Hello friends! Today's recipe is simple and clean granola bars. These clean granola bars are little portable healthy treats which you can tuck into your lunch box or if you are simply seeking a healthier alternative to shop-bought bars.
I realise I spend most of my time exploring pinterest, cook books and magazines to bring you fresh and simple clean recipes and insider knowledge.
If you were to look at my phone photos they are all food pictures! 🙂 Maybe a bit too much but hey I love it.
Healthy eating is my passion and I hope this will spread onto you. If you want to know more about the way I eat, check out my What is a clean eating diet post.
Anyways...today I am sharing my clean granola bars.If you've never made homemade granola bars, you are going to be pleasantly surprised by just how easy they are.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SIMPLE AND CLEAN GRANOLA BARS?
Four ingredients and a good blender/food processor, that's all you need for these simple and clean granola bars. No baking, no fuss, no dairy, no gluten, no added sugar, just simple, wholesome ingredients.
More Healthy Granola Bar Recipes
- Simple and Clean Flapjack
- Healthy Chocolate Flapjack
- The Best Healthy Flapjack
- Delicious Crumble Bars
Here is the shopping list to make these healthy granola bars
- Dates - to ensure it all sticks together and to add sweetness
- Walnuts - for a bit of crunch and healthy fats. You can use any nuts you like or if you want to make it nut free just replace the walnuts with either pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
- Desiccated coconut - for texture
- Cranberries - make sure they are natural, unsweetened or I buy these cranberries infused with apple juice.
Time is also important for me and these are my after-work or early morning favourite recipe.
You cake even cut them up into small bites, drizzle a bit of melted dark chocolate over them, let them set and take as a snack to work in your tupperware.
Simple and Clean Granola Bars Storage Tips
- To Store. Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- To Freeze. To freeze, individually wrap in plastic, place in a ziptop bag, then freeze for up to 2 months.
Here's the simple and clean granola bars recipe
Recipe
Simple and clean granola bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 2 cups walnuts or Brazil nuts
- 2 cups desiccated coconut (I used Coconut Merchant)
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoon water
Instructions
- First toast the walnuts slightly in an oven heated to 170 degrees. Let them cool down before adding them to your food processor along with dates, desiccated coconut and cranberries.
- Process until the mixture is well combined and has a crumbly texture.
- Now add gradually the water, a tablespoon at a time and keep processing until the mixture is sticky and holds together.
- Next get a square baking dish, line it up with cling film and press the mixture in. Press down firmly to ensure the mixture sticks well together.
- Pop in the fridge for a couple of hours, then cut in to bars and sprinkle with some more desiccated coconut
How super easy are these simple and clean granola bars? Make sure you keep these in the fridge - they'll last longer and have a better texture. Don't forget to check out my simple and clean flapjacks or healthy chocolate pecans flapjacks..they are aaaaamazing! Don't forget to pin this recipe too!
As always please, if you make this recipe share it with me either on my Facebook,Twitter or Instagram. I would love to see it! Hashtag #HediHearts
Much love,
Hedi
Almond and cashew cups
Reese's cupcakes
Raw chocolate with almond swirl
Petra (@BeHealthyFeelGd)
This sounds like a great energy bar for when you need a bit of 'pick-me-up'! I would probably use raisins rather than cranberries as I am not a big fan of cranberries. Thanks for sharing!
Hedi Hearts
Hello Petra, how easy is that, isn't it. That's exactly my style simple, delicious and you can swap ingredients around. Let me know if you make it and what do you think of it. Love, Hedi xx
Christina Ross
These bars are soooooooooooo delicious!!! Thank you for such a great recipe 🙂
Hedi Hearts
awww thank you Christina so happy you like them! You have to try my flapjacks, they are even better! Love Hedi xxx
Maria
hi there
I made these the other day & they went down a treat. Slightly altered the recipe & put a mix of nuts (Brazil) & seeds (pumpkin & sunflower) but the one thing I found was they were quite brittle. I had put in more than 3tablespoons of water (5?) but should u bake them a little or what else would make them less crumbly?
