Imagine yourself eating your favorite granola…
Now imagine eating your favorite granola… in the form of a granola bar! Nature Valley Granola Bars… Do you know the ones I’m talking about?
Those crunchy bars in the green wrappers? My friend Sarah calls them “horse food” because they’re made up of oats and sugar—things that horses like to eat. But the following granola bar recipe is much too good to share with horses. Sorry, horses.
Soccer Fuel
When I was in high school (it seems like a lifetime ago!), I played on the varsity soccer team, and our daily practices fell right after school. So I got in the habit of grabbing a bar—often a Nature Valley granola bar—to munch in the locker room while dressing out.
I’d completely forgotten about my past with Nature Valley until a few days ago, when I tasted an attempt at what was supposed to be a chewy granola bar.
“Woah, these taste exactly like Nature Valley oats-n-honey bars,” my roommate proclaimed after trying a bite. “Except, maybe these are even better!” (She quickly proceeded to eat two whole bars.)
Nature Valley Granola Bars Recipe
Category: Healthy & Gluten-Free Recipes
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup rice crispies (I used brown rice crispies)
- 3 tbsp oat flour (You can make your own by grinding oats in a food processor*.)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut oil or veg oil
- 3 tbsp agave or other liquid sweetener
- 1 packet stevia (or 1 tbsp dry sweetener)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine dry ingredients, then mix in wet. Transfer to a 7×5 baking dish (lined with parchment paper), and press down. Squish HARD. Hard hard hard. Then cook for around 18 minutes. Wait at least 20 minutes before trying to cut into bars. *If making oat flour, measure the 3tbsp after grinding.
Other bars I’ve done:
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
Awesome! We used to buy these a lot and they were so crunchy they’d displace teeth – but so yummy. I love the idea of making my own – maybe dip the bottom into some chocolate or a peanut butter coating. Yum Yum!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
We have the Sam’s Club sized box of those bars in our pantry b/c my husband is obsessed and takes 2 to work every day. It’s one of those things I feel bad having on hand so maybe I’ll have to try making these at the beginning of the week instead!
Laura @ A Healthy Jalapeño says
Katie this looks so easy and delicious. I would much rather make my own bars than buy them from the store… and all these ingredients are 99% of the time in my kitchen. Perfect for weekday snacking, nice post!
katie @KatieDid says
I used to love the peanut butter version of these nature valley bars! I’m usually more into a chewy bar/ snack but something about the crunch of these was so great.
Beth says
I’m another person that was obsessed with these in high school! I hated the school lunches and would often bring a granola bar and an apple instead. I’ve stopped buying them because they’re so sugary, so I’ll have to give these a try!
Jess says
Nature Valley = <3
I ate these all through high school, but now they're a bit sweet for me. I opt for the Kashi granola bars when they're not too expensive!
Jess says
Nature Valley = <3
I ate these all through high school, but now they're a bit sweet for me. I opt for the Kashi granola bars when they're not too expensive 🙂
Sonja says
Haha the funny part about your friend calling them horse food is that the oats-n-honey bars are exactly what my friend and I feed our horses as treats! We always have, since they come conveniently two to a packet. We eat one, and then our horses do xD I’m excited to try these out…though you’re probably right, they won’t make it to share with my horse 😉
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Ha! What horses eat! That is too funny! ….I do like your recipe quite a bit and think it would be worth a try for sure!
Katie @ ohshineon says
I JUST made a recipe like this one the other day, trying purposefully to copy the nature valley bars. I love this post! How ironic!
Danielle says
You reciepe sounds so amazing I have to try to make them. I was wondering do you use quick cooking oats or regular oats or does it not matter?
Thank you.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
No idea if they’d work with quick oats… maybe… But I used regular :).
kate says
Ah wonderful! I love these bars and to think that I could make a healthier version myself is great. Also I made your healthy sugar cookies last night for my housemates and every time a new person bit into one they looked like they were going to cry from happiness. SOOOO SOFT! I am a stickler when it comes to my desserts…and they were so much better than normal sugar cookies in my opinion.
sarah g says
My favorite bars are probars! They’re so expensive though, ranging from 2.29-3.29 each! I mean they are pretty nutrient dense, so its like eating an entire meal. So i guess its worth the price.
I think you should make a home made probar!
http://theprobar.com/products/
kathy says
What size of pan did you use? I made your fudge recipe the other day and noticed you didn’t have a pan size or quantity it makes, and the size I used was too big. My fudge was very flat. Want to get the right size so they cook properly. Thanks
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I used an 8×8… but if you want them thicker/thinner, you can use a different size :).
Jessica says
I just bought some vanilla stevia drops for making your chocolate bars. Could I use that in place of the agave?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I don’t think so… but I haven’t tried it.
Holly says
These look wonderful! We really like all the varieties of KIND bars in our household. They have the good crunch we like and are chock full of healthy nuts and dried fruits. Have you ever attempted to recreate those? Our favorite is the almond cherry with dark chocolate!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’ve never actually had a Kind bar! I really should try them someday :).
Jen E says
Are these hard like the nature valley? We buy the clif bars now, because they are the only ones I can find vegan, but I absolutely miss my favorite genisoy bars the chocolate mint ones! have you ever tried to come up with a vegan marshmallow?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
It depends on how long you cook them. Cook them longer for crispiness, and store in a glass container (as opposed to plastic).
LOL I would have no idea where to begin in making vegan marshmallows!
Shannon says
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html
This is the best marshmallow recipe I’ve found that doesn’t have anything to do with eggs. The best part is he tells you how to make mini-marshmallows! I sat there after I read it and couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of that. 🙂
Jamie says
Gelatin in NOT vegan though. You would need a vegan replacement for that.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’ve always wanted to try a marshmallow recipe, subbing agar (or the one brand of vegan “gelatin” they sell at whole foods) for the gelatin. Someday!
