Chewy Coconut Granola Bars.
There will be an endless supply of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in a cookie jar. And then I’ll have an additional endless supply of freshly made chocolate chip cookie dough in the freezer for quick baking, rolled into teeny tiny perfect little balls.
On movie night, I’ll pop the perfect batch of popcorn old-school style and cover it with some melted butter, then stud it with peanut butter m&m’s.
I’ll be the queen of after school snacks and make little nut butter and fruit sandwiches.
Always… and I do mean always… there will be freshly churned ice cream in the freezer.
And s’mores ingredients will forever live in the pantry.
Oh seriously… I also sort of want white carpet that will never get dirty. Because THAT’s realistic.
And every time we go on a trip – by plane, train or automobile – I’ll whip up a bunch of healthy snacks that nourish and excite, like homemade granola and bars and fruit leather and other things that take a million years to make, and I will do so without batting an eyelash since all of the laundry and packing are completed 48 hours before.
Right. Right?
Yeah right.
So I got in one of those wildly domestic moods before my trip last week and decided to make a few granola bars for myself and also to stow away at home so my other half wouldn’t starve.
Oh, but then I added coconut.
So these were just for me.
Are super cool moms insanely selfish? Crap.
The truth is that most of that stuff is pretty far out of my grasp, and I’ll totally end up being the mom who walks to the bus stop in a robe and hot rollers, one who lacks showers and serves pop tarts and makes boxed macaroni and cheese with crushed potato chips on top. Because um, I like… do that stuff now.
Hmmpfh.
A few months ago I recreated one of my favorite granola bars complete with peanut butter and SALTY pretzels. Yes yes. Since then I’ve changed my tune, and simply cannot get enough of the chocolate almond coconut Mojo bars. It’s like my… dream combination. Minus wine. But that would be weird. But I like wine. But but but.
Enough about me.
These bars are super easy and quick to throw together, needing just a little time in the fridge to set up. Once removed, you can cut them into squares or rectangles, and I successfully packed single bars in mini ziplock bags that lasted for my trip. After a few hours (especially when rough-housed in a carryon) they may begin to crumble due to lack of syrup and preservatives, so you can choose to store them in the fridge or just… crumble them up. They are my favorite homemade granola bars to date and I can’t.stop.eating them. Best problem ever.
Chewy Coconut Granola Bars
makes 12 squares
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup raw sliced almonds
1/2 cup raw whole almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup packed + 1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 cup honey
optional: 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Line an 8×8 inch square pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, flour, flaxseed, sliced almonds, chopped almonds, salt and chocolate chip, mixing very thoroughly until combined. In a small bowl, combine honey and coconut oil, microwaving on high powder for 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each increment, until coconut oil is melted. Stir vanilla extract into coconut oil mixture, then pour the entire mix over the dry ingredients.
Using a large wooden spoon, stir until all of the ingredients are wet, using your hands and bring it together like a dough. Press the dough into the pan, pressing with the back of the spoon to smooth the top. Place in the refrigerate for 90 minutes, then remove and cut into squares. Serve immediately, or pack in ziplock bags (or plastic wrap) for later consumption.
P.S. Random winner of the Cookie Cravings Giveaway is Cassandra Early!
123 Comments on “Chewy Coconut Granola Bars.”
i’ve made your 5 ingredient peanut butter granola bars (LOVE them!), and i’ve been searching for a new granola bar recipe! leave it to you to surprise us with a new one. these looks fantatsic. I actually have a bag of coconut waiting to be used up. :)
I always say I’m going to be the best mom ever who does all of those things, but then I realize I can’t even do those things now without children. Um, yeah… not going to happen!
I love homemade granola, and I’m sure I’d love these bars. I’ve eaten similar ones made by Kashi, but I’m sure yours would be better! :)
Granola is my favorite. It’s a horrible addiction for me, but I love it! Your bars look fantastic!!
Mmm these sound lovely! I’ve been making TONS of granola bars lately and have almost perfected 2 recipes. Once I eat my way through my massive supply of rejects, I’ll be sure to make these! (And PS, I know you’re not a mom yet but would you like to adopt me? I’ll happily help you with that cookie dough!!)
I love making granola bars, it’s so simple and satisfying.
YUM!! These looks great! I still have not to-date made a granola bar that will stay together for very long but I figure it still tastes the same going down. You know, even if I look like a crazy person inveting the ziploc bag into my mouth so I can get every last crumb.
Beautiful photos. Looks yummy
I had a granola FAIL the other night so I love you for posting this.
Oh Jessica, you will definitely be thee best mom! My boys love it when I make granola. I need to be better about making it more often. These bars look perfectly delicious!
I think you’d be a pretty good mom, only the cool ones can rock hot rollers and a bathrobe while seeing the kids off to school ;)
Also holy yummmm granola bars!
