with homemade ones. She wasn’t sure how to make them in bulk and store them in a way that kept them fresh.
So, of course, I set out to test a few methods and report back to her!
Homemade Granola Bars
First, you have to actually make the granola bars. This is a terribly easy recipe that I’ve made for a decade. It’s perfect in taste and texture. Crunchy without being a tooth-breaking hazard… soft without completely falling apart!
It also has the perfect amount of sweetness; enough to be enjoyable, but not so much that eating one first thing in the morning is going to put you over the edge!
They are also completely toddler and husband approved. Win-win!
Get the full recipe at the end of this post and be sure to read my notes on how to wash almonds before use (and why you really need to!).
Once you have the bars cooked, allow them to cool completely. Then cut them into whatever size bars fit your family needs. This recipe makes 24 bars for us.
Storing Homemade Granola Bars
Cut strips of wax paper large enough to wrap your bars like a Christmas gift. I like to have my seam going along the length with the folds going on the small ends.
In my tests, this method allowed the least amount of air to reach the bars, which kept them fresh longer.
Simply wrap each bar and secure the paper with regular ol’ tape.
Store at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Note: If you live in a particularly humid climate, you might want to store the bars in the freezer until the night before needing them; at which point you can remove them from the freezer and leave them on the counter overnight. Or you can thaw them in batches for a weeks worth of consumption.
Now you can ditch the store bought bars and add this to your homemade items! Plus, it’s a great money saving recipe.
6 store bought organic chocolate chip granola bars cost $3.89, or $0.67 per bar. This recipe yields 24 bars at $0.26 per bar. That’s a 62% savings!
Ingredients
- 4 cups organic old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup Einkorn flour
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
- 1/3 cup organic brown sugar
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup raw butter melted
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tsp homemade vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix.
- Add wet ingredients to dry mix and combine well.
- On a parchment lined baking sheet, add granola mixture and form into a tight shape about 1 inch thick and the size of your tray.
- Make sure the sides are as straight as possible, thinner sections of the granola may become overcooked.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely, cut into 24 bars, wrap in parchment paper and tape closed for long term storage.
More Money Saving Tips
What’s einkorn flour?? Where do I get it?
Hi Dayle!
Great question :-) You can read more about Einkorn flour in my post here. But in short, it is the original form of wheat that is easier for your body to digest. It is suitable for many celiacs (my family has severe reactions to “regular” wheat, but can tolerate Einkorn just fine!)…
But it has all the same flavor and texture of the modern wheat you are used to! We love it! And you can order it through Amazon here if you’d like to try it too!
Thanks for stopping by!
Can I sub in rice crisps cereal in place of the nuts?
I don’t see why not! Plus, it sounds delicious!
Hi Victoria. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I have a question..What is the difference between baking the granola bars amd leaving them to set in the fridge? thanks.
Hi Darren, thanks for your question! I would liken it to cookie dough versus a baked cookie. The two are the same, but completely different.
Setting the granola in the fridge would give you a sort of “no bake” cookie, but it wouldn’t stay together at room temp and it wouldn’t be crispy.
In order to have the proper texture and storing ability, they really need to be baked. Hope that helps!