Making the flapjacks next!
Hedi Hearts
Hello Maria, you could use more dates or more brazil nuts. Dates really help to stick together and so walnuts because they are quite oily ( in a good way). Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are bit more dry, hence the brittle texture probably Hedi xxx
Jordanne
Absolutely love these bars! So easy to make and taste delicious! I have them at night and satisfies my sweet tooth perfect 🙂 thanks for sharing the recipe!
Hedi Hearts
I love them too Jordanne, there was a time I was literally obsessed and had to had one every single day 🙂 Hedi xxx
Jocelyn Somers
These are fantastic. I used dried sour cherries and substituted coconutt oil for coconut (I was out of dessicated coconut) and they are AMAZING!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WE LOVE IT. SHARED WITH ALL MY PEEPS ON INSTAGRAM
Hedi Hearts
Yay!!! Make me so so happy x x x
Amanda S.
I am having a very difficult time finding desiccated coconut. Will shredded coconut work?
Hedi Hearts
Yes it is almost the same Amanda. Let me know if you liked them Hedi xx
Nancy Bell
unsweetened of course!
Stephanie
Do you use whole pitted dates or pitted baking dates that come in a paste? Would both work equally well?
Hedi Hearts
Hello Stephanie, the best dates are Medjool dates, but they can be a bit pricey, so whole pitted dates can be good too, but soak them for around 15 min to soften them up Hedi xxx
Tashia
Just made these today and they turned out so good! I added some orange zest and a table spoon of the oranges juice in place of some of the water and they are a real treat!
Hedi Hearts
Toshiba never thought of adding orange, but what an idea! Will be definitively trying that, thank you Hedi xxx
Anita
Where do you find unsweetened cranberries for no added sugar? I am having a hard time finding many fruits without added sugar. Raisins and apples (and whole dried dates, of course) are about the only ones I can find natural without being sweetened with sugar.
Hedi Hearts
I get mine from Amazon Anita, they are not that expensive and so much better for you. Hedi xxx
Laurie
I found frozen cranberries at the regular grocers, and put them in the dehydrator - once they've been in for a while, flatten them, and wait for them to turn dark red - I found it best to use the non-stick sheet used for making fruit leather. I also used coconut milk in place of the water.
Hedi Hearts
Yummy! Sounds delicious Laurie x x
Marie
Hiya! It looks fab!! I'm not a big fan of dates so can I swap the dates for dried prunes? Thanks a lot for sharing!
Hedi Hearts
Hello Mary, yes or dried figs could work nicely. hedi xxx
Karen Prochassek
Hi..I would love to join..I live in Johannesburg in South Africa.
Kim
These are awesome! thank you!
Although I used tolled oats this yime, ill try walnuts next time
Hedi Hearts
Thank you Kim and yes you can switch ingredients and they will still work. My all time favourite treats! Hedi xxx
Dee
These came out great and they are toddler approved! I did sub pecans for walnuts because that was I had on hand.
Hedi Hearts
Yum, your version sounds lovely Dee. Glad you like it and your little one too, they are usually the hardest to please Hedi xxx
Ode
Thanks Hedi for this great recipe!
I used sunflower seeds instead of walnuts and raisins instead of cranberries because I had these on hand. It was delicious! And super energetic.
I will definitely try it out with cranberries though.
Hedi Hearts
Hello Ode, thank you so much for lovely comment! I you liked these, you must try me other granola bars or flapjack recipes, they are superb! Hedi xxx
Suzanne
My son and husband hate coconut, could I leave this out? Is there anything else I could add instead? Thanks
Chelsey
Hey! what is the shelf life to these bars?
Hedi Hearts
Hi Chelsea, 5 days in airtight container, but i guarantee you they won't last that long! 🙂 Hedi xxx
Ita
Made the granola bars Heidi , they are delicious, do you have a calorie content for these please.
