Saturday, February 8, 2025

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars (Stop Buying Store-Bought) and more...

Welcome to my 2025 Stop Buying Store-Bought series where I challenge myself to learn to make items I typically buy at the store. Today, we’re making homemade granola bars (and I never want to buy store-bought again! )
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Homemade Chewy Granola Bars (Stop Buying Store-Bought)

Welcome to my 2025 Stop Buying Store-Bought series where I challenge myself to learn to make items I typically buy at the store. Today, we’re trying a homemade chewy granola bars recipe and it is sooooo delicious!

My First Time Trying Homemade Granola Bars!

Can you believe I’ve never made granola bars from scratch??!!

My sister posted her granola bar recipe years ago on this blog, and I always wanted to try it but never did!

Recently, I decided it was time to try making granola bars, but I didn’t have the ingredients on hand for my sister’s recipe so I searched online and found a recipe I could adapt with what I had on hand.

delicious homemade chewy granola bars

This Homemade Chewy Granola Bar Recipe is SO Yummy!

I was so happy with how these turned out — sweet (but not too sweet), easy to make, and a big hit with our entire family!

Now I have to try my sister’s recipe (I’ve heard from so many of you who love it so much!).

chewy granola bar recipe

Ingredients for Homemade Granola Bars

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 cups oats (quick oats or rolled oats)
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal (I subbed healthy cocoa puffs because that’s what I had.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
granola bars recipe

How to Make Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

1. In a medium bowl, stir together oats and cereal.

2. In a small sauce pan, melt butter, honey, and brown sugar together over medium heat.

3. Bring mixture to a low boil. Reduce heat and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sugar is fully dissolved.

4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

5. Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and mix well.

6. Line a small pan (12x8x1 or a similar size) with parchment paper.

7. Dump granola mixture into pan and press down to about 3/4-inch thickness.

8. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and press them into the mixture.

9. Place on the countertop for one to two hours (until fully cooled).

making granola bars

10. Cut into bars, place in an airtight container or ziptop bag, and refrigerate or freeze.

Crystal Paine holding granola bars in bag

That’s it! Enjoy as breakfast or snack. Yum!

What should I attempt making next as part of the Stop Buying Storebought series?

More Granola Recipes!

Print

Homemade Granola Bars

Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword freezer friendly, granola, quick snack, snack
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 10 Bars
Calories 186kcal
Author Crystal Paine

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 cups oats quick oats or rolled oats
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal I subbed healthy cocoa puffs because that’s what I had.
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, stir together oats and cereal.
  • In a small sauce pan, melt butter, honey, and brown sugar together over medium heat.
  • Bring mixture to a low boil. Reduce heat and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sugar is fully dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
  • Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Line a small pan (12x8x1 or a similar size) with parchment paper.
  • Dump granola mixture into pan and press down to about 3/4-inch thickness.
  • Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and press them into the mixture.
  • Place on the countertop for one to two hours (until fully cooled).
  • Cut into bars, place in an airtight container or ziptop bag, and refrigerate or freeze.

Notes

Receipt adapted from Lauren’s Latest

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 152IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
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Brigette’s $150 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly for Plan for 5!

My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!

Aldi

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $5.30

1 Organic Half and Half – $3.79

2 gallons Milk – $4.32

1 bag Frozen Strawberries – $3.29

2-lbs Sausage – $5.70

1 pkg Brats – $3.49

1 5-lb roll Hamburger – $12.49

1 pkg boneless Chicken Breasts – $11.33

1 pkg Chicken Leg Quarters – $6.40

2 16-oz pkgs Deli Meat – $8.90

3 8-oz pkgs Sliced Cheese – $5.47

1 2-lb bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $6.99

3 dozen Eggs – $12.99

1 bag Chocolate Chips – $2.49

2 boxes Granola Bars – $3.50

2 boxes Raisin Bran – $4.38

2 boxes Rice Squares – $5.30

2 bags Tortilla Chips – $2.98

2 bags Kettle Chips – $2.98

1 bag Tomatoes – $1.89

3 Cucumbers – $2.07

1 bag Romaine Hearts – $3.39

1 3-ct pkg Multi-Colored Peppers – $2.39

1 Cauliflower – $2.89

1 box Butter Quarters – $3.79

2 pkgs Hot Dog Buns – $2.30

2 pkgs Hamburger Buns – $2.30

2 loaves Sandwich Bread – $1.98

Total: $126.19

Publix

1 Califia Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk – $2.99, used $1/1 Califia Publix digital coupon – $1.99 after coupon

2 McCain Classic Fries – $5.99, use $1.50/2 McCain Publix digital coupon – $4.49 for 2 after coupon

1 Kinder – $1.79, received $1.69/1 Kinder back from Ibotta – $0.10 after rebate

2 Breyers – $5.31, used $2/2 Breyers Publix digital coupon – $3.31 for 2 after coupon

1 Tyson Crispy Wings – $4.99, used $3/1 Tyson Crispy Wings Publix digital coupon – $1.99 after coupon

2  boxes Cascadian Farms Granola Bars – $5.19, used $1/2 Cascadian Farms Publix digital coupon – $4.19 for 2 after coupon

2 Sabra Hummus – $5.49, used $1.25/2 Sabra Publix digital coupon – $4.24 for 2 after coupon

2 Pillsbury Crescents – $4.19, used $1/2 Pillsbury Publix digital coupon – $3.19 for 2 after coupon

1 Kinder BBQ Sauce – $1.99, $0.75/1 Kinder back from Ibotta – $1.24 after rebate

Total after Coupons and Rebates: $24.74

Grocery Total for the Week: $150.93

Weekly Menu Plan

(This week’s menu is subsidized by a huge box of produce someone from our church gave us, but I forgot to take a picture of).

Breakfasts

Cereal, Oatmeal, Toast, Smoothies, Fruit, Boiled/Scrambled Eggs

Lunches

Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Chips, Raw Veggies with Hummus, Fruit x 4

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs

Grilled Chicken, Cauliflower, Biscuits

Venison Meat Loaf, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans

Brats, French Fries, Tossed Salad

Baked Chicken Breasts, Creamy Milk Rice, Tossed Salad

Hamburgers, Chips, Broccoli

Leftovers

One week sample newsletter preview.

FREE One Week Menu Plan!

Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!

   
 
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