I’m always looking for new on-the-go snack ideas.
In my 40 days program, we talk about dropping processed foods from our diets and that includes the majority of “snack bars” out there. You know the ones—they could even be in the health food section and proudly boast the words “organic” or “all natural” on their bright wrappers. If you go so far as to read the ingredients though, you’ll see that these bars are anything but healthy or natural.
I say if you really want to know exactly what goes into your body, your best bet is taking matters into your own hands and making things yourself.
Like these easy trail mix bars!
These bars are a sweet and chewy combination of whole grains, nuts, seeds and dark chocolate (we’re trying to be healthy, remember?) and are the perfect post-yoga or anytime snack.
They are a snap to make and travel nicely, too.
Perfect for road trips, ski weekends and lunchboxes (and yes, Adam finally brought his lunchbox(es) home from work–I found three in the back of his truck yesterday, dirty tupperware galore!).
Personally, I think these taste remarkably like those old school Quaker chocolate chip chewy granola bars. Am I the only one that has fond college memories of those? I think I ate about one a day for three years.
The only difference between these bars and their storebought cousins is that these don’t have any high fructose corn syrup in them…and like a billion less grams of sugar.
Dare I call them (gulp) healthy?
Yogi Trail Mix Bars
makes about 16 bars
1 cup honey
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4th tsp salt
2 T granulated sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
3/4 cup dried cherries, cranberries or berry blend (I used a blend of dried cherries, raspberries and currants)
Combine the honey, vanilla, salt, sugar and peanut butter in a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about four minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large bowl, combine all other ingredients except for chocolate chips. Pour the boiling honey mixture over the oat mixture and toss well. Finally, add the chocolate chips and fold together (being careful not to overmix and melt the chocolate).
Press mixture into a greased nine inch pan and pat down with wet hands. Chill in fridge for an hour, or until firm, before cutting into bars.
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{ 160 comments… read them below or add one }
I am obsessed with dried cherries and love putting them in granola bars… especially with chocolate chips!
these look delicious! Thanks for the healthy recipe. I wonder how you could make a granola bar that is more crunchy…like the Nature Valley’s Peanut Butter Granola Bar.
Oh my goodness, those look so delicious. And I think I have all of the ingredients on hand!
Those look delicious! You’re totally right about making food yourself if you want to know what goes into your body. I have really started to try to get processed foods and the chemicals they contain out of my life little by little–the biggest change/time commitment is that I now bake my own bread a couple of times a week because store-bought bread is so loaded with crap.
Those look fabulous, Jenna! And yes, I do remember the gold old Quaker bars.
Looks wonderful. My husband and I completely dropped processed food from our diets after we read Michael Pollan’s, In Defense of Food. (I just re-read it again last week) and it was the best thing we have ever done. Everyone says isn’t is hard, what do you eat? Yes it takes a little more work than just opening a box or heating something in the microwave (we gave that away about 2 years ago and don’t miss it at all) but it is totally worth it. My hair is better, my skin brighter, my nails harder. Everything is better…my digestion, mood, happiness, sex drive (tmi sorry) but I just think it is so important for people to understand that we are in control of what goes into our bodies. And when you take out the processed crap carbs you can eat all the oils, nuts, nut butters, full fat dairy that you want without having any negative side effects on your health! My husband and I both have not gained ANY weight, have really low cholesterol and blood pressures. They were never high to begin with but they were on the high end of normal for both of us and now they are the low end of normal. Okay…sorry for the overly long rant. It just really resonated with me when you said you were giving up processed food for 40 days!
That’s great Kelly!
Are you giving up processed foods for 40 days though – or didn’t you just say you “talked” about it?
Jenna, I can totally see this changing you…uh-oh…I think your going to do another 180 in the future and we’ll be seeing more (gulp) “healthy” foods
!
hahaha don’t get too excited. I have three pounds of butter in my fridge and I’m not afraid to use it.
That just made me smile
…and I needed it – just smashed my car into the back of someone else’s = money that I don’t have to spend. = a need to drown myself in butter (carrot cake recipe in the future?)…
I really want to read that book!!!
