Learn how to make homemade healthy chewy granolas bars with this recipe! These healthy homemade chewy granola bars are made with rolled oats, cranberries, nuts, chocolate chips, and coconut – and they taste better than the store-bought chewy granola bars!

Our kids absolutely love chewy granola bars, but the ones you can get at the grocery store are so full of sugar.

Instead, we’ve decided to try our hand at making some healthier versions of our favorite chewy granola bars – and our kids love them!

These are pretty easy to make, and even better, they’re healthy and filling! You can also easily adapt them to your own tastes by substituting in your favorite nuts and dried fruits.

We like to swap out the cranberries with dried cherries, and we like to use semi-sweet or even dark mini chocolate chips.

Your family will love these healthy chewy granola bars, too! And if you enjoy granola in your family, you might like this recipe for Crunchy Homemade Granola.

While you’re at it, you should also try these delicious homemade oatmeal balls for another easy, healthy snack the kids will love, along with this recipe for Peanut Butter Cheerios your kids will eat by the handful.

They pair really well with these easy Malt-O-Meal Muffins, too.

Ingredients for Healthy Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

Here are all the ingredients you need for this recipe for healthy chewy granola bars:

2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cups almonds, cashews, or other nuts – coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit – coarsely chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup + 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp) mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp fine sea salt

How to Make Healthy Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

Heat oven to 350* Farenheit.

Line the bottom and sides of an 8- or 9- inch square pan with either aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Add the oats and chopped almonds to a small baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, stir, and bake for another 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

Combine butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt into a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir occasionally until the butter melts. Continue heating and stirring until the sugar completely dissolves and the mixture is bubbling.

Pour the butter mixture into the large bowl with the oats and almonds. Mix well, then allow to cool for about 5 minutes.

Add in the cranberries, 1/4 cup of chocolate chips, and coconut. Stir to combine. Some of the chocolate chips will melt a little, which will help hold the bars together.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Use damp fingers or a rubber spatula to firmly press down on the mixture. You will want to press very hard for at least one minute, otherwise the bars will fall apart when cut.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp) of chocolate chips over the bars, then use your fingers or the rubber spatula to gently press them into the top.

Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours, or you can freeze for about 30 minutes.

Remove the block of granola from the pan, then peel away the foil/parchment. Cut into 12 bars (6 bars by 2 bars).

Store in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature (for soft bars), or in the fridge (for hard bars). These will last for about 3 months in the freezer if they are wrapped well.