Hedi Hearts
Hi Ita, so happy to hear you are liking them. I don't count calories, only chemicals. These are great, healthy food of good ingredients, so enjoy them without feeling guilty Hedi xxx
Teresa
We loved these bars!!!!!!. But I used the sweetened cranberries because I didn't want to wait for the no sugar ones. Lately I've been obsessed with dehydrating. I'm going to try Dehydrating cranberries so I don't have to buy the no sugar added ones.
Thx for the recipe.
Hedi Hearts
My pleasure, glad you like it and brilliant idea with dehydrating the cranberries! Hedi xxx
Abigail Rochin
Hello Petra, I wonder if I can replace brazil nuts for almonds or pecan nuts?
Hedi Hearts
Hello Abi, yes both almond and pecan nuts would work lovely. Hedi xxx
Betty
OMG! These are so good and easy to make.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Hedi Hearts
My absolute pleasure Betty! So happy you love them Hedi xxx
Julie
Hi Hedi, I love the combination of orange and cranberry so I added the zest of one orange and subbed the water for orange juice. I also used a combination of almond and cashew and THEY ARE AMAZING!!! Thank you for the inspiration!
Hedi Hearts
Ohhhh that sounds lovely Julie, I will give it a go myself! Hedi xxx
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Bernadette
I made these and they are so yummy . First I was eating the mixture before it set because I couldn't resist it. They wrap neatly in waxed paper and stay perfectly fresh through the week for my wor lunches. Thanks for this easy, no bake treat.
Hedi Hearts
Thank you Bernadette, I am the same I always eat the mixture or dough before baking and if it tastes good that usually means it will taste even better when finished 🙂 Hedi xxx
Marianne
Can you or anyone recommend a good food processor? Nothing too expensive!
Hedi Hearts
Hello Marianne, I have a basic one from Argos, I bought it couple of years ago for around 20 pounds. Hedi xxx
Rebecca
Can I sub cashews for the nuts and do they have to be roasted first? THanks.
Hedi Hearts
Hello Rebecca, yes you can use cashews and you dont have to roast them unless you want to. Hedi xxx
Mary
What could we possible substitute for the coconut ? Not a fan of it at all.
Hedi Hearts
Groundnut oil should work instead of coconut oil Mary. Hedi xxx
Mary Lowey
Thanks! I didn't realize we were talking about coconut oil, that I use i everything, including my coffee, I thought is was like flaked coconut. Can't wait to make these, just have to pick up the dates tomorrow 🙂 Thank you again 🙂
Hedi Hearts
Hello Mary, me again. Please don't use coconut oil, it won't work. I thought your comment was for my clean and simple flapjack. The shredded coconut cannot be replaced with anything else am afraid, or at least I never tried. Sorry I can't help lovely. Hedi xxx
Jess
Hi,
How much is a cup please?
Hedi Hearts
Hello Jess, it is approximately 240 ml. I use just a normal mug for tea 🙂 Hedi xxx
Jess
Great thank you, I will get making ?x
Shaline
Wow! This looks good! I can't wait to try your recipe. I've been looking for other ways to make healthy granola bars. I make mine with cashews or almonds, raw cacoa powder, medjool dates, and coconut oil.
Hedi Hearts
I like the sound of your recipe Shaline, will definitively try it out! Hedi xx
Lisa
These are AMAZING! I've made them twice and love love love them. Eat one for breakfast and am happy until lunch! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hedi Hearts
Thanks so much Lisa!! Glad you love them as much as I do! Hedi xxx
Sri
In the ingredients, how much and what type of oats is missing. Or, Am I not reading it properly. Please let me know how much and kind of oats shoild I use.
Hedi Hearts
Hello Sri, you don't need oats, these bars are gorgeous without them. Hedi xxx
deanna lengyel
I came across this recipe on Pinterest and I decided to make these granola bars today. I followed the recipe exactly and they turned out beautifully. So easy to make and delicious. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I can't wait to make them again with a few tweaks to the recipe. Perhaps dried apricots instead of cranberries? Yum!