Jenna – i just tried this recipe and i am in love! but i’m afraid that these bars are just a little too sweet for my taste. is there anyway to lessen the sweetness, while still making the recipe work well?
You could try not adding the extra 2T of sugar and reducing the honey to 3/4th cup if you like!
I think I ate a Quaker S’mores granola bar every day for a year in college. I can’t even look at them now! But these look amazing and probably won’t give me flashbacks to frat parties and chemistry tests.
Gorgeous — and I totally agree, I really want to know what is going in my body. And when it comes to snacks, the homemade stuff is SO much better than processed. I’m at a point where the processed stuff just doesn’t appeal any more — and although it’s a little bit more work to make my own granola bars, muffin tops, etc., it’s not that much harder. And I definitely enjoy it more!
I can’t wait to try these! I like making stuff myself instead of buying it!
Homemade bars are popping up everywhere, and they are so easy to make! I don’t know why I’ve never made them better! Guess on I should start on this snowy day off work!
Beautiful looking bars! I love making my own snack bars
Those look amazing and I WILL be making them! We eat 100% all natural foods at home (it’s the whole going-out-to-dinner thing that kills me) and I love it! You can be so much more adventurous with your foods when you’re the one in charge of making them.
I used to like the quaker granola bars until I realized they just made me more hungry!
Great recipe! I can’t wait to try it!
My boyfriend also hoards Tupperware in his locker at school. It is disgusting! It is also funny, because they act like you will never notice. Um, I notice when I have no Tupperware to pack my lunch in!
YUM! They certainly look delicious…even if they are healthy!! Dark chocolate chips, cherries and coconut!? Yes please.
Those look really good. Do you know how they are calorie-wise?
I don’t! I’m sorry.
I do! Being the dietitian that I am, I went right away and crunched the numbers. They come in at about 250 calories, with over 40 grams of carbs, so they’re not QUITE the healthy feel-good snack. And about 4 times the sugar as those little quaker granola bars. I think it’s mostly just because they’re bigger than those little quaker bars. But I do think it’s worth reminding people that sugar is sugar, so just because this recipe has a cup of honey instead of HFCS, doesn’t give it the health halo that people often use. Not trying to be a drag here, just educatin’!
Hah! And that’s why I don’t count calories
I don’t blame you – it can make you a little nutty/paranoid. Us dietitians are a special breed
Thanks for the calorie count!
Yum! Those look great!
My hubby seems to hide all of his tupperware from his lunches somewhere and then brings home about 20 boxes and bowls all at once. Gross and incredibly stinky!
I used to eat Quaker bars all the time! They were good, but so small and they didn’t really help my hunger much! Tasty though!
I’ve made almost every other kind of “baked good” and snack food, so I can’t believe I’ve never made my own granola bars! I’ll have to change that soon!
Can not wait to try these! My kids LOVE granola bars. We just finished up 5 ingredient by How Sweet it is http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/01/05/5-ingredient-peanut-butter-granola-bars/. LOVED them, now we have to try these!
I haven’t tried Jessica’s yet but if they are anything like any of her other recipes, they rock!
These look awesome! I’ve been wanting to make my own trailmix/granola bars for a while now. I’ll have to try these!
These do look great but—don’t tell anybody—I think I’d rather eat your chocolate chip cookies.
well duh. I’d rather eat chocolate chip cookies, too!
Of all of the homemade granola bar recipes out there I think I like this one the best!
Though I’ll confirm after I make them
I recently moved to Madrid, Spain. I wanted to buy a packaged version it would be pretty much impossible! These I can handle. Thanks!
hehe thank you! Let me know what you think after you try them!
Great snack for on the go!
These sound terrific; yogi’s need there chocolate, too. I would definitely make mine with cherries, chocolate, and coconut for a Devil’s Food Cake flavor
devil’s food cake??! Yum.
I JUST talked to a friend about homemade granola bars last night. I tried a recipe that was sort of crumbly, but we both agreed that making things ourselves is worth knowing what we are eating!
