Homemade Gluten Free Granola Bars

Rustic, homemade, granola bars are loaded with nuts, coconut, chunky rolled oats, and dried fruits. They are gluten free and not too sweet, which can be hard to find. An easy take-along snack, your family will love this healthy recipe.

This recipe is actually a variation of our family’s favorite rustic granola recipe that I make on a weekly basis.

Basically many of the same ingredients, but made into an easy, on-the-go bar.

To take it up a notch, I add toasted coconut.

Have you noticed my love for this tasty ingredient? I use it to top muffins, I use it in cookies, in yogurt, or I just eat it with a spoon.

One thing I love about this recipe is that it isn’t just packed with oats like many typical recipes. Rather, it has so many nuts, shredded coconut, and dried fruit.

These are healthy, rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and the little bit of sweetness is always helpful.

Tips For Making Gluten Free Granola Bars:

• If you are celiac, make sure to use certified gluten-free oats. See below for more info.
• Line the baking pan with parchment paper to make popping them out of the baking dish easy.
• You can use any mixture of nuts. Use all pecans or all walnuts, or use almonds, macadamia nuts, pistachios, etc. Whatever you have on hand and whatever nuts you love. I do find almonds to be a bit too crunchy for the kids. So, you may want to avoid those, or just crush them up a bit before making them into bars.
• For longer storage, place the bars into a sealable container in the freezer.

How do you keep homemade granola bars from falling apart?

The key to them not falling apart is the “glue”. In this case, the recipe uses brown sugar and honey to create the “glue” to get the nuts and oats to stick together. It also helps to press down the granola very firmly into the pan.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes. If you are severely gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, make sure you choose certified gluten-free oats, because regular oats often share the machinery with other gluten grains, thus cross-contaminating the oats.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Tools you may need:

Cast iron skillet

9×13 baking dish

Pot

Measuring cups and spoons

Wooden spoon – usually my go-to with most baking and cooking. A silicone spatula will also work well.

Parchment paper

How To Make Gluten Free Granola Bars From Scratch

1. Preheat oven to 300.
2. In a cast iron skillet, toast shredded coconut over medium-low heat until it starts to turn golden brown. Take off the heat.
3. In a large saucepan or pot, add butter, vanilla, honey, brown sugar, and salt and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
4. While the sugar is melting, chop up nuts and dried fruit if needed.
5. Once they have come to simmer, turn off the heat and add the oats, pecans, walnuts and toasted coconut. Stir.
6. Fold in the dried fruit.
7. Press into a 9×13 pan. I cut out a separate piece of parchment and place it over the pan so I can press down hard on top of the mixture.
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until they start to turn golden brown.
9. Allow to cool. Cut and serve. Wrap them individually with parchment paper. They also store well in the freezer.

Find more favorites from our farmhouse:

• Sourdough Blueberry Cobbler
• Stove-Top Coconut Oil Popcorn
• Berry Kefir Breakfast Smoothie
• Sourdough French Toast From Scratch
• Sourdough Crepes Recipes

If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me @farmhouseonboone on Instagram if you make it.

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