Anonymous says
You could order Genutine off the internet. It’s carrageenan and vegan. I saw a marshmallow recipe that calls for it recently, but can’t remember the source.
Christine says
You could order Genutine off the internet. It’s carrageenan and vegan. I saw a marshmallow recipe that calls for it recently, but can’t remember the source.
emma says
Hey Katie,
I can’t have oils because of a lot of things, but is there anything I could substitute in for the coconut oil? Thanks
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Sorry, I don’t know.
Anonymous says
Why not try applesauce, it is used in place of oil in other recipes, would make them maybe a little softer?
Steph says
Do I get a gold star? I have already made these, and they’re in my oven right now! I of course tasted some of the raw dough and it was DELISH! 🙂
michelle says
What size pan? I make nomeatathletes.com quite a bit. They are chewy tho. These look great too…. I wanna make these too. Your recipes are great. I made your single mocha cake a few times this weekend
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I used an 8×8 pan… but if you want them thicker/thinner, you can use a different size :).
michelle says
Thx I use to love kind bars but they aren’t Vegan so no more for me
This Fit Chick Carrie says
so impressed you could copycat these.. they seem hard to get all crispy!
Yanet says
how many bars would this recipe make??
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
It depends on how big you cut them. I got 8 bars.
Jennifer says
Hi Katie!
These look so amazing! I can’t wait to try them.
How long can they be stored for?? My husband likes to take them to work to eat in the morning, but he doesn’t always get time for breakfast (he is in the army) so they may not get eaten right away.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I only made them a few days ago, so I don’t know… but I would think they’d freeze well!
katherine says
god bless you and your husband and thank him for his service for me 🙂
Sandra says
the problem I have with the Nature Valley is they crumble so much. Hope these stick together more. My current favorite is Chocwalla bars by Odwalla. Yum.
kristin says
Thank you for the wonderful (coconut free) granola bar recipe! Can’t wait to try it!! I love and use coconut oil and coconut milk but just don’t like the texture of real coconut……
Bars that I am eating right now are the Think Thin bars (my favorite is the chocolate with the white chocolate covering ) only because they are gluten and sugar free and high protein~
Love your blog!
kendra says
I seriously love nature valley granola bars broken up on a cooked chopped apple with cinnamon, tastes like hot apple pie. I just bought some gluten free oats, I’m gonna try making them. Yay.
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I used to love Nature Valley bars, especially the peanut butter or brown sugar (I think?) ones! Although I remember them always being a mess because they were so crumbly! My current favorite bars are Pure bars, which I discovered when I was looking for gluten free bars
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Total yum, and not many ingredienats. I love it! I’m going to make these!!
Karen says
These turned out great! I threw in ground almonds and coconut for a little extra flavor. So good! My house smells delicious.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I love your idea… it sounds kind of like an almond joy!
Kara says
Is it too soon to ask for a Larabar Cappuccino flavored copycat? 😉 I know you don’t like them, but they aren’t available where I live yet and I soooo desperately want to try one. And I’m too nervous to play around with the dates-to-nuts-to-flavor ratios.
I also really like Clif! They’re the most versatile bars, I think. I almost always keep one in my car. It’s tragic that they’re so expensive.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Ok, don’t laugh at me when you see this old, ugly post ;). But I did do tiramisu larabars a few years ago: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2010/01/11/raw-tiramisu-balls/
Kara says
No way!! No laughing necessary. Besides, let’ be honest – processed dates have very little hope on their own anyway. This is awesome news. Thank you Katie!
paige says
Clif bars!
Tia @ Veggies and Pearls says
YUM! I am getting my shipment of banana flavored protein powder this week, so I will make these with an addition of protein powder and let you know how they work (and whether or not more can be added than to just replace the oat flour).
Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola says
Ohh I love Nature Valley bars! I like how crunchy they are and that Honey Oats flavor has always been my favorite… so obviously I need to make these now!! For the liquid sweetener do you think I could do Stevia drops?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I don’t think so… but I haven’t tried.
Anna @ The Guiltless Life says
Ooh those Nature Valley granola bars saved me throughout college! Great idea – I have to give that recipe a try!
Sarah says
I just made these and used vanilla whey protein powder instead of the oat flour and they turned out delicious!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh wow, I’m so glad someone tried them with protein powder! Now if anyone asks, I’ll know to say they work! 🙂
danielle says
I love you. Sorry, just had to say it. I have never been excited about healthy eating. I’ve been silent blog stalking for some time now and I could not keep quiet any longer. You are AMAZING! Thanks for all the lovely and happy making recipes.
This one really excites my mouth!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
LOL! Thank you so so much, Danielle! 🙂
Kristen says
Great idea to add protien powder!! I have vanilla at home. Now, I’m new to coconut oil. Mine is SOLID. Assuming I’m supposed to melt it first before using here? thx!!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Yes 🙂
Annie @ Naturally Sweet Recipes says
Oh I used to love those granola bars. I am so glad you’ve come up with an awesome, much healthier version!! Looks delicious!
T says
For a snack, I adore vega vibrancy bars although I think I prefer the original instead of chocolate– I know I’m sorry but the chocolate version is less a snack than a dessert! My other fav, which is a meal replacement is the vegan organic food bar: pricey, but it’s sooo worth it for the taste and for the nutrients (which is pretty dense [I have yet to try the chocolate kind]). BUT if I want a peanut butter and chocolate fix, I go for a pb and choco chip larabar which trumps ALL of the above.
Qi Ting @ A Dessert Diet says
Its great that these bars can be easily replicated at home! They’re usually so expensive so I don’t buy them often. Definitely will try!
Bianca- Vegan Crunk says
I used to love those Nature Valley bars, but most aren’t vegan because of the honey. So glad to see a vegan version!
