Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

from 2 votes

These Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are soft, chewy and so much better than store-bought! Easy to make and packed with simple, wholesome ingredients like oats, almonds, and honey, these granola bars are a healthy and delicious snack any time of day. Perfect for breakfast, an afternoon treat or a kid-friendly snack, they’re bound to become a family favorite.

A hand holds a soft and chewy homemade chocolate chip granola bar.

As a busy mom of four, I know the struggle of finding wholesome and delicious snacks that the whole family will love. Enter, soft and chewy homemade granola bar lovers! This quick and easy granola bar recipe yields more than a dozen bars jam-packed with toasted oats and almonds, studded with mini chocolate chips and loaded with flaxseed meal (hello, omega-3’s!).

These granola bars are the perfect solution for any parent on the go or anyone looking to satisfying those midday cravings. Keep reading for my easy and kid-approved recipe that will elevate your snack and school lunch game and keep your family fueled throughout the day.

Ingredients

To make these granola bars gluten-free, simply use certified gluten-free oats and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.

  • Old-fashioned oats: Oats are the backbone of these homemade granola bars, providing a hearty texture and a good dose of fiber. I love using old-fashioned oats for their chewy consistency but if you prefer a softer bar, you can use quick oats.
  • Sliced almonds
  • Flaxseed meal: If this is sounding like a foreign ingredient in your world, have no fear. It’s simply whole flaxseeds that have been ground into a fine powder, and best of all, it can be purchased at most major supermarkets. Flaxseed meal takes the place of flour in this recipe and provides the chewy texture that I crave in the softer varieties of granola bars.
  • Mini chocolate chips: Just like store-bought chocolate chip granola bars, I like to use mini chocolate chips in my DIY granola bars.
  • Brown sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness.
  • Honey: Acts as both a sweetener and a binding agent. Maple syrup also works really well in this recipe.
  • Canola oil: Keeps the bars moist and adds a subtle richness. Melted coconut oil is a great alternative.
  • Egg whites: Help bind the ingredients together, giving the oat bars their chewy texture.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Ready to kick those store-bought granola bars to the curb? Preheat your oven, grab the oats and get ready to snack on soft and chewy granola bars, packaging not included.

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
  2. Toast the oats and almonds. Place onto a baking sheet and bake until lightly brown. Transfer to a mixing bowl, let cool, then stir in the flaxseed meal and chocolate chips.
  3. Whisk together the wet ingredients. Mix the brown sugar, salt, honey, vegetable oil and egg whites. Add to the dry ingredients, mixing to combine.
Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars #recipe
  1. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Press it firmly into an even layer.

Pro Tip: It’s important to firmly press the oat mixture into the prepared pan. The more compacted it is, the more likely your bars will retain their shape.

Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars #recipe
  1. Bake. Bake until the granola is dark golden brown on top, then let cool for a couple of hours.
  2. Slice. Transfer the parchment sheet and granola rectangle to a cutting board, then slice into 16 bars.

Homemade Granola Bar Tips

There are a few key tips to whipping up the best homemade granola bars:

  • DON’T underbake the granola. We’re looking for a dark golden color to guarantee the ingredients have bound together.
  • DO add in any other preferred mix-ins, such as dried fruits, coconut or crystallized ginger.
  • DON’T rush the cooling process. It’s important to allow the bars to cool in the pan for a full 2 hours so that they hold their shape post-slicing.
  • DO tell yourself that you’re “only going to eat one granola bar” and then eat three and rationalize the added servings were providing “additional health benefits.” (Been there, done that. President of that club.)
Soft and chewy homemade chocolate chip granola bars.

Variations

You can make so many swaps with this baked granola bar recipe and they’ll turn out great. Here are some ideas:

  • Add nut butter. Taking inspiration from my peanut butter granola bars, you can add any nut butter to this recipe! Peanut, almond, sunflower or cashew butter would all be great. 
  • Add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.
  • Use any nuts. Instead of sliced almonds, try chopped cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or chopped walnuts.
  • Add dried fruit. Dried raisins, cranberries or chopped dates would all work well.

How to Store

To keep your homemade granola bars fresh and easy to grab on the go, simply wrap them individually in parchment paper or wax paper. Beeswax wraps work great, too. This not only prevents them from sticking together but also helps maintain their soft and chewy texture. Once wrapped, pop the bars into an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and store them at room temp. They’ll keep for up to a week.

They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Just let them thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying.

Homemade baked granola bars with mini chocolate chips.

