Fig, Date & Almond Granola Bars
Back when I first got out of college and was pining my days away in a cubicle farm, I always hit that stereotypical 3pm brick wall at full speed. To be honest, I still start to drag in the middle of the afternoon but the effects are somewhat lessened when you’re not stuck in a cube with the buzz of white noise clogging up your ears. My remedy for the 3pm crash back in those days was Diet Coke and a snack. For awhile I would wander to the vending machines (walking away from your desk always helped) and grab pretzels or crackers. Then, I started buying boxes of granola bars and keeping them at my desk. They immediately became my go-to snack food when I needed to tide over hunger at work. Truth be told, I haven’t eaten them much since then, partly because I try to stay away from prepackaged/processed foods. Last year I started experimenting with homemade granola bars; not only are they much tastier but there are limitless possibilities in terms of flavors! And they’re still good to have in the house when I hit that 3pm brick wall in my home office :)
I came across this formula for soft and chewy granola bars over at Good Life Eats a little while ago and couldn’t wait to start experimenting! There are five basic components: grains (oats), nuts/seeds, dried fruit, a sticky sweetener and a binder (complete details are below). You can mix and match all sorts of different ingredients and flavors, which is awesome.
These sort of became my “let’s clean out the baking pantry” granola bars. I used up the dates, figs and raisins that I had and they magically added up to just about 1 cup. I had almonds, so I used those, then did honey as my sticky sweetener and unsweetened applesauce (had just enough left!) as my binder. After I made them I realized that they were almost exactly like the Cucidati cookies that I’ve made. Those have a filling that consists of pureed figs, dates, raisins, walnuts, honey and orange marmalde. Guess what? Next time I’m subbing in walnuts for the almonds and orange marmalade for the applesauce. Cucidati granola bars! I can’t wait!
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Basic Granola Bar Formula
1. Rolled Grains (2½ cups)
Suggestions: Oats, Rye flakes, Barley flakes, etc.
2. Nuts, Seeds & Spices (1 cup)
Suggestions: Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Cinnamon, Ginger, etc.
3. Sticky Sweetener (1/3 cup + ¼ cup)
Suggestions: Honey, Agave Nectar, Molasses, Maple Syrup
4. Dried Fruits (1 cup)
Suggestions: Raisins, Apricots, Dates, Figs, Prunes, Cranberries, Pineapple, etc.
5. Binder (1 cup)
Suggestions: Pureed Dried Fruit, Apple Butter, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Unsweetened applesauce, etc.
Fig, Date & Almond Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (244 g) unsweetened applesauce
- ⅓ cup (113 ml) + ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (202.5 g) rolled oats
- 1 cup (143 g) chopped almonds
- ⅓ cup (49.67 g) chopped dried figs
- ⅓ cup (49 g) chopped dried dates
- ⅓ cup (48.33 g) raisins
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Stir in the oats, making sure that it is evenly mixed and all of the oats are moistened. Mix in the almonds, figs, dates and raisins.
- 3. Turn the mixture out into the baking pan and press into the pan, making sure it is evenly distributed and tightly packed.
- 4. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the freezer until the bars are firm, at least 1 hour. Remove from the pan and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Recipe Note: I experimented with this recipe using both traditional rolled oats and quick oats. I tended to like the consistency of the bars with the quick oats, but I had my mom taste both and she liked the traditional rolled oats better. So I think it's a matter of taste/preference. Give them both a shot (or use what you have on hand) and see which you like better!
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
If I wanted to add coconut, What category would it be under? dried fruit? nuts/seeds?
Hi Stephanie, I would throw it under nuts/seeds.
I’m so grateful for this recipe! I created my own variation with pureed dates, just posted them on my site
http://www.justasdelish.com/2011/09/15/apricot-walnut-granola-bar/
Just HAD to tell you, first, I used this recipe ALL the time and usually it’s with either natural peanut butter or almond butter. This week, I used canned pumpkin as the binder and added all the pumpkin pie spices. Love it!
There are many recipes that I have tried (from this site.) And…I’m starting to do my own “food photography” Just a fun thing when cooking.
Keep them coming. You are appreciated!
Claudia
Penny,
I FINALLY made the granolas bars and I am so thankful you told me to check your site. I made them totally different than yours but would never have been able to do them without your guidelines. The kids are loving them and so are the adults! Actually am already doing a second batch, this time with all types of seeds. THANK YOU!