Cat W. says
Can you fix your Larabar link? I’m a new follower and been trying to find that recipe for the past few days now.
I don’t even “do” health food, but all of your recipes are freakin’ amazing.
Cat W. says
Nevermind, it just started working for me…
Char @ www.charskitchen.ca says
omg, you’re my favourite person right meow! I looove Nature Valley granola bars, but I stopped eating them because they don’t keep me full. I’m gonna try making these. And some of them will have chocolate chips, too!
Nathalie says
Ok so… if I pressed these down into a sprayed, floured PIE dish instead of a baking sheet, do you think I could make a… granola bar pie crust? Maybe I could dress it up by adding coconut shreds to the recipe o_o
As for the question: I’ve never really been a “snack bar” person. I used to eat Kashi bars fairly regularly (convenience), and for a short while I was eating a lot of those BIG 100 protein bars (candy with perks). I do remember there being a cereal-centric restaurant in my college town called the Cereal Bowl, though. They offered smoothies also, and granola bars. I’d often get a mango/orange smoothie and a crunchy peanut butter Nature Valley granola bar and eat them together. It was pretty darn tasty.
Lisa L says
thanks so much for this! i would love love to know how to make my favorite granola into a granola bar-preferably chewy. 🙂
Sondra says
Katie those look amazing! I remember being a kid and taking Nature’s Valley Granola Bars to track and field day, year after year (along with a bottle of bug juice!)
So Katie do you take challenges? If so there’s these cookies that I used to make all the time, that were packed full of nutrients (they’re called lactation cookies, but really there’s nothing weird about them) and they are so delicious. Problem is they’re packed FULL of sugar. Its an easy enough recipe to veganize, but when I tried to make them less sugary and more healthy (I replaced the butter with 1/2 and 1/2 chilled coconut oil and smart balance, and removed the white sugar replacing it with applesauce), i got balls instead of cookies. So are you up to the challenge? (They are the most amazing cookies btw, you’ll love them)
http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
LOL I’ll put it on my ever-growing list ;).
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Amazing! I will definetly be trying these out 🙂
Darcie says
I always think of this whenever I see those bars now: http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr3767Yrcb1qazvpdo1_500.png
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says
These look awesome! And sweet photography…the shoe lace dealio is pretty. 🙂
These are going on my weekly foodie favorites! I’ve been looking for granola recipes.. granola bars are even better.
As for my favorite bars..I like the fiber one chocolate chip bars and there are these new Special K chocolate and pretzel bars that are the perfect salty and sweet. Yum.
Kit-Kat says
I like Nature Valley granola bars, especially the PB, the vanilla, the cinnamon, and the new chocolate chunk versions. 🙂
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Great idea! Can’t wait to try this!
Ashley @ Southern Purple Vegan says
I can’t wait to try this out.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Pretty pictures! The cutting board, oats, green ribbon…looks great.
natalie @ southern fit foodie says
Mmmm – I love granola bars! I used to like the Nature Valley crunchy ones when I was in college.
My favorite bars are larabars and clif mojo bars (the mountain valley mix with chocolate chips!).
Moni'sMeals says
Fantastic…you are just so clever! I love these and especially with a tall glass of almond milk.
I love all your bars and I am usually always snacking on LARA Bars or TLC bars. 🙂
~Jessica~ says
I used to love those granola bars too. Now they taste so sweet!
Vega Sport bars are my favourites, for sure. Luna bars come a close second.
xxx
Amber K says
My absolute favorite bars are the chocolate peanut butter Zing bars, so delicious, so gluten-free, SOOOOO expensive.
Lily Fluffbottom says
These seriously look awesome. I almost picked up a box of granola bars at the store the other day, but more than half the calories came from fat, and they were loaded with sugar. Just couldn’t do it! I will have to try these out next week. It’ll be a great snack to take to school after work.
Jenny@HealthyMOChick says
Yum Yum and more Yum…I love the oats n’ honey bars!
Andrea says
I was scouring the internet for a granola bar recipe just yesterday and wasn’t satisfied with anything I found. I can’t wait to give this a try – it’s exactly what I was looking for!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Yum!! I LOVE those bars!
Rachel@ fitnessandfoodsf.com says
omg looks amazing. I can never find good GF bars to make so these are perfect. Thanks Katie!
Matthew says
Awesome blog Katie. Going to hit you up every time I need to make a dessert for an event. My roommate and I put on healthy feasts and then blog about them. We will make sure to steer everyone to your page!
Kathy says
Yum! I love the Nature Valley Bars (except the ones with, y’know, artificial colors, flavors, corn syrups, and whatnot) so I’ll give these a try soon! I’m out of homemade granola bars anyway 😉
http://milk-and-tea.blogspot.com
Olivia says
YUMMY!!!! I was just thinking of looking for a recipe and this appeared in my inbox….thanks! I love your recipes! Especially the chocolate ones…hehehe!
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
They look exactly like the real things! Can’t wait to try them!
michelle says
I love how simple and clean this recipe is. My girls don’t like granola bars with too much ‘going on’ so I can’t wait for them to try these.
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
I’ve always loved the crunch of those bars, just not the ingredients. These look wwaaaaaayyyyy better!
Kerry says
These bars look so good! I used to really like the Nature Valley bars, but now I think they’re too sweet. These look like they’ll be perfect! It’s so funny that your friend calls them “horse food.” I recently made a batch of healthy oatmeal cookies that got a similar reaction. When my husband tried them, he said they tasted like horse food, and he started calling them “horse cookies.” Now, whenever I make anything healthy, he puts the word “horse” in front of it.