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Breakfast

Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Soft and chewy granola bar lovers, your search has ended for a homemade take on the store-bought snack. This quick and easy granola bar recipe yields more than a dozen bars jam-packed with toasted oats and almonds, studded with mini chocolate chips and loaded with flaxseed meal (hello, omega-3’s!).
Author: Kelly Senyei
5 from 2 votes
Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars #recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 16 bars

Ingredients 

  • 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup flaxseed meal (See Kelly’s Notes)
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2 large egg whites, lightly whisked

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F and line 13×9-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang on the two short sides of pan. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.
  • Spread the oats and almonds on an unlined baking sheet. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the oats and almonds to a large bowl and let them cool completely. Once cooled, stir in the flaxseed meal and mini chocolate chips.
  • In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, salt, honey, vegetable oil and egg whites. Pour the mixture over the oats, stirring until it’s well coated.
  • Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and using wet hands or a flat spatula, firmly press it into even layer. (See Kelly’s Notes.)
  • Bake the granola for 30 to 35 minutes until dark golden on top. Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 2 hours.
  • Using the parchment paper overhangs, transfer the granola onto a cutting board and slice it into bars.
  • Store the granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Kelly’s Notes

  • Flaxseed meal is ground flaxseeds, and it can be purchased in the baking aisle of most major supermarkets. If you can only find whole flaxseeds, grind them to a fine powder in a spice grinder or blender.
  • It’s important to firmly press the oat mixture into the prepared pan. The more compacted it is, the more likely your bars will retain their shape.
  • These bars can be kept at room temperature for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to a month.
  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Serving: 1granola bar, Calories: 252kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 90mg, Potassium: 124mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 25IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 1mg

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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Technique inspired by Good Housekeeping. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.


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Comments

  1. I made these the other day and they are delicious. I pressed as hard as I could and let them cook the right 2 hours but I may not have cooked them long enough because they are not staying together. I can’t wait to try them again.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Teresa! It’s also important to firmly press the granola mixture into the prepared pan. The more you compact it before baking, the more likely your bars will retain their shape. I look forward to reading your results next time! :)

  2. 5 stars
    Hi Ms. Kelly, i love the oatmeal bars,although they were a bit crumbly. I noticed it was a bit watery before i baked it. Maybe I’ll reduce the honey. They’re so yummy even without almonds. I added 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder,coz i love cinnamon and it worked..Thanks a lot..

      1. Hi Laura – If it’s very humid where you are, that could contribute to the bars not setting up firmly. You’ll also want to make sure that you firmly press the oat mixture into the prepared pan and bake them for the designated time. Hope that helps!

  3. The best granola bars EVER! I make a batch of these every week. Mine turn out perfect every time. My husband and kids LOVE them. Thank you for the recipe!

  4. I’ve made these bars several times and my teenage kids love them! They don’t eat store bought granola bars at all but I make these and they are gone in days – they take them to school to share with friends. I don’t use the almonds because my son doesn’t like them but I do add dried cranberries. I love them too! It’s a great recipe

  5. My daughter is allergic to eggs. Can you please suggest a substitute for the eggs. would love to try these granola bars. sound delicious.

    1. Hi Amita! I’ve never tried making this recipe with an egg substitute. I’ve researched alternatives and you can apparently purchase vegan “eggs,” however I’ve never tried these so I can’t say with certainty if they will work. Please let me know if you give it a try!

    2. You can actually make an egg substitute with flaxseed meal. You mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for 5-10 mins.

  6. Hi Kelly: I was wondering whether or not you have ever tried a substitute for sugar. I try to stay from sugar as much as possible. What about honey or agave, etc. Thanks

    1. Hi Edith! I’ve never tried using a substitute for sugar in this recipe so I can’t say with certainty if it’d work. Please let me know if you give it a shot with honey or agave! :)

  7. I tried making these and followed the recipe and directions verbatum. Mine were really crumbley and hard like the crunchy granola bars you would buy at the store. Not what I expected as I was hoping for the chewy ones. Unfortunately these didn’t work out for me.

    1. Hi there – I’m sorry you didn’t have success with this recipe. Oven temperatures differ and perhaps that is what caused your bars to be crunchy. If you give it another shot, check them earlier in the baking process and remove them when they have a golden brown color to them.

    1. Hi Sam! I haven’t tried freezing them so I can’t say how they would hold up, but it’s possible the texture will change. Let me know if you give it a shot!

  8. I actually replaced the flaxseed meal with all purpose flour (and the almonds with coconut) and it was like eating an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bar! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe! :)

  9. These are a huge hit, I do however use organic coconut oil in place of the vegetable oil, and add chia seeds also they are amazing, as a nursing momma these are always at hand when i need a snack, and being oatmeal w all the omegas with the flax and chia definitely help!

  10. You can add ground flax to anything! I add it in my daughter’s and my oatmeal,smoothies, eggs, pancakes, whatever really!

    1. Hi there! I am not a nutritionist so I am unable to provide nutritional info for my recipes, as I’d have to way to guarantee it’s 110% accurate (which is super important to me!).

    1. Thanks, Maritza! I’m not a nutritionist so I don’t provide that info for any of my recipes, as I’d have no way to guarantee it’s 110% accurate.

  11. Hi, those bars look delicious us. Can I leave out the egg white or sub it with something else? my son is allergic to eggs. Thanks!

  12. Hi!
    I have substituted the flaxseed meal with oats powder (mad from the same oats I used for the bars). The result is great!
    THank you for the recipe!

