These homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are a delicious lunchbox or afternoon treat, and are a cinch to make. They’re better than store-bought granola bars!

Raise your hand if you ate granola bars as a kid. I probably ate hundreds of them in my grade school years.

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars on a White Plate in Squares

You know, the ones that were Cookies & Cream, S’mores, and Peanut Butter flavored, that were delicious but also full of corn syrup and preservatives!

Today’s recipe is an adult-friendly and kid-friendly granola bar, but made with old-fashioned oats, whole wheat flour, unsweetened coconut, honey, and other upgrades from the store-bought bars.

This bar is definitely a treat, but a very nostalgic one that’s crunchy, flavorful, and hearty. They’re also very easy to make, basically just a “mix and bake” type of recipe.

Chocolate Chip Granola Bar Close Up View of Pieces Cut Into Rectangles

This recipe is from my friend Catherine’s cookbook Weelicious Lunches. Catherine is such a great resource for kid-friendly recipes, and does a lot of fresh fruit and vegetable focused food on her channels. Go check her out for some new healthy ideas!

How to Make Chocolate Chip Granola Bars:

In a large bowl, combine old-fashioned oats, whole wheat flour, unsweetened coconut flakes, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and salt:

Oats, Chocolate Chips, Coconut, Flour, Brown Sugar, and Salt in a Mixing Bowl

Stir together to distribute the ingredients, then pour in a mixture of honey, oil, and vanilla extract:

Adding Honey and Oil to the Oat Mixture In Bowl

I like to use olive oil, avocado oil, or melted coconut oil, but any neutral oil works.

Stir well to combine, then press the granola bars into a rimmed quarter sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper:

Spreading and Pressing the Granola Bar Mixture In Quarter Sheet Pan

Make sure to really compact it down into all the edges, which will help the granola bars hold together better.

Bake for about 35 minutes until golden:

Crunchy Granola Bar Mixture Baked with Golden Color

Let the bars cool for 10 minutes, then gently lift the block out of the pan using the parchment paper, and cut into whatever shape you’d like:

Homemade Chocolate Granola Bars Cut Into Pieces with Knife

You can do rectangular bars or squares, it’s up to you!

Chocolate Chip Granola Bar Squares on a White Plate on Wooden Board

Here’s my favorite Granola Recipe for loose, cluster granola instead of bars, that’s great for sprinkling over yogurt or snacking.

The full recipe is below, plus a video of the process below the recipe card. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars on a White Plate in Squares

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Servings: 30
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
These homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are the perfect treat to pack in your lunchbox or enjoy as an afternoon snack!
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Ingredients

  • 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1.25 oz whole wheat flour (1/4 cup, if measuring)
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil*
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup honey

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper.
  • Place the oats, flour, coconut, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and salt in a large bowl, and toss it all around with a spatula until combined.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the oil, vanilla, and honey until smooth and combined. Pour this all over the dry ingredients, and toss all the ingredients together until the wet ingredients have evenly coated all of the oats.
  • Press the granola mixture into the pan, really compacting it well. 
  • Bake the granola rectangle for about 35 minutes, until it’s golden and dry to the touch.
  • Cool the granola on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes, then cut into small bars with a really sharp knife.

Notes

*I use olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil (melt before using), but any neutral oil works. Catherine's recipe uses canola oil.
The bars will keep fresh for several weeks if wrapped individually in parchment or wax paper

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 45mg, Potassium: 57mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 15IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 0.7mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Joanne Ozug

 

Disclosure: Catherine sent me a review copy of her book. This post contains an affiliate link.

Post updated in July 2018 with new photos, writing, and tips. Originally published in September 2013.