Delicious cookie flavor without turning on the oven. These Chewy Oatmeal Cookie Granola Bars are simple to make, contain no refined sugars, and are completely guilt free!
Last week we enjoyed an unexpected stretch of warm weather—sunny, humid, and decidedly summer-like even though it’s still early spring. I loved the sunshine, but it also reminded me that shorts season is approaching. After a winter of rich comfort food, it felt like the right time to swap in healthier snacks and get back to my workouts.
Enter Chewy Oatmeal Cookie Granola Bars. Imagine the soft, cinnamon-vanilla warmth of an oatmeal raisin cookie transformed into a gluten-free, dairy-free, no-refined-sugar, no-bake snack bar. They can even be made vegan by swapping honey for agave. These bars capture that familiar cookie flavor while staying wholesome and portable.
The recipe is refreshingly simple and uses everyday, natural ingredients with minimal prep. Start by combining oats, oat flour, shredded coconut, raisins, and cinnamon in a large bowl. If you don’t have oat flour on hand, make your own by pulsing whole oats in a blender or food processor for about 30 seconds—quick and convenient without an extra grocery trip.
Next, melt almond butter with coconut oil and honey (or agave) in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth. Peanut butter will work as a substitute, but it has a stronger, nuttier flavor that can overshadow the cinnamon and vanilla; if you choose peanut butter, expect the bars to taste more like peanut butter oatmeal cookies—still delicious, just different.
Stir vanilla into the melted mixture, then pour it into the dry ingredients and mix until every oat is well coated. Press the mixture firmly into a lined 8×8-inch pan so it forms an even, tightly packed layer, then chill in the freezer for about 30 minutes to set.
Once chilled, slice into bars and store them at room temperature in an airtight container. The result is chewy, flavorful bars that satisfy cookie cravings with none of the guilt—perfect for breakfast on the go or a healthier snack between meals.
Chewy Oatmeal Cookie Granola Bars
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Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups oats
- 1/2 cups ground oats (oat flour)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/3 cup honey or agave
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
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Line an 8×8 inch square pan with parchment or wax paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
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In a large bowl, combine the oats, ground oats (oat flour), shredded coconut, raisins, and cinnamon. Set aside.
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In a microwave-safe bowl, melt together the almond butter, honey or agave, and coconut oil for about 1 minute. Stir until smooth, then mix in the vanilla. Pour this wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until the oats are evenly coated.
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Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, pressing it down firmly to create an even, compact layer. Freeze for 30 minutes to set.
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Remove from the freezer, lift the mixture from the pan using the parchment overhang, and cut into bars with a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Nutrition
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