Amanda says
Remember Clif Nectar bars? Like Lara bars, but smoother, and very sadly, discontinued. They made a fabulous lemon/goji bar that was tart, and citrus-y, and all around good, and made up a large part of my diet when I was pregnant. I’d LOVE to see those cloned, or maybe Clif could just start making them again. I’d happily pay for them.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Yes! Those (the chocolate flavors) were my FAVORITES. I was so so sad when they discontinued them!
katia says
I was hoping so hard for a cookie recipe, but I LOVE nature valley bars, so I’m super happy :’D Making these for SURE.
C&C Cakery says
My husband eats one one of these as a pre-lunch snack every day. It’s actually the only processed food we buy! Now, with this recipe, I can make it instead of bending my food morals and buying pre-packed food. Thanks so much!
C&C Cakery says
My husband eats one one of these as a pre-lunch snack almost every day. It’s actually the only processed food we buy! Now, with this recipe, I can make it instead of bending my food morals and buying pre-packed food. Thanks so much!
Karina says
i looooove nature valley bars. they have an apple crisp flavor that i can only find at one local grocery store. its amazing! everytime i go there i make sure to stock up. i also love the pb flavor and maple brown sugar…..and roasted almond….heck i love em all!! thanks for the recipe!
Susie says
Clif Mojo Bars! But sometimes they have more sugar than I want–I have ice cream every night and I worry about too much sugar overall. But the Mojo bars (esp. Mountain Mix, White Chocolate, and the new Coconut Almond) are just so good!
Marissa says
Haha, just had to pop in and say that we really DO feed the Nature Valley oats ‘n’ honey bars as treats to the horses! They LOVE them! Haha, and I do, too. Its usually one bite for the pony, and then one bite for me (except one “bite” for a pony is pretty much the entire bar, lol…)
Shelley says
do you cook these with the wax paper in the pan? I’ve never done that before, and it just sounds like it would make the bars waxy!
I love bars! Kashi I think are my favorite. I also used to get the Nature Valley variety pack just for the cinnamon bars (because they didn’t make them in their own box, sad). I <3 cinnamon.
Can't wait to try these 🙂
Shelley says
to be more specific, Kashi TLC chocolate cherry bars 🙂 mmmm
Kendra says
Thanks so much for posting this recipe! But I do have a question my absolute favorite flavor is the peanut butter. Could I just add peanut butter to this recipe?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’ve not tried it… but if you try it I’d love to know if it works!
Kendra says
I made them with peanut butter last night. I added a lil over a tablespoon of peanut butter and they turned out great! They were a little bit softer than the original, I’m sure if I had cut back on some ofthe other liquid they would have been crunchier. But my husband prefers the chewy kind anyway so it worked out great! Thanks again for the post!
Jodi says
I’m in love with Nature’s Valley <3
SO I tried this recipe and loved it! My local supermarket didn't have any small boxes of Rice Krispies so I put in almonds instead. I was worried it would fall apart but it held together nicely. It tasted so good I only cut it into 5 😉
Rena says
Do you think i can use applesauce instead of the oil?
Kim says
I LOVE Clif Kids Z-bars. Especially the Brownie flavored…yum! I buy them “for my kids” but I always end up eating more than they do!
Question: Have you tried using Coconut Nectar in any of your recipes? I’m wondering if I could substitute the agave in this recipe. I bought a bottle because I saw it in my local health food store and it sounded interesting, but I’m not sure how to use it. The label makes it sound like it is a healthier alternative to agave, but I’ve never tasted agave so I’m not sure if this is similar! It’s molasses thick, comes from the sap of a coconut tree, but doesn’t taste like maple syrup. I guess I could stop typing about it and just give it try, right? 😉
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I don’t think I’ve ever seen coconut nectar. I’ll have to look out for it!
Kim says
I just wanted to update that I used the coconut nectar and it turned out really well! I was too lazy to grind up some oat flour, so I used powdered peanut butter (PB2) instead and it was tasty! Maybe a little too salty for me (my kids and husband liked it that way) since the PB2 contains salt, but still really good. Oh, and I added a sprinkling of mini chocolate chips. I couldn’t help myself. 😉
Andi says
I’ve used coconut nectar in many recipes. It has worked fine for me in anything that calls for agave, or honey. Only thing I’ve noticed is that it doesn’t seem quite as sweet to me. I’m fine with less sweet, but if you have a sweet tooth maybe up the amount or add some stevia too??
Sarah says
I’ve been buying Odwalla lately. I love the banana nut flavor– just like a piece of banana bread. 😀
Jade C says
Hi Katie, I made these bars just last night for my Dad but when I tried to cut them ((this morning)) they were just crumbling and breaking :(. I DID squish them down as hard as I could. Any ideas why they might be so crumbly??
Jade C.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I don’t know 🙁
It’s so hard to know what could’ve gone wrong when I wasn’t there to see the process.
Karen says
I made these VERY successfully the first time using 2 Tbs honey and 1 Tbs maple syrup for the wet sweetener and 1 Tbs brown sugar for the dry. They were amazing!! The second time, since I have five kids, I doubled the recipe and used all maple syrup for the liquid sweetener. They came out crumbly. I’m not sure if it was the all maple or doubling in a 9×12, but I am guessing the maple syrup wasn’t sticky enough. We have bite size chunks, which is great, and the rest is perfect granola, so it certainly wasn’t a fail!
Thanks, Katie!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hmmm… yeah, agave is stickier/thicker than maple syrup. I’m guessing that was the issue. But your granola idea sounds really good, actually!
Patty says
Mine were crumbly too. I think it could be because I used quick -cooking oats. They were still delicious so I’ll try again with regular oats.
SheilaBmarie says
Katie, these came out perfect! Thank you! I ended up using olive oil, 1/4 cup ground up rice cake instead of cereal and 1t brown sugar. It seemed a little dry when i was mixing so i also added 1t almond milk….definitely nature valley worthy! 🙂
Amber says
My boyfriend loves the PB Nature Valley bars and I was wondering if the recipe would still work if I used PB instead of coconut or veg oil.
