Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
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Homemade coconut chocolate chip granola bars are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free! The easy no-bake recipe is made with healthy ingredients, like rolled oats, peanut butter, honey, and shredded coconut. They are perfectly sweet, sticky, crispy, and chewy. These coconut granola bars are a healthy snack for kids and adults!
Growing up, Quaker’s chewy granola bars were a staple in my diet. I always loved finding one in my school lunchbox, or grabbing a bar on-the-go before dance practice. These Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars remind me of that nostalgic snack, but they’re made even better!
You’ll appreciate how quick and easy it is to make these homemade granola bars. They’re made on the stovetop with one pot, which means there’s no oven needed. From start to finish, the recipe takes only 10 minutes to prep. Since it’s a no-bake snack, you’ll just chill them in the refrigerator to set.
These coconut granola bars are packed with wholesome ingredients, including rolled oats, peanut butter, ground flaxseed, and shredded coconut. They’re refined-sugar free, because the recipe is naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup – whichever you prefer.
This healthy snack idea is adult-approved AND kid-approved! You can pack them in a school lunch or work lunch, serve them as an after-school snack, or enjoy as a post-dinner treat. They’re so tasty, I’d easily consider them a dessert!
These coconut granola bars are:
- Chewy, crispy, and sticky-sweet
- Topped with mini chocolate chips
- Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly
- Naturally sweetened // refined sugar-free
- An easy and healthy no-bake snack idea
- Packed with fiber and nutrients
- Great for back to school season
Ingredients in coconut granola bars
- Rolled oats: Make sure to use rolled oats, not quick oats or steel-cut oats.
- Brown rice crisps: Otherwise known as crispy brown rice or rice krispies, this cereal has a crispy and crunchy texture. Don’t mistaken them for puffed brown rice, which is much softer and puffier.
- Nut butter: Use any type of nut butter. I recommend peanut butter, but almond butter or cashew butter will work too. If you need a nut-free option, try sunflower seed butter instead.
- Honey or maple syrup: While I recommend honey due to its thick and sticky texture, you can also use maple syrup. Just remember honey works better; it helps the ingredients bind together easily.
- Shredded coconut: Shredded coconut is just finely-shredded dried coconut. Make sure it’s unsweetened.
- Coconut flakes: This is dried coconut that has been chopped into larger pieces. Again, make sure it’s unsweetened.
- Mini chocolate chips: Mini chocolate chips are the perfect size for granola bars. However, regular chocolate chips will work too.
- Ground flaxseed: This helps bind the ingredients together. It also provides extra fiber and omega-3 fats.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil helps the bars achieve a crispier, crunchier texture. You can use the refined or unrefined variety.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla is required for a sweet flavor and aroma.
- Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor, creating a sweet and salty taste.
How to make homemade granola bars with coconut and chocolate chips
For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Melt wet ingredients on the stovetop
First, line an 8×8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
Then, warm a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the nut butter, honey or maple syrup, ground flaxseed, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix together until completely melted. Remove the saucepan from heat.
Step 2: Stir in the dry ingredients
Next, add rolled oats, brown rice crisps, shredded coconut, and coconut flakes to the saucepan. Stir together to evenly coat the mixture.
Step 3: Press into a square dish
After, transfer mixture to the baking dish. Firmly press it across the bottom of the dish, creating an even layer. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top, then gently press them into the bars so they stick.
Lastly, chill granola bars in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until completely set. After, gently lift the parchment paper to remove the bars from the dish. Slice the square in half, then slice each half into 6 bars. It will create 12 granola bars total. If desired, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
If you’d like to make your homemade granola bars with no nuts, you can simply use sunflower seed butter instead!
Yes! The recipe is already gluten-free, just make sure your rolled oats are certified gluten-free if you need to be careful with it.
No, puffed brown rice is not the same as brown rice crisps. Brown rice crisps are sweeter, crispier, and crunchier! Only use crispy brown rice cereal or rice krispies cereal.
Tips for perfecting this coconut granola bar recipe
Use a no-stir nut butter. You can really use any type of nut butter for this recipe. However, I highly recommend using a creamy no-stir brand. The thick consistency will help bind the ingredients together. If it has a thin and drippy consistency, the bars may not hold together as easily.
Honey works better than maple syrup. Since honey has a thicker and stickier texture, it holds the ingredients together better than maple syrup.
Decorate with mini chocolate chips. Mini chocolate chips are the perfect choice for these homemade granola bars. However, if you don’t have any, you can use regular sized chips. Alternatively, drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the bars.
Add flaky sea salt. I love sprinkling flaky sea salt on top of the bars for a sweet and salty flavor. It also elevates the bars, making them look a little fancier and prettier.
How to store chocolate coconut granola bars
Store these coconut chocolate chip granola bars inside a sealed container. Keep them in the refrigerator and enjoy within 1 week. If you’d like to store them longterm, keep it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
More healthy snacks with coconut
If you try these Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below!
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Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Homemade coconut chocolate chip granola bars are healthy, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free! The easy no-bake recipe is made on the stovetop in 10 minutes. These coconut granola bars are made with rolled oats, peanut butter, honey, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips. It’s an easy and healthy snack for kids and adults. They’re great for back to school season and on-the-go school lunches!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew)
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup (honey is preferred)
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup brown rice crisps
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips
- Flaky sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
- Warm a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the nut butter, honey or maple syrup, ground flaxseed, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix together until completely melted. Remove the saucepan from heat.
- Add rolled oats, brown rice crisps, shredded coconut, and coconut flakes to the saucepan. Stir together to evenly coat the mixture.
- Transfer mixture to the baking dish. Firmly press it across the bottom of the dish, creating an even layer. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top, then gently press them into the bars so they stick.
- Chill granola bars in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until completely set. After, gently lift the parchment paper to remove the bars from the dish. Slice the square in half, then slice each half into 6 bars. It will create 12 granola bars total. If desired, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- How to store: Store granola bars inside a sealed container. Keep them in the refrigerator and enjoy within 1 week. If you’d like to store them longterm, keep it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 225
- Sugar: 10g
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Protein: 6g
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