Easy Granola Bars (vegan, gluten-free)

Easy Granola Bars

Whenever we walk to the corner store, G-man picks a granola bar for a treat and shares it with his brother. "A bar? A bar?" the Cadet will ask from his seat in the back pack. Off we will head for home, G-man holding one hand in mine and clutching a granola bar with the other, and the Cadet happily drooling crumbs down my back.

Even better than the granola bars from the store are the ones we make ourselves. We use whole grain oats, almonds, peanuts, and olive oil. Local honey and some brown sugar bind the bars together. G-man especially enjoys crushing up peanuts with a mortar and pestle.

1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup unsalted, roasted peanuts
2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup honey (or rice syrup)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 300F

With a mortar and pestle, crush the peanuts and almond slices. (You can use a food processor.)

In mixing bowl, combine crushed peanuts, almonds and quick oats. Mix well.

In a pyrex bowl, mix honey, brown sugar, olive oil and vanilla. Microwave on high until the sugar is completely melted.

Stir all ingredients together and mix well. Pour into an oiled 9x9 pyrex baking dish and press until even with the back of a mixing spoon.

Bake for 25-30 minutes @300F. Cool completely before cutting. Makes about two dozen bars.


This recipe was shared with Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Love, the Hearth and Soul Hop,  Fat Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday and Scratch Cookin' Tuesday.

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