Thank you for the great recipe. 🙂
Marissa says
Hi! I recently found your blog through Pinterest, and I am LOVING your recipes! My husband and I are trying to go completely sugar-free as we both have a lot of weight to lose, and I have an autoimmune disorder which is aggravated by sugar intake. Anyway, I have what is probably a silly question: I’ve never used coconut oil before, so when measuring it, should I cook it down/liquify it before measuring, or do you just measure the solid form?? Sorry for the amateurish question, and thank you for the great recipe, I can’t wait to try these this weekend!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Not silly at all!
Yes, you should melt it first. Or if you live in a hot place like Texas, it’s already melted… my coconut oil is hardly ever solid to begin with! 😉
Stefanie Gott-Dinsmore says
I too have been wanting to make some peanut butter granola bars and so far this is the closest to what I’m interested in (except for the pb). Do you have any opinions on simply adding some pb to this recipe? I was going to go for chewy anyways, as that’s what the boys here prefer 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I don’t have any advice… but if you try it, I’d love to hear the results!
Julia says
These were delicious! Problem, though… the wax paper stuck to the bottom of the bars. Did I use it incorrectly, somehow? I turned the bars into regular granola while trying to get the paper off, which worked to a certain extent… but I’m also pretty sure I ingested a fair amount of wax paper 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hmmm… oh yikes 🙁
I’m not sure what could’ve been the issue. Maybe spray the wax paper with oil spray next time? (I didn’t, and mine still didn’t stick, but maybe it’s a particular brand difference?)
Stephanie says
I’ve got to try this. I especially like the idea of peanut butter ones, but I will try the recipe pretty much as written first. But just a thought on a PB variation: Maybe some ground peanuts instead of ground oats and PB instead of the oil?
Maria @ Beautiful Busy Bee says
Mmm I’ve got to try these! I hope they’re not as crumbly as the store bought ones. I’d love it if you made a recipe for clif bars. 🙂 especially white chocolate macadamia flavor.
Elise says
Yummy! I substituted vital wheat gluten for the oat flour and only used the 3T of agave for sweetener. I crumpled a couple bars over some almond milk yogurt for breakfast 🙂
Rachel says
Hey Katie! GREAT RECIPE! I LOVEEEE NATURE VALLEY BARS. But they’re loaded in sugars if im not wrong…? read it from somewhere.
anyway, how many bars did you get out of this? i have a small family so i might be making too much then i wouldnt be able to finish it. :/
Danielle says
I have to stay this recipe is amazing! I love it some much. I used coconut flour in replace of the oat flour. It has such a great flavor. I also had problems cutting it into bars so I just broke it up into a bunch of big pieces. And my husband decided last night to eat some with frosting on top. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Kat says
anything i could substitute rice krispies with? more oats? i don’t have any rice krispies at home
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Sorry, I’m not sure.
Stephanie says
Kat – if you don’t have crispy rice cereal, I bet any crispy breakfast cereal might work. If you have some kind of flakes just break them into rice sized bits. Or maybe sunflower seeds? GOOD luck. Am going shopping today and so I’m going to get crispy brown rice so I can try these. Thanks so much Katie!
Rose says
Hi! I just made the bars but i had a little problem… The mix didn’t merge well and therefore when i took it out of the oven it wasn’t stiff nor crunchy, it was just the same way i put it in. Could this have happened because of insufficient oil?? Thanks a lot!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Did you use the amount of oil called for?
Kathleen @ KatsHealthCorner says
You are a genius. 😀
Brea says
Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I’ve been wanting a good recipe to replace those Oats n Honey bars that I love. I used unsweetened coconut instead of the puffed rice, and honey and a little liquid stevia to sweeten. You’re friend was right… These are BETTER than the Nature Valley kind!!! I’m still in shock 🙂
jil says
Hi Katie. I just found you on Pinterest! And I love your recipes!! I have a question about this one- I have never backed anything in wax paper- it seems like it would melt into the food?
Kim says
Yeah, I don’t *think* you’re supposed to bake wax paper, right? I could be wrong. I used parchment paper with this recipe and they came off perfectly!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hmmm… mine never melted. But I hadn’t thought about it. I love the suggestion to use parchment paper!
Tammy @ The Sweet Tomato says
Once I baked with waxed paper by mistake and boy did I have a smoky house – I had to open all the windows and doors and it took a while to clear out! 🙂
Danielle says
I went online before to look up wax paper and it says you can use it in baked goods but it has to be covered completely otherwise it will smoke. So it cant be used for say cookies but the bottom of a cake you can. Hope that helps 🙂
Tammy @ The Sweet Tomato says
Katie… your blog had me at “frosting shots” and now this? I’m excited to try these granola bars for my kids. I love the crunchy kind! Thank you for these!
Sara says
I made these and they are by far the best home-made granola bar I’ve made! My son loves them! I have a couple questions – what size pan did you bake yours in? I used an 8 in round cake pan (my 8 inch square was in use) and baked for 18 min and they turned out very brown and almost over-done. I’m going to reduce the time for the next batch but was just curious what size you were using – maybe mine are coming out a lot thinner so they’re baking faster. Also, if adding raisins and mini chocolate chips would you increase the amount of wet ingredients to help them stick together? I added both and they are a bit crumbly so I’m assuming I should increase the wet ingredients. Would you increase the oil or the sweetener or a little bit of both?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I think, if I remember correctly, I used a 7×4 for this recipe, since it makes a small batch.
I really can’t know how any additions or modifications will work until I try. Sorry I can’t be more helpful on that! :-?.
bb says
Hey, I tried this recipe and it was terrible!
The granola bars, made GRANOLA not bars. They did not stick together at all. I followed the directions exactly.
