With the children heading back to school, I am looking for some healthy, nourishing snacks I can have on hand. These Gluten Free Granola Bars with Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chips, Almonds and Pecans tick all the boxes: healthy, protein-rich, sweet and chewy… They are perfect!
I always struggle to find healthy snacks that my children actually want to eat. They love chocolate and anything sweet, so I have a hard time convincing them to eat the healthier options. These granola bars, however, seem to do the trick! They are sweetened with honey and contain lots of protein from the peanut butter, oats and eggs so I feel good about giving them to my family, even on a school day.
Just a few, healthy ingredients go into these Granola Bars. When you compare that to shop bought ones, full of additives and sugar, you will be convinced, as I am, that making your own is best.
So, why not make these Gluten Free Granola Bars with Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Almonds and Pecans part of your after-school snack rotation? They are easy to make and store very well – a perfect option for busy school days!
Are you more of a visual person? Check out this video and see me make Gluten Free Granola Bars, along with two other gluten and dairy free snacks!
Ingredients Needed to Make Gluten Free Granola Bars With Chocolate Chips
- 100g peanut butter
- 50g coconut oil
- 130g honey
- 300g gluten free oats
- 100g chopped almonds
- 50g chopped pecans
- 50g dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
Peanut Butter
This is an important part of the recipe, so it is important to get a good quality peanut butter. Make sure it is 100% peanuts, organic if possible. It is also very easy to make your own peanut butter if you have the right equipment. Take a look at this tutorial if you want to give it a go.
Coconut Oil
I like to use virgin organic coconut oil but it can get expensive, so I always make the most of it when it is on sale and buy several. I have also found organic coconut milk in discount shops like Lidl and Action, it’s worth keeping your eye out!
Honey
I like to use honey as a sweetener because the sugar it contains is fructose, which is a lot better for you. I do try to be careful about the honey I buy since I heard that a lot of commercial honey is, in reality, flavoured sugar syrup. We have recently come back from holiday and I bough several jars of local honey to bring back with me. It is tastier and I know exactly where it has come from 😉
Gluten Free Oats
If you are able to eat gluten, you can obviously use normal oats for this recipe, it will work just as well.
I like to use rolled oats as they are easier to chew and hold together better that steel cut oats.
Chopped Nuts
I like to use almonds and pecans, but you can really use whichever nuts you prefer. I think walnuts would work well, and hazelnuts too, although you would only want to use a small amount.
If you wish, you can also replace some of the nuts with seeds.
Chocolate Chips
I use dark (semi-sweet) chocolate chips as they do not contain milk, so my boys can eat them. You could use milk chocolate chips but they would make the Granola Bars a lot sweeter.
Salt
I always add a dash of salt to my sweet dishes as I find that it brings out the flavour really well. I have recently started using only sea salt (not fine table salt) and I am very happy with the results.
Eggs
The eggs play and important part in this recipe, they help to hold the granola bars together and they provide extra protein.
How to Make Homemade Gluten Free Granola Bars with Chocolate Chips
There are only a few steps to making this Gluten Free Granola Bars.
Preheat the oven to 180°C Fan and line a square 25cm x 25cm tin with baking parchment.
In a medium sized saucepan on a medium heat, melt the honey, peanut butter and coconut oil together. Stir well.
Take the saucepan off the heat and add the oats, nuts, salt and, lastly, eggs. Mix well.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin and press down firmly with the back of a wooden spoon.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and press down again with the back of the wooden spoon.
Bake in the oven for 20 mins or until lightly browned all over.
Allow to cool completely in the tin before transferring to a chopping board and slicing as desired. Depending on your family’s appetite, you can make the bars bigger or smaller. I usually make 12-15 bars with this recipe.
How to Store these Gluten Free Granola Bars
You can store these bars in an air tight container at room temperature for up to a week and they will stay firm. Be aware that they do contain egg, so they may go off quicker if your kitchen is warm. In that case it may be best to keep them in the fridge.
Why are Gluten Free Granola Bars Good for You?
While these Gluten Free Granola Bars contain quite a lot of fat, they are still good for you for several reasons.
- They contain protein due to the large amount of oats, nuts, peanut butter and the eggs.
- They contain a healthy sugar source: honey.
- They contain a substantial amount of fibre, thanks to the oats.
It goes without saying, however, that they should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet 😉
Here is a full breakdown of the nutritional values of one Granola Bar.
| Nutrient | Per Serving | % RDA (Adult) | % RDA (Child 6-12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 285 kcal | 14% (2000 kcal) | 19% (1500 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g | 8% (300 g) | 11% (230 g) |
| Protein | 5.9 g | 12% (50 g) | 17% (35 g) |
| Fat | 19 g | 29% (65 g) | 48% (40 g) |
| Fiber | 2.9 g | 12% (25 g) | 12% (25 g) |
| Sugars | 11.9 g | N/A | N/A |
| Sodium | 33 mg | 1% (2,300 mg) | 2% (1,500 mg) |
So, what snacks are you planning on making in this Back to School season? Will these Gluten Free Granola Bars with Chocolate Chips be part of your rotation? Let me know in the comments, I love to hear from you 😉
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Looking for more gluten free cakes and snacks? Check out my other recipes here.
You might also be interested in my Homemade Honey Granola with Almonds and Pecans recipe.
Gluten Free Granola Bars with Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Almonds and Pecans
Ingredients
- 100 g peanut butter
- 50 g coconut oil
- 130 g honey
- 300 g gluten free oats
- 100 g chopped almonds
- 50 g chopped pecans
- 50 g dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C Fan and line a square 25cm x 25cm tin.
- In a medium sized saucepan on a medium heat, melt the honey, peanut butter and coconut oil together. Stir well.
- Take the saucepan off the heat and add the oats, nuts, salt and, lastly, eggs. Mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin and press down firmly with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and press down again with the back of the wooden spoon.
- Bake in the oven for 20 mins or until lightly browned all over.
- Allow to cool completely in the tin before transferring to a chopping board and slicing as desired. Depending on your family’s appetite, you can make the bars bigger or smaller. I usually make 12-15 bars with this recipe.
Super recette, j’ai eu assez de barres pour toute la semaine.
Merci
Trop contente que ça t’a plu! Merci 🙂