Homemade granola bars (chewy) that are perfect as on-the-go breakfast or a small midday snack. Made without butter – just plenty of nuts, seeds, oats and dried fruit. Great as on the go mini energy booster too. Gluten-free.
We’re starting the day on a sweet – and in my opinion, healthy – note with a recipe that’s incredibly easy to make at home. The best part is how customizable it is: you can mix in any combination of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit you like (or whatever you’ve got in the cupboard), and as long as you keep the proportions the same, it will turn out beautifully. Another bonus is that the recipe uses no butter at all; the eggs do all the binding work.
ALSO TRY: Healthy Stuffed Apples Recipe (oven baked), or No Bake Cookie Bites (without peanut butter).
Behind the Bites
Some may say, energy bars in Europe actually trace their roots back to old travel staples like hardtack, fruit-and-nut pastes, and even marzipan -simple foods that provided quick energy long before the “energy bar” was a thing. After the Second World War, with sports nutrition on the rise, climbers and endurance athletes across Europe leaned on dense, functional food blocks to keep them going. Over time, local companies on the old continent created versions, often built around natural ingredients and classic cereal traditions – muesli being the star of the show.
The 2000s brought a wave of organic, clean-label, vegan, and gluten-free options, echoing Europe’s growing focus on health and sustainability. Through the 2010s and beyond, bars shifted even more toward “real food” ingredients – think dates, nuts, oats – and ethically sourced bits. These days, they’re not just for athletes; they’re a handy go-to for busy commuters, students, and anyone needing a little pick-me-up on the move.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Eggs – necessary to hold the rest of the ingredients together
- Nuts – a combination of your favorite nuts – for me that would be walnuts and hazelnuts
- Seeds – a mix of flax seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.
- Oats – recommended to use finely cut oats
- Honey – or good old maple syrup
- Cinnamon – or gingerbread spice, or pumpkin spice
How to make energy bars at home?
1st: Combine the eggs and honey and stir to make it homogenous. Cut the dried fruits into small pieces.
2nd: Then combine the nuts and seeds and chop them as needed. Add the cinnamon and mix everything well.
3rd: Combine all the ingredients and mix well, then spread the mixture onto baking paper. Press it firmly so it holds together. Bake, let it cool completely, and cut into bars with a sharp knife.
TIPS: Use a small rectangular ceramic baking dish that helps bars retain their shape on the edges during baking. Do not cut the bars while still hot as they may fall apart. Use a sharp knife to cut through the nuts when bars have cooled down.
Homemade Granola Bars (100% energy)
Equipment
- 1 ceramic baking dish, 24cm/9inch or smaller
Ingredients
- 60 g honey, or maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 140 g nuts and seeds mix, of choice
- 250 g dates, or any other dried fruits of choice
- 30 g oats, fine
- 1 tbsp. cinnamon
Instructions
- First, chop the nuts and seeds roughly, then the dates (and dried fruits) as well.
- Then, in a large bowl add eggs and honey – beat until well combined and homogenous.
- Next, add in the chopped dried fruits, seeds, nuts and cinnamon.
- Mix well to combine, then pour onto baking paper into the baking dish and level with a spatula. Press down to help the bars stick together.
- Bake in preheated oven on 180C/340F for about 30 minutes, or until the top is firm.
- Finally, remove from the baking dish, let cool completely and cut in squares. Preserve in air-tight container for 48 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links, please see full disclosure here.
Easy recipe for a quick snack!