I baked for around 18 min, and put the exact amount of oil, and other liquids that would allow it to stick, but as i took it out of the over, I accidentally turned it over, and everything spilt, this wouldn’t have happened if this recipe wasn’t so bad!
Any tips on why, or what to do next time!
Anonymous says
I’ve found you have to wait for them to cool and the wait a bit longer and then they are fine! Bur really wait!
bb says
okay thanks!
I might try that next time, if i want to make them again!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
First of all, I really don’t think it’s nice that you have to say “if this recipe wasn’t so bad!” 🙁
Many people have made the recipe and didn’t have a problem, so the odds are more likely you accidentally mis-measured something, or you used a specific product or brand that threw something off.
I stand by all of my recipes 100%.
Can you please tell me more about the specific ingredients you used, how you pressed down (and how hard), and how long you waited before turning it over?
walrus28 says
climate could be the issue. W/different weather – temp & humidity this could cause the bars to have a different crunchiness. I’ve been having this problem with biscotti lately, so I assume it could happen with granola bars as well.
Kim says
The recipe isn’t bad. I’ve made it twice now and they’ve come out perfectly both times. As bars, not granola. Sounds like you did something wrong.
Anonymous says
agave is a type of thick sweetner like___ Honey__ can be a used in the place of it
doglady521 says
bb if the agave is not in it or Honey its not going to stick together——-Anonymous is doglady521c
Rebecca Boot says
Just made this and it’s gorgeous! I did 1 – 1/2 times the recipe as I didn’t have a tin small enough. I used a crushed (chocolate covered) rice cake instead of rice crispies because I didn’t have any. And I had to add a extra 2tsp of oil and a tbsp of honey so it got to something I thought would stick together. I also added some dark chocolate, dried cherries, dried apricots and dried goji berries for extra yummyness and vitamins.
It didn’t turn out as crispy as the nature valley bars – probably because a) it’s still warm and b) the amount of honey I used but for me that is a good thing as I find the nature valley ones verge a little on the dangerously crispy side. It almost came out like a flapjack (english oat tray bake – not a pancake), and again that is good for me, I like flapjacks 🙂
Rebecca Boot says
Forgot to add, It came out of the tin perfectly, silicone tin that I sprayed with olive oil before hand. Sliced up well too. It’s important to wait until it’s cool before taking out of the tin & cutting. And to cut on a completely flat surface like a chopping board not on a cooling rack.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I have never tried a flapjack! But when you mentioned them, I googled… and now I really want to :).
Rebecca Boot says
oh they’re so good! The flavour options are pretty much endless with them too! And I’d expect they’d be pretty easy to veganise.
rita c says
I made them and they are delicious!! The best bars that I’ve tried! They turned out really crunchy! Love that!!
I also made them with protein powder (love!!) and with pb..and with apple extract and cinnamon…well..they’re all delicious!! 🙂
Tiffany says
Do these need to be refrigerated? I am going camping and this would make an awesome snack.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Nope! 🙂
Jen says
I made these yesterday! I used brown sugar instead of stevia, and honey instead of agave. I read some reviews and used whey protein instead of oat flour. I didn’t love the added protein, I could really taste it (not in a good way). But other than that, these were delicious! Great texture and super easy. Next time I won’t be lazy and I’ll grind the oats. 🙂 I also was surprised at how dry the mixture was, but it still really held together well. This one is a keeper!
India says
homemade belivita breakfast biscuits 🙂
Christina says
Did you use an 8-inch baking dish for these?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I actually used a 7×5 if I remember correctly. Sorry for the confusion; I should probably write that in there! I’m going to fix my post right now.
Christina says
Thanks!
Lisa Woodruff says
First off: I LOVE YOUR SITE! Second: I really wanted to make these but was missing a couple things. I also was in the mood for something with fruit, and let me tell you what I did was AWESOME. I didn’t have rice crisps, but I added a handful (each) of dates, sliced almonds, craisins, a couple shakes of cinnamon, 1T quinoa (uncooked), and some dried apple crumbs. Needless to say, they didn’t hold together as well, but DANG they tasted good!! My kids were going nuts over them, and so was I! I can’t wait to have my husband try them. Thanks so much for your ideas and awesome recipes!
Brandi says
I just made these for my husband…he loves the Nature Valley bars, so I thought I would give these a try. He took one bite and said “more please”. Lol. I guess its a keeper! I made a few substitutions using what I had available at the time. I used all-purpose flour and canola oil. I also added ground flax. They did have a salty-sweet taste…perfect for my husband, but I would probably use half the amount of salt for myself. Thanks for the great recipe, Katie!
Sarah says
I finally got around to making these and they were awesome! I am really surprised that the two people above me said they were way too salty. Maybe I have a salt tooth of something, but I thought they were perfectly balanced between salty and sweet. Thanks for the lovely recipe!
Ali says
I really liked the taste of this recipe! Exactly like Nature Valley. However, they weren’t really bars. When I cut them it all just crumbled together. I followed the recipe, so maybe I just didn’t press hard enough? Also, I didn’t have a 7×5 pan, so I used a small pie pan and tried to cut them into pie-piece slices. Maybe that made a difference. I am going try it again in a square pan and press harder. Atleast I can use this batch as granola!
Kristen says
I’ve been playing with this recipe for a while now. I like it so much I usually quadruple the recipe so I have enough to last me a while. I’ve stopped using oat flour and any kind of puffed rice, adding oat bran and quick oats instead. I’ve also used olive oil instead of coconut, subbing some with homemade unsweetened raw applesauce. Another switch is local maple syrup, also subbing some of the sweetener with applesauce and a TON of cinnamon! Oh, and ground chia is delicious mixed in. Another trick I learned from my sister and the Homemade Pantry cookbook, put the granola in to bake in the evening for the required amount of time. Then, turn off the oven and leave the granola in there overnight. Do not open the oven door! That helps it “harden” and hold together a bit better!
