Healthy Granola Bars (Gluten-Free)
These healthy granola bars are so good because they’re packed with wholesome ingredients like nuts, seeds, and oats, offering a perfect balance of chewy texture and natural sweetness. Ideal for a quick, nutritious snack that’s both satisfying and guilt-free! Vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free.
This delicious vegan granola bar recipe is from, The Mediterranian Plate: Plant-Based Recipe Free From Gluten, Salt, Oil, & Sugar, by Debbie Adler. It is published here with permission from the author.
If you are looking for more healthy snacks that are great for traveling, we have these oatmeal energy balls, our roasted chickpea snacks, and this delicious oil-free gluten-free granola that you can eat by the handful.
Reasons you will love these granola bars
- Vegan and Plant-Based: These granola bars are completely vegan, made with wholesome, plant-based ingredients, making them a delicious and ethical snack choice for those following a vegan lifestyle.
- Oil-Free and Low in Fat: Enjoy a healthier snack option with these oil-free granola bars, which are naturally low in fat while still providing great taste and texture, perfect for guilt-free munching.
- Gluten-Free and Allergy-Friendly: These granola bars are gluten-free, making them a safe and tasty option for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, so everyone can enjoy a satisfying snack.
- Perfect for On-the-Go: Convenient and portable, these healthy granola bars are ideal for traveling, hiking, or busy days when you need a quick, nutritious snack to fuel your adventures.
Ingredients you will need
These healthy granola bars are made with only wholesome ingredients. No oil. No dairy. No gluten.
- Rolled Oats- Oats are naturally gluten-free, however, they can be cross-contaminated during processing if the facility also processes other grains. If you are gluten-intolerant, be sure any oats bought say “certified gluten-free.”
- Dates- It’s important to use Medjool dates for the perfect texture and chewiness.
- Nuts- This recipe calls for almonds and pistachios, but you can use any nuts you prefer. Be sure to get the raw, unsalted variety.
- Seeds- Pumpkin seeds and chia seeds add important omegas and fiber.
- Sweetener- Coconut nectar provides the perfect sweetness to these bars. Other options include maple syrup, date syrup, and agave nectar.
How to make healthy granola bars
STEP #1: Begin by removing the pit from the Medjool dates and soaking them in water for approximately 20 minutes to soften.
STEP #2: Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a 15 x 13-inch baking sheet and an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
STEP #3: To make the granola, spread the oats, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds in an even layer on the prepared 15 x 13-inch baking sheet. Drizzle the coconut nectar over the nuts and seeds and toss to combine.
STEP #4: Bake until the oats turn a light golden brown, about 20 minutes.
STEP #5: Add the dates to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add the cooled granola mixture and pulse until everything comes together but still has texture.
STEP #6: Transfer the mixture from the food processor to the prepared 8 x 8-inch pan and spread in an even layer with the back of a wet spoon.
STEP #7: Place the pan in the freezer for an hour. Take it out and cut it into 9 bars.
Pro Tips & Suggestions
- Don’t skip roasting- This step helps bring out subtle aromatic flavors that raw doesn’t provide.
- Soaking the dates- In order for the dates to be soft enough to be blended in your food processor, the dates must be soaked for at least 20 minutes. A little longer is fine.
- Sweetener- Good substitution options for coconut nectar are maple syrup or date syrup.
- Chilling process- As much as you will want to eat these right away, don’t skip the chilling process. They need time and a cooler temperature to help them hold together well.
- Storage- Keep the bars individually wrapped in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months
For those looking for more gluten-free recipes, check out these 63 Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes as well as our Gluten-Free Category Page.
If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!
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Chewy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- ½ cup raw unsalted almonds
- ½ cup raw pistachios
- ¼ cup raw unsalted pumpkin seeds
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons coconut nectar or date syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar
- 15 Medjool dates pitted and soaked for 20 minutes and drained
Instructions
- Begin by removing the pit from the Medjool dates and soaking them in water for approximately 20 minutes to soften.
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a 15 x 13-inch baking sheet and an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- To make the granola, spread the oats, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds in an even layer on the prepared 15 x 13-inch baking sheet. Drizzle the coconut nectar over the nuts and seeds and toss to combine.
- Bake until the oats turn a light golden brown, about 20 minutes.
- Add the pre-soaked dates to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add the cooled granola mixture and pulse until everything comes together but still has texture.
- Transfer the mixture from the food processor to the prepared 8 x 8-inch prepared pan and spread in an even layer with the back of a wet spoon.
- Place the pan in the freezer for an hour. Take it out and cut it into 9 bars.
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip roasting- This step helps bring out subtle aromatic flavors that raw doesn’t provide.
- Soaking the dates- In order for the dates to be soft enough to be blended in your food processor, the dates must be soaked for at least 20 minutes. A little longer is fine.
- Sweetener- Good substitution options for the coconut nectar are maple syrup or date syrup.
- Chilling process- As much as you will want to eat these right away, don’t skip the chilling process. They need time and a cooler temperature to help them hold together well.
- Storage- Keep the bars individually wrapped in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About the Chef
Debbie Adler is a plant-based chef, bakery owner, and the award-winning cookbook author of the critically acclaimed Sweet, Savory & Free: Insanely Delicious Plant-Based Recipes without any of the Top 8 Food Allergens, and Sweet Debbie’s Organic Treats: Allergy-free & Vegan Recipes from the Famous Los Angeles Bakery.
Debbie is a plant-based cooking and baking instructor and her popular online courses Plant Powerful Life GPS, Quintessential Health 360° and The Complete Plant Powerful Weight Loss System have been taken by hundreds of students worldwide.
She has been interviewed on NBC’s Nightly News, ABC-7’s Eyewitness News, CBS Los Angeles and the national superstationWGN.
Debbie has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and on NPR’s radio show Here and Now. Her recipes have been published in national publications such as Pilates Style Magazine, Naked Food Magazine, Allergic Living, Living Without, Simply Gluten-Free, Delight Gluten-Free, Ventura Blvd, and Low Sugar Living, as well as on popular websites and blogs such as Cosmopolitan, One Green Planet, The Kitchn, Chic Vegan, Austin Food Magazine, and Self.
Follow Debbie:
Hi Terri! At first blush I wasn’t sure I was going to remake these bars. But after consuming a few, straight out of the freezer, I was hooked. Great way to ingest magnesium and seeds for gut health and more. Consuming with a daily smoothie is a good meal substitute 🙂
I must say, I like the granola a lot before processing it, as a ‘bark’ , but I don’t know how that would hold up.
Don’t doubt the process people, it works!
Terri
I made this recipe today and used maple syrup per your suggestion and it was delicious! Toasting everything first gives it a perfect crunch! Thanks for this recipe!
Hi Beth- So glad that you liked these! Debbie Adler has other great recipes like these in her book, The Mediterranian Plate: Plant-Based Recipe Free From Gluten, Salt, Oil, & Sugar.
Is there a sub for coconut nectar or can it be left out? I’m not sure what other recipes I can use it for
The recipe creator, Debbie Alder, suggests maple syrup or date syrup as a substitute for coconut nectar. I’ll add that information to the article.