I like to think I am that kind of Mom ;) Even though Kay can only eat puree right now. I always enjoy trying new bars- book marked!
The bars look great, but I immediately thought of this haha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Q25voKaas
Hahah!
You are going to be a very cool mom, Jessica! These granola bars look amazing!
These look yummy and easy enough that I may just actually get around to making my own bars like I’ve been meaning to do for the last 5 years.
Yeah I thought I would be the so cool mom too. Turns out I am lame.
These granola bars, however, are so NOT lame ;)
Um, you seem like THE COOLEST MOM EVER.
Anyone who makes as many awesome treats as you do is definitely a cool mom!
You can be my mom any day…wait ah, is that awkward? How about just hot messes of moms together, curlers, dirty carpets, robes and all. Once we have kids that is….
love coconut flavored things! and with the mini chocolate chips theres no way these cant be amazing:)
I admit, I didn’t like coconut as a kid, but I love it now. I may be that mom who “ruins” the granola bars by adding in coconut for my own sake ;)
so funny…I made coconut granola bars to take on my trip last weekend too! And yes, they got crushed underneath my camera in my carryon, but oh well. They tasted good :)
yummm these look so delicious!!
you crayyy of course you’re going to be the best mom ever!
I’m going to have to make these for the Mr’s co-workers. Yum!
“1/3 cup packed + 1 tablespoon coconut oil”
packed what (if this is super lame I’ve never used coconut oil)
Kind’s Coconut Almond bar is AMAZING…
Not lame at all – coconut oil is solid at room temperature (almost similar to shortening) so you want to use a spoon and pack as much into 1/3 cup as you can.
Coconut and honey…my favorites :) These look fantastic!
Is the flour necessary? Can I replace it with something else? These look amazing and my kids are sure to love them!
I think you can probably just leave it out and they will be okay.
Your kids are going to be the most popular in the neighborhood, for sure. :)
Oh YUMMMMMM! ….You will be the perfect mom- even if you make a few treats that are just for you I’m pretty sure with all the other goodness they won’t even know!
I’m in! So so so in! I have a granola bar obsession!
I know that kids are a long way off for me but I hope that I am you know, Mrs. Clever esque. I want to make them pb and j heart shaped sandwiches for their lunches and drive them to all their soccer games in my mini-van, but wait, are you telling me I have to share these granola bars with them? Nevermind.
Yes yes, that’s what I want to do too! Minus the minivan. Yikes.
Oh my gosh – those Mojo bars are my favorite too! That and the Clif Brownie bar…oh yum. But these – these I will definitely make :)
I’ve never made granola bars before but these look fantastic! Well done.
YUM! love coconut these look awesome!
“old-school” style is the only way to go with popcorn! Love these…why don’t I make granola bars more often?? I used to have a granola bar business…what is wrong with me?? haha
YOU will be the best mom ever with tons of goodies for all the neighborhood kids!
Oh, and as I’m looking at this recipe, it is verrrry similar to the ones I made + sold! Yummm
Yeahhhh, I’m definitely not going to be the cool mom. I already know that. :-) But maybe these granola bars would help me get there?
The bars look and sound perfect! I’ve been on a massive coconut-using kick the past 6 mos or so, too. I put it in things I never would have thought to use it in.
“There will be an endless supply of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in a cookie jar.” — Okay so “super cool moms” can’t bring stuff like to your kids’ school b/c they will throw it out! We aren’t even allowed to bring cupcakes or cake for birthdays. It can only be fruit cups, veggie sticks, popsicles or air-popped popcorn. No cake on kid’s bdays at school these days. All treats must be ‘healthy’. I’ve been making lots of granola bars!
Yum! These make me think of the Kashi ones, but look WAY better.
Oh yum! I’m planning to be the super cool aunt/sister/wife/daughter in May when my entire fam goes to Disney for a week. I want to stockpile all sorts of awesome treats for the kiddos and adults and this is going on my list of things to take!!
Yep, I love these!
Yumm!! It’s amazing how much you accomplish when you become a mom, you have super hero speed when getting things done. The on,y thing you don’t worry about is your cape and boots.
This looks great!!!
Yum! If only being the “perfect” mom was an attainable goal…of course I’ll strive for the same thing one day though :)!
You are going to be a fabulous mom. Such lofty visions. You’re home will be packed with a hoard of little munchkins once word hits the streets about the cookies and ice cream!
These are a must try for me. Love the addition of coconut.
in my head, when i read your posts, i imagine you talk sooooo fast….like a three year old jacked up on skittles. has anyone ever said that to you?
hahaha ummmm…. no.
ahhhhh – then it’s a good day. ya learn something new everyday! haha
Mmm, I can handle a little crumble to keep the preservatives out.
Umm, yum! You can be my super cool mom, any day!