Amy says
I’m not a big fan of the NV oats n honey but I LOVE the PB ones… hope you or someone can do that variation! (I’ve no talent for inventing recipes!)
Lisa says
I put in honey and organic raw agave nectar and organic sugar, as well as more vanilla and cinnamon. Turned out great. Thanks!
Jessica says
Made these yesterday to take with me skiing today! They turned out great. I used quick oats, honey, veggie oil, white sugar, and kept everything else as the recipe called for. I baked them in a 5×7 pan and got 4 bars. I’m not sure if this is supposed to happen, but when I baked them they started to puff up and rise! I simply used a spoon to squish it back down after it came out of the oven. After cooling, the bars were nice and firm. Mine look darker than yours (more like the Nature Valley ones in color.) They aren’t as crunchy as the NV ones, but I like them better with a little softness/chew! Thanks, Katie!
Jessica says
Oh, and I coarsely crushed up some plain Cheerios in place of the crispy rice cereal! No problem with this substitute 🙂
Nadine Beaufort says
Do you melt the coconut oil or just try to work it into the wet or dry ingredients?
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Melt first.
Annymous says
Is there a different substitute for the agave syrup, would honey be okay?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
trajayjay says
I’ve had success in using avocado for the oil. They come out green, but don’t be shy, they still taste fine.
Cindy says
I tried to find a 7×5 baking pan @ Walmart this afternoon. Nope. I see one online that is stoneware. Where did you get yours, and do you recommend?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Bed Bath Beyond… pyrex 🙂
Miss B says
Hi greetings from Malaysia! I just made this an hour ago and it is GREAT!!! I’ve been looking for a granola bar recipe that does not turn into granola crumble and this is perfect. I literally jumped out of happiness that I finally made it (after tried lots of recipes). But I made a few changes, I used honey instead because I could not find agave. And butter instead of oil because I only have butter. I melted butter, honey and brown sugar on low heat. For dry ingredients I used 1 cup of corn flakes (a cereal), 1/4 cup of nestum (a type of cereal too), 1/8 cup of sunflower seeds and 1/8 cups of raisins. And the rest I didn’t change any. It’s very crunchy! This recipe is definitely a keeper. THANKS FOR SHARING!!
Kaela says
I’ve been buying the Nature Valley Granola bars for my daughter recently, and I just thought to myself… Maybe I could make a version of these?… and then you posted this recipe the next day! Thanks!
I tried a peanut butter version by adding some PB2 I had in the freezer… adding regular peanut butter would probably work out better though because my bars came out pretty crumbly. Still tasted good though!
Thanks again for your all of your lovely recipes, Katie.
Marsha says
Thank you for this recipe, Katie! I keep Nature Valley granola bars in my purse because when I get the hiccups, if I don’t eat something pronto I get sick . I know, weird afflication! My mother likes them as well. I was telling her about their new Dark Chocolate Cherry bars. However, they also have almonds and cranberries. She cannot have the cranberries because of her blood pressure medicine. This prompted me to search for a copycate recipe for them and found your website. How would I modify the recipe above to make them chewy with dark chocolate, cherries, and almonds for her? I am not a foodie or a health nut, so I’m not very good at this sort of thing. Thank you for any help you can give me.
shiara says
what is rice crispies?
for liquid sweetness can we use golden syrup ?
what is dry sweetener and what’s a substitutes for it?
Alanna says
Rice Crispies are a popular brand of crisped/puffed rice cereal, but any brand will do! Yes on the syrup (I used maple), and dry sweetener just means sugar (white or brown) or sugar substitute like Stevia.
Hope that helps!
Alanna says
Love these! I tried the chewy ones a while ago and kept forgetting to make the crunchy version, but they really do taste like the Nature Valley bars! Only bummer is mine didn’t hold together very well when cutting, even after waiting an hour to cool. Maybe because I used maple syrup, which isn’t as sticky as honey? I don’t even mind because they still taste amazing. I might just crumble the rest up and use like regular granola over yogurt!
Shelley says
I hope this isn’t a silly question…. I am so excited to try this recipe since I love Nature Valley Granola Bars! My question is, what is the best way to cut these bars once they are cool? Do I just use like a steak knife & make a sawing motion? I’m hoping to not mutilate these when I make them!!
Deb Eliason says
Hi katie!
This looks like something I want to try. I love the peanut butter Nature Valley granola bars. So if I wanted to add peanut butter…do you think I should take out the coconut oil? What do you think?
Brianna says
Just made these, they are so simple and taste fantastic! I have been wanting to try your recipes for a while and had no idea where to start. I work at a preschool and came home with an intense nature valley bar craving today after one boy brought them for snack (preschoolers always have THE BEST snacks, I never thought I could be so jealous of three-year-olds). I was so glad you had a copycat recipe! I added just a little bit of egg white as a binder because they didn’t look like they were going to hold together, but I am not sure they needed it. The ones in the middle fell apart a little bit when I cut them, I probably need to experiment with cooking time.
Peanut butter protein bars are also in the freezer as we speak. I will definitely have to try more of your recipes. Thanks!
Jennifer Wilson says
These are simply perfection! So easy and so delicious. Thank you for the recipe! I have a camping trip this weekend, and I suspect I will be making several batches before then because they keep disappearing.
Faith says
Planning to make these soon! Question – in the recipe it says to use a 7×5″ baking dish (which I’ve never heard of!) but in some of the comments you say you used an 8×8″ pan. Which is correct?
Unofficial CCK Helper says
I’ve made these successfully in a 7×5. Double the recipe and you can put them in either an 8×8 or maybe a 9×13.
katherine says
great recipe, except i kind of burnt mine. 18 minutes was too long for me, maybe 15 minutes would of been better. but still good!