I have made these 3 times so far, each time using different binders, sweeteners, and mixins! They are all so wonderful and did not last long!
Thanks for the great recipe!
I used your basic formula to make cherry, almond, peanut butter bars, quite the hodge podge, but they were great!
http://mysceneandherd.blogspot.com/2011/03/granola-bars.html
Thank you for the inspiration and I will definitely be using this recipe again.
These are very similiar to the bars i make every week (based on an Ina recipe), but she uses some butter and a little brown sugar… I think I’ll give it a shot to replace it with applesauce next time. I’m curious to see how different (or simliar) they are! Hopefully, my boyfriend won’t notice the change and I can have a healthier option… =)
http://organiquegal.com/chewy-granola-bar-formula-chocolate-chip-coconut.html
I made a Chewy Chocolate Chip Coconut granola bar and gave you credit where due in my blog post. :) They turned out AMAZING!!!
I love this! I’ve been looking for a bar recipe. I also LOVE that you provide the “type” and amount of ingredient needed. So flexible! Can’t wait to try it.
This could be just the thing I need to rid my pantry of packaged granola bars! I always make my own granola..you’ve inspired me to make these. Might be just the thing for my husband to keep in his desk drawer for that dreaded slump! :)
I made these last night in no time, and they are made of WIN! Everybody loves them. Thanks for this “basic” recipe — it’s perfect. Mine were:
Oats
Honey
Sesame seeds & almonds
Peanut butter
White raisins & craisins
SO GOOD!
I absolutly loves these. Made them the day after you posted this recipe and sent this recipe to all my friends!
I used mostly natural peanut butter and a bit of almond butter for the binder with sunflower seeds, walnuts, honey.
This is almost like a power bar and even a dessert!
Thank you … Thank you!
Oh something I forgot to in my post above. I put 1 1/2 cups of oatmeal in the blender and blended until grainy. I liked the texture of the bar.
I made these granola bars last night and they didn’t turn out. I baked for the time you listed and put them in the freezer for a few hours, however, they crumbled and were very soft. I rebaked them in a bigger dish and it seemed to work better but they still crumbled when I started cutting them. What am I doing wrong, is there a trick to cutting them? They taste good and I’ll probably just eat them as granola.
Hi Bethany, Hmm no real trick to cutting other than being sure to a sharp, straight knife. I’ve made these a few times now, with different cuts of oats I haven’t had any of them crumble when cutting. I would try baking for a few minutes longer, as sometimes ovens can run cool.
Been looking for a granola bar recipe to try – this looks like a keeper! Thanks for another great idea!
I always put dates in my granola! Maple syrup also makes a great sticky sweetener! Making your own is so much better!
These look awesome! My fiance asked me if I could make him some breakfast bars to take to work in the morning, and these will be perfect. I’m thinking of mixing in macadamia nuts, dried pineapple or mango and mayble a little white chocolate. Thanks for the great idea!
These look great! I just mixed up some kid-friendly ones with peanut butter and chocolate chips. My kids love granola bars and I was wondering if these would freeze well if I’d mix up a large batch?
Hi Michele, Yep you can definitely freeze these!
i LOVE the flexibility of this recipe. thanks so much for sharing! i know all about the afternoon hunger monsters. saving this to my online cookbook (http://cookmarked.com)immediately.
Your granola bars look great! I love the idea of making homemade bars so you can control the ingredients (and flavors).
I’ve been seeing a lot of granola bars lately but haven’t yet tried out a recipe. This looks so good!
I love homemade granola bars so much more than store bought packaged ones. They are so much healthier & full of flavor too. Thanks for all the tips :)
I made these today. Love them! I tried mine with a mixture of peanut butter and almond butter! Thank you!!
Thanks for posting this… these look way better than those things you get in the market!
thanks so much for this. i promptly went out and bought ingredients and will be putting them together tonight! :)
I love making my own granola bars, so good and healthy! Thanks for the recipe, will try it :)
This would be so great for stuffing in your purse when out on the town for a day. I really have trouble forgetting to pack things when a snack attack comes!
These sound Stupendous!!! :D Thanks for giving the basic formula for perfect Granola Bars! :D
I’ve never made granola bars but have wanted to for a long time. Thank you for this formula, I’ll be sure to use it. :) YUM!
one healthy bar that is ! love the photography ..
thanks for posting the formula. i love baking homemade granola and bars. my bars tend to not cut well so i get clumps, which is ok too. i still think there is a trick for cutting that i don’t know yet.