I am making these! My son needs quick energy snacks… he will love these!
Great recipe–I love dried cherries and definitely joined you in consuming way too many of those bars in college!
Happy to see more great “healthy” recipes on the blog
Can’t wait to try these!
I figured y’all needed something healthy after last week’s debauchery with mac & cheese and buffalo dip!
I’ve been trying to cut out processed foods and this looks like a super easy way to get me started!
You could market these.
They look like they came straight from a package.
The are perfect!
mmm these look wonderful & i have almost everything on hand! i’m totally with you on the processed food thing too. it doesn’t have to be hard to make your own food… and it is SO much better!
i bet these taste great, but a quick googling reveals only 17g of carbs per quaker bar (chocolate chip variety). and with a full tablespoon of honey per bar, there is absolutely not “like a billion less grams of sugar” in yours. just sayin’. i understand you didn’t actually “dare” to call them healthy, and i’m in favor of whole foods as much as the next gal, but i find this post, at best, awfully disingenuous.
thank you for your constructive criticism! A lot (most!) of what I say on the blog is meant to be taken very tongue-and-cheek.
Quaker Oats bars have a ton of processed ingredients. These don’t. I find them very healthy and wholesome!
exactly! which is why i found this particular post frustrating. focusing on wholesome ingredients–even if they’re slightly decadent–is totally in line with what elr has come to be about. so there was no need to make a false or misleading statement. this is writing for profit, and words mean things.
anyway, i’ll quit. and i’ll probably make these bars at some point. i’m not trying to be nasty, i just had a bug up by @%$! i guess.
sure. i get, appreciate, and use hyperbole and other fun rhetorical tactics. it’s just that’s not what that particular statement is.
Yum! I love chocolate chips and cranberries mixed together, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart!
I want these nowww! I’ve always loved those Quaker Chewy granola bars, especially the s’mores flavor haha.
I’m obsessed with the newspaper clipping you use as a backdrop.
Yum! I used to eat quaker chewy bars and nutri grain bars for breakfast everyday in high school. I’ve moved on to making my own bars now.
The recipe def. looks very simple to make and I agree–super healthy! thanks for sharing.
Have been meaning to try my hand at making my own bars. And here’s a recipe! DUN DUN DUN.
Alas. Because I’m broke beyond belief I need to make these. Can you use quick oats?
What sort of honey did you use (i.e. is set or runny better?), or does it not matter?
Thank you, looking forward to making these!
I used orange blossom honey from Savannah Bee Company (my favorite honey source). It doesn’t really matter what kind you use though!
These look so great! I’ve never tried making granola bars before, but it seems manageable. And you probably save money, too. Great recipe!
These look delicious. I was just wondering, what’s your take on Larabars??
I don’t really eat bars at all unless I make them myself like these. It’s not really for any health reason though..it’s just because I don’t like them and they don’t fill me up. Plus, they’re expensive! I got sick of larabars about a year ago and haven’t had once since. They contain great (healthy) ingredients though!
hi jenna, i hope i won’t come across as attacking you with my comment, because i know things can get pretty nasty on your blog. i’ve been following your blog for a long time and during your culinary school days i noticed you ate a lot of bars as snacks between meals. i know people’s dietary preferences do change over time, and that was a long time ago! how did you feel about bars then? again, i really hope you don’t take this the wrong way!
These sound fantastic – I’ve seen a lot of bars in the blogosphere lately …gotta get on this one.
Yum, these look fantastic! I’m always looking for easy, healthy “treats” for my girls lunch boxes.
Hahaha, my boyfriend is the same way with his lunch boxes! Like, 2 weeks later, I will always find a bag with half a sandwich and a granola bar in his car.
Boys are so uncleanly!
Yum! Those look fannetastic!
these look great! I love making my own bars.
These are similiar to TLC Chewies by Kashi. They are pretty great for store bought.