Katie says
I am always looking for copycat recipes, or healthier alternatives to my favorite store bought foods. This recipe was perfect! I am pregnant and craving the new Nature Valley Oatmeal Squares….I could eat a box a day! I would love this recipe to help cut down on our food budget.
Thanks!
Carradee says
Any ideas for what to use instead of rice? I’m actually rice intolerant. (I know a lot of folks with celiac or gluten intolerance in the family, and most of them have someone who’s rice intolerant, instead.)
As a health note, agave actually spikes your blood sugar worse than corn syrup or brown rice syrup, so diabetics should avoid it. I’m also unfortunately allergic to stevia, but I can use raw sugar there, instead.
Mariann D. says
I ground up some flaxseed and it worked just fine. I omitted the tablespoon of dry sweetener since I was out of that, too. I only added one tablespoon of agave nectar and half a stopperful of liquid stevia. However, since the batter looked very dry and loose, I added an extra tablespoon of coconut oil and two tablespoons of water. YUM. Thanks for sharing, Katie.
Nansy says
So glad there is a recipe like this out there. I was wondering if you could replicate the Nature Valley strawberry yogurt bars. They are my favorite and I’m eating them as we speak.
Bianca says
The first time I made these, it was kind of a disaster. My new oven, unbeknownst to me, apparently ran at a higher temperature than it should be. The entire pan of granola bars were charred and I could just salvage one tiny corner. It tasted EXACTLY like the real Nature Valley Bars. So I decided to make them again, putting my own spin on it. I doubled the recipe for a 8 x 8 pan, added a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, grounded up some dried apples that no one wanted to eat anymore, and used it to replace the oat flour. Guess what? I now have my own Apple Crisp bars! Thank you soooo much for the recipe, Katie! 😀
Huw says
Hi,
Love your site. I have three questions – I made the bars last night they tasted great but were not crispy…any advice? higher temp, longer cook time etc?
I also have the same question as someone else – should I use 7×5 or 8×8 ? – as this will determine the depth it may relate to question one above.
And lastly the Stevia packet I used was about 1/4 tsp – should I use four or is this ok (tasted fine so I guess ok)
Unofficial CCK Helper says
Yes, higher cooking temp is good. I’d use a 7×5.
Niccole LoMonaco says
I Love Love your website! Pinned a few things but just now able to read up on some of your recipes. On this particular one …. granola bars… do you have to use stevia or liquid sweetener? I have demerara sugar which we love. Could I use that instead?
Thanks!
Unofficial CCK Helper says
You could always experiment, but I am not sure what would hold the bars together.
Ella says
These were amazing!!! So sweet and addictive that I went on a little binge last time. However, mine kind of fell apart so this time I will try harder 🙂
Evie says
I made these for the second time tonight. They have been far too dry for my liking each time. I think I will have to cut back the baking time from 18 min to about 12 or so. The flavor is there, but they are so dry! Any suggestions?
Unofficial CCK Helper says
You may want to check out the troubleshoot comments in the Recipe FAQ section at the top of Katie’s blog. Here’s the link:
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/faq-page/recipe-questions-and-troubleshooting/
Kellie says
I love the nature valley ones as well, but hate the extra crap (excuse me) they have in them. Mine are in the oven as we speak. However, instead of oat flour, I used some protein powder, in hopes it works about the same, and it already had a sweetener in it, so I omitted the last ingredient (1 packet of powdered sweetener). It tastes great off my hands, so I am excited to see how they turn out, will let you know. Thanks for the recipe!
Kellie says
Ok, so mine came out more chewy than crunchy- but I added a little extra squirt of honey (instead of agave), so that could be why. But, other than that they came out great, even my husband loved them-asked when I would be making them again! yay! Will be making again and again.
Emma says
I just made these bars.. But they didn’t stay together? I kinda just made granola 🙁
Unofficial CCK Helper says
I’m not sure what could’ve gone wrong in your case, but have you checked out CCK’s troubleshoot FAQ page on her blog? Here’s the link:
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/faq-page/recipe-questions-and-troubleshooting/
Jessica says
I love this recipe! I’ve made it quite a few times. Last time I omitted the oil and added just over 1/4 cup peanut butter…SO GOOD!
Esti says
Hi. It sounds amazing just wanted to know if this recipe is your own or legit from nature valley’s original? thanks alot 🙂
Selina says
Could i just replace the rice crispies with oats too? Do you think that would work?
Amy says
My boyfriend dies for Nature Valley bars! I’m definitely gonna have to try this recipe out 😉 Friday night baking for the win! Can’t wait hehe
jes says
my daughter has a sensitivity to oats. is there a good substitute for these bars?
Unofficial CCK Helper says
You could always try quinoa flakes if you wanted to experiment and were ok with not guaranteed results. Be sure to report back if you do experiment!
Goji smoothie en recepten says
Hi
\ alsgevolg ik goji neem elke ochtend zit ik mij veel beter in mijn lichaam
Sophie says
Hey there Katie! I am a huge fan of these granola bars, and would like to feature them with a direct link to this blog, on my blog. You can visit my blog (which is just starting up) at yogisophie7.wordpress.com
Thank you for your consideration!
Sophie
Margy says
Just wanted to thank you for always posting recipes that aren’t too dense, too involved, or require too many ingredients. Thanks for keeping it simple without sacrificing flavor!
Forrest Aldrich says
How can we make these the chocolate version? I imagine sugar/cocoa mixed in, but I dare not guess 🙂
Michelle Buckley says
hello, how to make these like the oats and dark chocolate bars from nature valley? I am sure you just add cocoa powder or something but as I am deficient in the kitchen genre can you maybe give me a hint? thanks!