  13. These look amazing! I’m wondering if I could substitute the vegetable oil for coconut oil? Seems like they’d be a little more healthier too.

    1. Hi Miranda! I’ve never tried that substitute so I can’t say with certainty if it’d work. Let me know if you give it a shot!

    1. Definitely! They are chewy and soft, not crunchy. I have never tried substituting applesauce for the oil, so I’m not sure if that would work. Let me know if you give it a shot!

  14. Than You for this recipe I have been hunting for a coconut free granola becase of allergies. I made them yesterday used chopped cashews for the almonds, and dried cranberries and dark chocolate mixed in. They are boyscout approved and trail ready.

  15. You could try molasses as a substitute for the brown sugar. Or maybe try making your own by mixing regular sugar with the molasses until you get the desired consistency?

  16. My teen kids both have nut allergies so it’s very hard to find nut free bars. If I leave out the almonds, can I substitute something else healthy? Protein powder? They are athletes and need energy. Thanks!

    1. Hi Alison! You can definitely try leaving out the nuts and adding the protein powder but it may alter the consistency of the bars. It should still work though! Let me know if you give it a shot.

  17. These look delish! I will be trying these! To those who have a difficult time finding brown sugar, buy molassass, add it to your granulated sugar and you have brown sugar. :)

  18. I love these granola bars! I’ve been thinking of maybe putting peanut butter into these but I’m not quite sure how it would be. Thoughts?

  19. Hi,

    I made the granola bar, it was delicious and very healthy. The kids love it and they walk around saying “more granola bar”. Thank you for sharing.

    For those who can’t find flaxseeds, you may order them from Amazon and shipped to your door for free shipping.

    I have one question: after making it, when I cut it, it was breaking a part on me even though I waited 2hrs and followed the recipe. Any advice?

    Thanks again!

    1. Hi EJ – If it’s very humid where you are, that could contribute to the bars not setting up firmly. You’ll also want to make sure you baked them for the designated time.

  20. ‘re: homemade chocolate granola bars. I would love to make these, but is there calorie info per bar? My daughter-in-law needs caloric info on foods she eats. Thanks!

    1. Hi Mona – Thanks so much for your comment. I don’t provide the calorie count/nutritional info for any of my recipes, as I am not a nutritionist and wouldn’t be able to confirm the info is 110% accurate :)

  21. Kelly,
    my daughter has a nut allergy. I’m sure I can leave the almonds out, but have you ever tried using dried apples in this type of recipe? These look awesome and super easy to make. I’m just wondering what other variations I can try.

    1. Hi Tamara! You can definitely sub in the equivalent amount of dried fruit for the nuts, but just make sure to keep the ratios of wet to dry ingredients the same so the bars have the right chewy consistency. Hope this helps!

  22. Made this today and they tasted grate! I left them in for 30 min and will check them at 25 min next time. A little dark and crispy…but still delicious! I am one of those people that changed a few things ( I know :/) But I went to 2 stores and both were out of flax seed. Go figure!

    My changes: For anyone asking about leaving out flax seed or changing it up. I left it out completely. I did not replace it with anything.Turned out great anyway so I would go for it. I used extra virgin olive oil instead of vegetable oil. Everything else I followed. Turned out wonderful. This is a great basic recipe. I will make these again and experiment with different mix ins. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Shay, and thanks so much for your notes about the flaxseed!

  23. You all probably know this but in case someone doesn’t, you can make flaxseed meal very easily by grinding flax seeds in an electric coffee grinder. It’s fast & comes out beautifully.

  24. I have been wondering how to make homemade granola bars and this recipe makes it seem so easy! As in, easy-enough-to-make-today-easy!

  25. Ok, definitely saving this because I’ve got a huge bag of flaxseeds that I can never find use for – these are getting made tomorrow!

  26. I made these with my son today, we both love them! I added craisins to one batch, yum! thanks for the recipe :)

  27. Question: is there a substitute for the flaxseed and the brown sugar? I’m in a country where those ingredients aren’t readily available. Thanks!

    1. Hi Mel! I’ve never tried making this recipe without the brown sugar or flaxseed meal, so I can’t say for certain which other ingredients would work in their places. Based on my research, you could use wheat germ or your could use ground up oatmeal. And since the recipe already calls for oats, this might be the best option. Do let me know if you try using either wheat germ or ground up oatmeal and how the granola bars turn out!

  28. Loooove homemade granola bars, the tips and tricks will really help next time I make some :)

  29. can we skip flax seed? hard to find it here. can’t find wheat germ either. is there any other alternative to flax seed? thanks

    1. Hi Pearse! I’ve never tried making this recipe without the flaxseed meal. I’ve researched alternatives and you can apparently use ground up oatmeal in place of the flaxseed meal, however I’ve never tried this so I can’t say with certainty if it will work. Please let me know if you give it a try!

  30. So EXCITED!!!! I was just looking for a recipe a few days ago…will make this weekend. I have pecans to use instead of almonds. I will use some of my white chocolate chips in some. Thank you!!!