I’ve never made my own bars before – I always shy away from recipes because I never have the right ingredients on hand. But these look simple and yummy! I can get my hands on some oat bran pretty easily. Thanks!
I just made granola bars for the first time an I was so surprised by how delicious they are!
Those look great. Is the honey and PB all it takes to get them to stick/pack together? Whenever I make granola bars they always end up odd shapes and falling apart. They still taste good though!
Do you think subbing in agave for the honey would still give it the stickiness it needed to hold together?
See my above response(s) to this!
They look so good! Is it the honey and PB that make them stick/pack well? Whenever I make granola bars they end up all odd shaped and crumbly. They still taste good though!
(sorry if this is an almost double comment – I don’t know where my first one went!)
It’s the honey that makes them so chewy! The PB is just there for yummy flavor, really!
You deliver again! I’ve been looking for healthy bar recipes! Do you know a way of reducing the amount of honey in these while still getting them to hold together? I’ve tried different methods, but I always get crumbly, granola-like bars in the end.
You could mess around with it, but they might become crumbly with less honey. If you are looking for a less sweet bar, I would just nix the 2 T of sugar instead.
i wonder if i could use agave nectar instead of honey….any thoughts?
The issue with using agave instead is because agave goes through a different chemical process than honey does when it’s boiled. It could result in a brittle hard bar instead of a chewy, moist bar. I highly recommend using honey, brown rice syrup or regular corn syrup…all which have the same chemical properties and are invert sugars!
Any idea what the calorie count is on these? I’m just curious. I’d still eat about 14 of them if you let me. Which would leave two for the next day… I’m thinking ahead.
250 calories per bar.
YUM! I love having a snack like this handy when I’m ravenous from a hot and sweaty power yoga class. Often times I come home and I’m ready to eat anything and everything. Having something like this will help to fill my belly, refuel my energy and prevent me from eating every carb in sight. Thanks!
Would it be cool to use almond butter instead of peanut butter? I’m not really a PB fan…but I DO LOVE granola bars
of course! Almond butter would be delicious.
This look delicious and fairly easy to make! The fact that they’re healthy just seals the deal!
I agree with the idea of making your own bar, and that things like Quaker bars are highly processed and should be avoided. But the Quaker bars are one of the few bars without HFCS.
looove granola bars! I have one as an afternoon shack daily!
I’m not sure what I want to get my hands on more….these trail mix bars or your background newspaper!
heheh thanks! It’s from Beverly’s Fabrics & Crafts.
I love making my own granola bars! I like to freeze a portion of them and grab them as needed.
Unfortunately, I love bars- even though I know they aren’t good for me- so thanks for the recipe!
Today, January 20th, is National Granola Bar Day!
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/01/20/breakfast-buffet-142/?hpt=Sbin
saaaaweeeet!
I’ve been waiting for the perfect granola bar! I hope these will be what I’m looking for. Did you create the recipe yourself?
I did! I just started dumping everything I had in my pantry in a large bowl and surprisingly, it worked out!
Homemade granola bars make me feel good about what I’m eating
I’ve never tried mine with cherries before. I think it needs to be added to the grocery list!
What? There’s no butter in this recipe. That’s so unlike you…
Just kidding : ) These look great!
Looks so delicious! I might test this out with dried apricot and butterscotch chips for a change-up. Since I have agave in my kitchen, do you think I could substitute for honey? The textures are a little different…
butterscotch would be delish! You really need either honey, brown rice syrup or corn syrup for this! Agave goes through a different chemical process than honey does when it’s boiled, so the overall result could be different (i.e. not as good/chewy). Personally though, I’ve never tried so you could do an experiment!
I tried dried cherries in a granola bar for the first time and it was kind of life changing.
I used to Loooooove those Quaker granola bars. They remind me of Youth Soccer games when we got them as a post-game treat (my mom would NEVER buy us the bars for our house!)
I really like the newspaper/ vintage ads? you have the bars showcased on…reminds me of something my grandmother would have kept from her twenties
The funny thing about those “Quaker” chewy chocolate chip bars is that they take two bites to eat (for me, at least) and are about as filling as a cornflake. And yet, I ate them everyday in college too
- Jamie
Yeah, I am totally making these in the next few days! Thanks for sharing. I’ve been looking for a recipe like this.
