A classic lunchbox treat gets a healthy makeover with my version of Healthier Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars. These chewy granola bars are made with rolled oats, quinoa, and flax seeds. Giving these Healthier Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars an extra boost of protein, nutrition, and fiber.
Growing up, my parents didn’t really give us access to junk food. I was always so envious of my friends and cousins who had a junk food drawer or pantry in their houses. I would dream about what I would put in one of those treasure chests of sugar and fat. I distinctly remember thinking that I’d always keep it stocked with Doritos, Oreos, and peanut butter cups.
Without the traditional bags of chips and sacks of cookies, I would savor anything that resembled junk food. And my favorite was always chewy granola bars. My mom would get a combination pack, and the chocolate chip ones were always the ones to disappear first. So when my kids tried chocolate chip chewy granola bars, I wasn’t surprised that they love them just about as much as I do.
After buying an organic brand of chewy granola bars, I thought, there has to be a way to jack up the health factor in these puppies. Yes, they’re made with rolled oats, but they’re also packed with crisped rice cereal (which isn’t bad, but not really that nutritious). After a bit of experimentation, I found the perfect formula. These Healthier Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars are packed with rolled oats, quinoa, and flax seeds.
The best part of these Healthier Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars is that they taste just like the store bought ones. You can’t taste the quinoa or the flax seeds. When my 3-year old was wolfing down a bar and found out there was quinoa in the recipe, she stopped mid-chew and exclaimed, “Raw quinoa!!” Then she made a sour face, but kept on eating. She actually ate two more bars that day, even after she found out they have quinoa and flax seeds in there 🙂
If you have any granola bar fans in your house, give this healthier version a try. I think they’ll become a permanent fixture in your snack drawer!
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 4 tbs coconut oil
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup puffed rice cereal
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed meal
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup mini-chocolate chips
- rainbow sprinkles (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- While the oven preheats, prepare an 8 by 8-inch square pan by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix the puffed rice cereal, quinoa, ground flax seed meal, and salt. Set the bowl aside.
- On a large sheet pan, spread the rolled oats out in a single layer. Bake the rolled oats for 3 to 5 minutes or until they are lightly golden. Oats can burn easily, so keep a close eye on the rolled oats as they roast.
- Once the oats are toasted, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.
- While the oats are cooling, place the oil. honey, and sugar in a sauce pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow the sugar to dissolve completely. Continue to simmer the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat, and add the vanilla.
- Set the honey mixture aside to cool for a few minutes.
- Mix the cooled oats with the quinoa mixture.
- Pour the honey mixture with the rolled oats mixture. Mix until combined.
- Before adding the chocolate chips and sprinkles, allow the mixture to cool until just slightly warm to the touch.
- Mix in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. And flatten the mixture into an even layer using your palm or the back of a spatula.
- To get a crisp, clean cut granola bar, refrigerate the tray for an hour before cutting.
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These bars look so cute and insanely delicious!! Love how healthy and easy they are. Beyond awesome, Aida!!! 🙂
Thanks so much, Anu! You’re so sweet 🙂 Yes, I love that the bars are no-bake, and the extra nutrition is a huge bonus!
Yum!! Love a great chewy granola bar! And sprinkles are NEVER optional 😉
Thanks, Rebecca! I agree – sprinkles are necessary 🙂
I just love no bake granola bars they’re the best! I made a batch last week hope to share in the upcoming week or so. Thanks for sharing Aida!
I can’t wait to check out your recipe, Tonay! And I’m sure there will be some gorgeous photos as well 🙂
just wanted to clarify-the quinoa is uncooked, right? Isn’t it hard to chew when it’s uncooked? Thanks!
Hi Mardell,
The quinoa is uncooked. It isn’t chewy at all. It’s actually a bit crunchy. I thin if you put a higher ratio of raw quinoa in the bars it might get a little more difficult to chew, but the amount in the recipe doesn’t cause any chewiness. I’ve put raw quinoa in chocolate to make homemade chocolate bars, and it adds a great texture 🙂
These sound amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Lisa! The kids love them, and they’re packed with fiber – which is always a plus 🙂
is there an alternative to coconut oil? That’s not something I have on hand and was just curious if it would be possible to use something else?
Thanks!
Hi Jenny,
You can substitute any oil/butter you’d like. Coconut oil is the healthiest, and it adds a touch of flavor to the bars. But feel free to substitute it for any other oil 🙂