Hedi Hearts
Thank you so much Deanna for this lovely review! You have made my day. Hedi xxx
Kellie
Hi! Thank you for the recipe... Should I keep these covered in the fridge? TIA ?
Hedi Hearts
Yes Kellie, best kept in the fridge or in an airtight container. Hedi xx
Susie Gallardo
Could I use peanuts? My husband is alergic to all other nuts except peanuts.
Nancy Bell
Just wondering if I use oats instead of nuts, is it still paleo? I know Whole 30 doesn't allow oats...
Melanie Plourde
Delicious! But mine came out a much darker colour, and gooey (not quick like bars).
I used a blender instead of a food processor, maybe I over-blended? Maybe my nut-to-date ratio was too heavy on the date side.
Hedi Hearts
Hmm not sure lovely, hard to say without seeing the final result x x x
Julia Glicken
Can you freeze these?
Hedi Hearts
Yes you can Julia. Hedi x x x
Robin
I made these today and they were delicious! I did substitute dried plums for the cranberries because I was unable to find any unsweetened ones. I would have preferred that tartness but still really good even with the change!
Kristi
Oh my word these are incredible!! I used a combination of sunflower seeds and flax meal instead of the nuts because my daughter has a nut allergy. I did read the review that said these came out crumbly and that it could have happened because sunflower seeds aren't as oil rich as nuts so I added about a tablespoon of coconut oil to compensate. And they are perfect. Thank you!!
Hedi Hearts
awww thank you lovely!!! Glad you like it that much x x x
Chris
Are these whole30 approved?
Leanne Gray
If I used pecans & almonds as it's all I have to hand do I still have to put them in the oven? X
Hedi Hearts
You don't have to lovely x x
Jen
Do these freeze well? Looking to give as a freezer meal for a mommy-to-be
Hedi Hearts
Yes, they do, up to 3 months lovely x x x
Christina
Good day Hedi,
Do you know by chance what the nutritional value is per serving, and what a recommended serving size would be?
Looking forward to making these!!
Thanks
Hedi Hearts
Sorry lovely, I wouldn't know. One bar at a time won't do any damage to your waist 🙂 Hedi x x x
Gail Johnson
Hi - do you use coconut oil or flakes?
Hedi Hearts
I use coconut oil Gail x x
salome
Great site and well try these bars, love that they healthy
Hedi Hearts
Awww thank you, let me know hoe you got on x x x
Kristin
These sound so good! Any suggested replacements for the coconut? I'm not a huge fan of it, but still want to try these!
Hedi Hearts
Hello Kristin, you can use any other type of oil. Groundnut oil, avocado oil, sesame oil? x x
Peggy Aitken
I'm sure the Whole30 won't allow dried cranberries with added sugar and I haven't been able to find dried cranberries without any added sugar of some type...HELP. Where can I find them, anyone know???
Hedi Hearts
Yes, there are loads that are sweetened with apple juice only lovely. BuyWholeFoodsOnline sells them. Hedi x x x
Melissa
These sound delicious, I am allergic to Walnuts, what is another nut I could use instead?
Hedi Hearts
You can use any nuts lovely ?
Aileen
Amazing!! Thank you for sharing.
Hedi Hearts
My pleasure lovely x x x
Pongodhall
Love these.
I soaked currants in orange juice too.
So many tips, I can’t wait to do the seed and coconut oil one.
Hedi Hearts
Awwww makes me happy you love these. And currants soaked in orange juice sounds so lush! Hedi xoxo
Jill Pedersen
Great recipe- just my style! But... this amount was too big for my food processor & ended up working it in 2 batches. I should have realized that as the container was filling way way up! But - without too much mess - I got everything crumbly & then mixed it all together before doing the water part. My husband tasted the first half & said "this would be great with a little chocolate", so I mixed a few tablespoons of sugarless Dark Cocoa powder into the 2nd half (still Whole30) & pressed that batch on top of the first - YUM!!
Hedi Hearts
Wow, that sounds so good Jill, I might have to try it out myself. Thanks so much for sharing with me, I get inspired by comments like these. Hedi x x x