Love the alice in wonderland backdrop! the bars look pretty tasty too- they say EAT ME:)
These look amazing! Thanks for posting this!!! I really want to make these with what I already have. What would they be like if I got ride of the oat bran?
totally bookmarked this. YUM
Man these look soooo good! I tend to just throw stuff together but then it usually comes out totally wrong. LOL
I have a nobake bars recipe that’s really similar to what you put in yours. Pretty much oats, dried fruit, chocolate chips, any random seeds/nuts, and something sticky to bind it together like maple or PB…freeze. Done.
I love bars like your recipe and what i do b/c it’s sooo much cheaper than storeboughts and you can add in extra good things…like choc chips
No doubt about it, I’m making these this weekend for a healthy snack for the week!!
Nix the sugar, salt, honey and chocolate and then you can call them healthy!
Any idea how to add some extra fiber to these?
My step-father (who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes) LOVES the chewy Quaker bars. I can’t wait to make this version for him!
I like the look w. the old newspaper (?). Recipe looks rather tasty, too
I know what I’m making tomorrow. Just need to get some oat bran.
I know what I’m making tomorrow. Just need to get some oat bran.
I know what I’m making tomorrow. Just need to get some oat bran.
I made some protein bars the other day from scratch and I actually enjoy them a lot more than store bought!
I way prefer homemade granola bars to store bought ones. Especially since the selection of nut-free granola bars is seriously lacking! Luckily I’m not allergic to almonds, so I’m definitely going to try out this recipe using AB instead of PB.
do you have a bar recipe that uses something other than honey? i love honey, and would use it for many types of bars, but the honey/chocolate combo is not for me.
nevermind! i see your brown rice syrup/corn syrup recommendation from above.
You can mail me the leftovers if you like
But on a more serious note, I am totally making these when I get back to a kitchen!
Those look delicious. I’m definitely on the hunt for a good, natural energy bar. I’ll give these a try!
This looks good and definitely a healthier version. Though I am not too fond of bars, this homemade one definitely seems worth a try.
I just made these – super easy and very delicious! I would also like to make them less sweet though – not sure whether dropping the 2T of sugar would be enough. I’d also like trying to make them with soy butter so my kids could take them to school.
I love homemade granola bars! They’re so easy to throw together, and so tasty too! Your recipe sounds great!
Love these Jenna; beautiful post about clean food, I love it! Great recipe and have a fabulous night!
these look delicious! I love homemade granola bars
OMG thank you for posting this! I’ve been on the hunt for a granola bar recipe lately! and i noe how exactly what you mean with those quaker oats bars, my family always bought those gigantic boxes from costco so i ate about two of those everyday ! so gooooodd, i hope these will satisfy my neverending granola bar craving!
these sound/look delicious! and i’m ecstatic this is a recipe of yours i can actually make without altering the finished product (yay dairy allergy!) — this will be made this weekend to replenish my granola bar supply. which is currently nonexistent…
I’v been wanting to make my own bars for a while, but with so many recipes and methods, its hard to know where to start! I might give this one ago, and maybe customise it a bit!
I just made them! Should they be kept in the fridge after they’ve hardened and sliced?
i’m making these TODAY!
Quick question . . . is the oat bran a flaky cereal or hot cereal mix?
oat bran is like oatmeal….it’s little flakes of oat bran but you cook it like oatmeal. look for it right next to the oatmeal in the cereal section!
Thanks!
I just made these bars and I AM OBSESSED WITH THEM! Can’t wait to try more varieties!!!!
awesome!
Hi Jenna –
Just wondering – how long do you think these will last – wrapped in plastic wrap and airtight container and all? A week? Or longer? They look yummy and I’m sure they taste even better, but I don’t want to make a batch (16 is a lot of bars) and have them go to waste!
Keep ‘em in the fridge for up to three weeks!
