Chocolate chip granola bar is a healthy and satisfying snack when made at home. You decide the zhugh ingredients… but never forget the mini chocolate chips (the most important tasty ingredient). Like in a chocolate chip cookie. 🍪
They’re also easy to bake like simple chocolate chip cookies if you bake the way I describe below. ⬇️
For tools, all you need is a baking sheet with a non-stick (silicone or Silpat) mat or baking spray.
Tip: No need to use a baking pan with high sides or a square pan that you often see other bars baked, or no-baked in. For this chocolate chip granola bar, you can simply multiply the recipe amounts for more bars (e.g. x 4 makes 12 bars). And a deep pan is just extra work because then you have to find the right size baking mat or cut a piece of baking paper.
…And since this chocolate chip granola bar will not rise in the oven (with no leavening agent or flour), high-side pans really serve no good purpose.
Also, the end-cut sides would likely brown bake too much (as a more dry dessert item without much liquid, a lot like cookies and scones that I would prepare on a baking sheet). I often would use a pizza pan for the round orange scone. And even a cake pan for a big (pleasing) chocolate chip oatmeal cookie if that’s all I had ready.
There’s more…
Plus, you can lose some of the rectangular granola bar shape trying to cut and pull them out that could happen too with the baked dry oats.
So for all those reasons, I recommend baking freestyle (no molds or cookie cutters) on a baking or cookie sheet (and without using the pan sides). That is sooo much EASIER. I’m always about Easy! It feels like baking freedom as (you get what you want from the bake without having to think much). 🎉
And instead: scoop out your one-bowl granola bar dough onto the baking sheet (with non-stick mat or spray) and shape into a square with the palm of your hand. Or use the blade of a regular knife (silverware or butter knife). I did both… and found a square is pretty easy to do quickly.
The recipe below will make 3 bars from a 4″ square.
They’re built 1/2″ high. A lot like the size of the oat bars from the grocery stores. Look at these baked beauties ready to eat. 😋
But that’s getting ahead of ourselves. 😊
What are the ingredients for the sticky one-bowl mix?
Easy… these bars have old-fashioned oats, chocolate chips, natural peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey. And a pinch of salt.
With these ready-to-eat ingredients, they don’t actually need to be baked like in an energy ball… but for a granola bar, they absolutely! need some fully baked crunchy vibes.
If you don’t have honey, you can use molasses or even maple syrup, but honey will be your best binder. I’ve found consuming honey is also good for so many sweet and healthy reasons (anti-inflammatory, sinus congestion, dry skin/eczema, etc.).
And if you don’t have coconut oil you can melt, then you can use light healthy olive oil (or a neutral tasting oil).
Okay, now here’s where the rubber meets the road. If you follow these baking instructions, you’ll be happier. Just kidding… but these below tips and instructions will work better in a regular oven when you bake.
Oh, and btw you will not need to refrigerate these chocolate chip granola bars before serving (or at any making or baking point).
That’s double points for easy!…
Because if you bake these through, they will hold together.
So this is what I recommend:
Bake at 325°F/162°C for 15-20 minutes until the bottoms are browned. Then lower the oven heat and bake at 250°F/121°C for another 30 minutes. That way you get an even-bake without burning the granola bars.
It’s kinda like making a biscotti (baking twice), except there’s no cooling break. You bake all the way through!
Sometimes for (other) cookies, I recommend flipping the top to the bottom, but in this chocolate chip granola bar recipe, you don’t want to risk wasting valuable chocolate morsel bites that’ll melt and stick to the pan/mat.
And then when done baking, let the granola bar square cool for a few minutes before cutting with a knife. Or if you can’t wait, they’re ready to eat warm and golden out of the oven!
Ready to plate yours?
Easy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar
Equipment
- baking (cookie) sheet and Silpat or similar non-stick surface
- bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ground dry oats
- 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1/2 Tbsp raw honey, plus more for a drizzle on top (about 1 Tbsp total)
- 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp mini chocolate chip morsels (use 70% or higher dark cacao for healthier)
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine well the ingredients, reserving about half the chocolate chip morsels.
- Add dough to a cookie sheet pan with a non-stick surface (a Silicone baking mat works well). Shape into a simple square with a knife or by hand. If you use the palm on one hand, the dough doesn't usually stick and/or you can use a knife for final shaping to form a 4" square about 1/2" high.
- Add the remaining chocolate chips on top of the bars. Push them down a little into the bar. Add a light zig-zag drizzle of honey on top. This will add more sweetness, but also help better bind the top layer of the bar in the oven.
- Bake at first at 325°F/162°C for 15-20 minutes until the bottoms are medium browned. Then turn the oven down to 250°F/121°C and bake for another 30 minutes and lightly browned. You can let sit at room temperature to cool for 5-10 minutes, then cut into 3 bars with a knife (same one you shaped them with?), and enjoy!