Wholesome Cranberry Almond Granola Bars
Chewy yet crunchy homemade granola bars with tart cranberries and nutty almonds, sweetened naturally with honey and maple syrup. Perfect for a quick, wholesome snack that fuels your day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 22 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups (180g) rolled oats
- 1 cup (90g) sliced almonds, toasted
- 1 cup (140g) dried cranberries (unsweetened or lightly sweetened)
- 1/3 cup (113g) honey
- 1/4 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup (80g) natural peanut butter (creamy)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- Optional: 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread sliced almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 5-7 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden and fragrant. Let cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, toasted almonds, dried cranberries, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to distribute evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, maple syrup, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Warm peanut butter slightly if stiff to ease mixing.
- Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients. Fold together with a spatula or wooden spoon until oats and nuts are well coated and sticky, clumping when pressed.
- Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving extra overhang for easy removal. Transfer mixture and press firmly and evenly into the pan using the bottom of a glass or spatula.
- Refrigerate the pan for at least 2 hours or overnight to let bars set properly.
- Lift the granola slab out using parchment edges. Place on a cutting board and slice into 10-12 bars.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Use sticky binders like honey and peanut butter to ensure bars hold together. Press mixture firmly but not too hard to avoid dense bars. Chill bars well before cutting to prevent crumbling. Store at room temperature up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Peanut butter can be swapped with almond butter or sunflower seed butter for nut allergies. Certified gluten-free oats are required for gluten-free version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (assuming 10 b
- Calories: 190
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: granola bars, cranberry almond bars, homemade snack bars, healthy snacks, easy granola bars, chewy granola bars, gluten-free granola bars