Seedy Almond Oat Bars

With a chewy bite and crunchy bits, these hearty and healthy Almond Oat Granola Bars are the Goldilocks of granola bars. Made with chewy rolled oats, shredded coconut, nutty almond butter, sweet honey, crunchy almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and millet they've got all kinds of textures and flavors happening. To finish, they are drizzled in melted dark chocolate with a hint of espresso and sprinkled with sea salt flakes to keep it real. 

Jump to:

• Seedy Almond Oat Bars: a healthier alternative to store-bought granola bars & snacks
• Healthy ingredients
• Oats are naturally gluten free
• Sticky sweetness binds Granola Bars together
• Flavor morsels
• Recipe
• Comments

Seedy Almond Oat Bars: a healthier alternative to store-bought granola bars & snacks

As a baker, I sometimes struggle with eating healthy. I mean, my house is constantly filled with sugary temptations and buttery wonders. I feel like I have pretty decent self control, and I try and to keep a healthier homemade treat within reach, like these bars or my Basic Energy Balls.

This is the Goldilocks of granola bar recipes

Loaded with hearty textures and crave-able ingredients, these granola bars satisfy in a multitude of ways. They are crunchy without crumbling to bits and chewy without feeling like it's a full time job to finish one. They are not too crunchy, not too chewy. Not too sweet, not too savory. These Seedy Almond Oat Bars are just right.

This recipe for Seedy Almond Oat Bars begins by lightly toasting Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats, Bob's Red Mill Sunflower Seeds and raw almonds to deepen their naturally nutty flavors. Almond butter, honey and coconut oil bubble up together on the stove top to create a smooth and satiny binder that holds the Seedy Almond Oat Bars together.

These Almond Oat Bars can easily be made Gluten Free & Vegan

This is a gluten free granola bar recipe. Oats are naturally gluten free but be sure to look for a gluten free label on the packaging for the celiac cautious. If you are looking to make these Seedy Almond Oat Bars vegan, swap the honey for a vegan friendly alternative like date syrup or agave.

Healthy ingredients

All kinds of nutritious ingredients get mixed into these healthy, homemade granola bars. But don't let all of that nutrition fool you, these bars are anything but basic. They also have a kick of indulgent fun to keep things interesting.

First the chewy, crunchy business

Rolled Oats

As the name suggests, oats play a major roll in this granola bar recipe. Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats serve as the bulk base for these bars. Oats are a great source of dietary fiber and they are naturally low in saturated fat. Plus, oats have that ability to make you feel fuller longer. Which means these granola bars put in their work to help you feel energized and healthfully sustained.

Oats are naturally gluten free

If cross contamination is a concern, look for oats marked as gluten free. GF oats are processed in facilities free of gluten so there is no danger of cross contamination. Depending on your gluten tolerance levels, you can use either regular rolled oats or gluten free oats.

In this Seedy Almond Oat Bar recipe, the oats are lightly toasted first for a warm, nutty nuance.

Coconut

Alongside the oats, shredded coconut gives these granola bars their signature chewiness. They contrast of chewy and crunchy hits on those textural craving combos we all love. I prefer Bob's Red Mill Shredded Coconut in these bars. The coconut shreds thread their way through the other ingredients in chewy harmony. The Bob's shredded coconut is unsweetened so it doesn't have that gritty texture that some sweetened shredded coconut have. It's just a kiss of chewy, natural sweetness.

Almonds

Another key player in these granola bars, Almonds! They boast big plant protein points and those good unsaturated fats. Plus they are fiber forward and have a healthy amount of nutrients to fuel your bod.

We roughly chop raw almonds and give them the toasting treatment too. Offering crunch and toasty warmth in every bite of these granola bars.

Seeds are a bank of nutrition in these Seedy Almond Oat Granola Bars

Pumpkin Seeds

A delicate crunch of nutty goodness comes from pumpkin seeds in these bars. They are a great source of essential fatty acids and also pack plant protein power. These little seeds are big on nutrients like magnesium and iron.

We also toast the pumpkin seeds to really lean into the warm nutty qualities of these nutty and seedy granola bars.

Millet

This ancient grain is actually a seed that is often prepared like a grain similarly to rice or quinoa. Millet is gluten free so it is an ideal base for gluten free dishes. With a mild and lightly sweet flavor, millet settles in nicely with the other ingredients in these Seedy Almond Oat Granola Bars.

However, we don't cook the millet in this recipe. Since millet is a seed, we use it as such. When uncooked, millet has a delicate round crunchiness. So a sprinkle of it gives these granola bars a pleasant pop of crunch in each bite.

Flaxseeds

Here we have yet another heart healthy seed situation going into these Seedy Almond Oat Granola Bars! Golden Flaxseeds are small but mighty. These itty bitty seeds pack a big punch of protein, contain essential fatty acids and flaxseeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber.

I added Bob's Red Mill Flax Seeds to these granola bars because of the health benefits they bring. If you need further proof of the power of flaxseeds, look no further and Bob Moore, the founder of Bob's Red Mill. He's been putting them on his oatmeal every morning forever and he is fit as a fiddle at over 90 years young!

Sticky sweetness binds Granola Bars together

All of those toasty nuts and seeds combined with the chewy oats and coconut need somebody sticky to hold them altogether. A few simple ingredients get the job done while adding even more flavor and texture.

Almond Butter

Smooth and creamy almond butter provides a thick and sticky binder to these bars. Almond butter is protein dense and contains calcium. It's a heart healthy ingredient that can help control blood sugar. Of course you can swap in an alternative nut butter here if you prefer.

Honey

Honey also adds some sticky sweet binding power to these granola bars. Additionally, it brings a natural, simple sweetness. Again, you can swap in alternatives at this stage. Think Maple or even Date syrup for natural sweetness that is low on the Glycemic Index. If you are looking to make vegan granola bars, use Agave syrup in place of honey.

Coconut Oil

A bit of melted coconut oil helps in the binding process and brings the granola bars some depth in flavor by adding in a healthy bit of fat.

Heating and mixing the almond butter, honey and coconut oil creates a sticky sweet binder that holds these Seedy Almond Oat Bars together.

Flavor morsels

Another special thing about these Seedy Almond Oat Bars is the little morsels of flavor that fill in the nooks and crackly crannies. These bits give the bars big personality points and satiate cravings.

Cinnamon ushers in some spicy warmth. Vanilla rounds out the rest of the flavors, leaning into the sweeter side. Dark Chocolate is melted and drizzled over the top adding thin strings of indulgence. You still feel like you're getting a treat and not just gnawing on nuts!

A bit of espresso powder is mixed in with the dark chocolate, awakening the flavor and your energy! Finally, there is a balanced sprinkle of of crunchy, sea salt flakes sprinkled on top of the bars while the chocolate is still tacky. The salt helps to enhance all of the other flavors in these Seedy Almond Oat Bars.

The mix of hearty whole grains, immunity boosting seeds and healthy nut fats make these Seedy Almond Oat Bars the ideal pre or post workout snack. This healthy chewy granola bar recipe is simultaneously snacky, sweet, slightly savory and satisfying. You know, all of the S's you want in a granola bar.

This post was made is in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill. Follow Bob’s Red Mill on Instagram and Facebook or check out bobsredmill.com to shop their impressive lineup of whole grains, seeds, and so much more. 

Thank you for supporting me and the brands that I love! <3

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