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 are the calories per bar when the recipe yields 24 bars? Thank you
Do you have a nutritional facts for this recipe?
Are these granola bars soft & chewy or churchy?
Lol, Crunchy!
Hee hee :-)
Hi Debbie! These are crunchy! Since we like to store ours long term, I removed as much water as possible. Plus, we just like crunchy granola bars :-)
If you want them to be softer and chewy, just reduce the cooking time by 15 minutes. Be sure to allow them to cool fully before trying to eat them. If the honey/sugar is still warm the bars don’t hold together.
I hope that helps!
I’m making them now, but don’t see what size of pan to use. It will make a difference as to how think they turn out. Thanks for your help.
Hey Terry! It doesn’t matter. If you look at the picture that includes the shot of the tray, the granola isn’t all the way up to the edge. Instead, just form an even edge as best you can by pressing it straight with your hand. I hope you enjoy them!