Wow these are really excellent! Better then store bought, plus I know exactly what is in them. I might try adding some nuts and less sugar next time!! Thanks Jenna for the excellent recipe!!
Oh man these are good….I made them to stave of making cookies again…and they are amazing!! I did sub almond butter for pb and add raisins and a bit cinnamon (my major addiction), but man they turned out perfect!!
Just made these – they are chilling in the fridge as we speak – I can’t wait to taste one!
Making my own granola is about the best choice for avoiding processed foods but for someone living on a budget, even homemade granola can be expensive. Nuts and dried food are among the most expensive although you’re right – totally expensive! I would say it’s time consuming but if you budget your time before hand, I can probably make these at the beginning of the week so they can chill in the fridge and are ready to grab-and-go!
So…it’s still store bought granola for me unfortunately. I found the Kind brand to be the least processed. I was really surprised Kashi was processed but they are – oh well, at least they stopped putting corn syrup in their granola now.
On the sporadic occasion, I will make my own granola and I will try this recipe. It looks perfect. I’m even thinking of giving some away as gifts or as “trail mix” for my friends and I when we go hiking together! Thanks Jenna.
Forgive me. I meant to type “nuts and fruit are among the most expensive although you’re right – *totally worth it! LOL…oh man, what a typo.
This was delicious! I made it using sunflower butter (rather than PB) and it was just as tasty. Thanks for a great recipe!
These are delish and super easy! Such a great alternative to chemical laden granola bars.
What can I use to substitute for the peanut butter? I want to make a nut free version for the kids to take to school.
Thanks
Kathy
I am planning a hiking trip and I want to make some granola bars to take with us. Do you know the shelf life for these bad boys? They sound amazing. I plan on vacuum sealing them individually. Thanks!
I made and tried them. They are a bit to sweet for me so I think I will use less chocolate next time and substitute with more oats and add nuts of some sort. They are still great bars though.
This is one of my favorite recipes! I have made these more times than I can count. Thank you for another winner, Jenna! When are you coming out with a cookbook?
Made these yesterday and they are the perfect work snack! Sweet and salty : )
Hi there
do these need to be refrigerated? Thank you
I would keep them in the fridge if I were you!
Use the same principal of having assigned areas for things in your freezer and refrigerator. If you often make sandwiches, for example, find a small basket or tray that you can put the mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, pepperoncini or whatever else you like on your sandwiches. Just pull the whole basket out when youre ready. This could also include your cold cuts and cheeses, although my refrigerator has a small shallow drawer labeled Deli that I use for those, plus tortillas.Counter depth refrigerators look like regular depth refrigerators, except they do not protrude from the counter. Because of this, the fridge fits in smoothly with the rest of the kitchen. Traditional fridges jut out, but that is not the case with a counter depth refrigerator. For small kitchens, they are an ideal choice. This is because they take up very little room.If you buy a cheap refrigerator which has the coils exposed on the back then you do need to leave several inches not sure how many. On refrigerators with the coils underneath there is no need for ventilation behind it.
Where is the best place to keep perfume?I just got Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume and I was thinking about keeping it in the refrigerator because your suppost to keep it in a cool dark place. I’ve never put perfume in the refrigerator before would it ruin the perfume? Is there a better place to keep it?
I just made this recipe. It’s delicious!!! I did accidentally melt the chocolate chips but I am not complaining. Mmm
I added cranberries, almonds and sunflower seeds, and left out the extra sugar yummmm!! They are great!!!
I have made these COUNTLESS times – am always asked for the recipe. I also love how adaptable it is to changes in the fruit/nut/chocolate combos.
As for the sweetness factor – I also find them a bit too sweet – and use 3/4 cup honey and just a bit more peanut butter – they work out just fine – also I don’t add the extra sugar.
I have stopped buying granola bars and have been making these every week. They are so easy and yummy! Reduced the honey and omitted the sugar. I have searched a number of stores to finally find dried fruit without added sugar. Have tried an number of other recipes but this one is great!
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