Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars
Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars inspired by Gingerbread Cookies, plus a simple 5 ingredient formula for creating your own homemade granola bars.
I have never made homemade granola bars. I thought it was time to change that. They looked pretty simple and it’s always nice to have a semi-healthy sweet on hand for a snack or to grab on my way out to take the kids to school if I don’t have time to eat breakfast beforehand.
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Then I had the idea to make gingerbread inspired granola bars. Instead of honey as the sweetener as is used in many recipes I substituted molasses and maple syrup and used plenty of ginger and other gingerbread inspired spices.
I can’t wait to try flavor combos using this easy formula. Next time I’ll make a double batch in a 9×13 inch baking pan.
They store well in the freezer for up to a month. The recipe for the Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars is below, just keep scrolling.
5 Ingredients To Create Your Own Chewy Granola Bars
If you want to customize this recipe to create your own chewy granola bars, just follow the guidelines below! The full recipe for the Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars is at the end of this post.
1. Rolled Grains (i.e. oats): 2 1/2 cups total
- You’ll probably want to use oats for the bulk, but you can use a combination of several different grains. Other ideas include: rye and barley flakes.
- When using oatmeal, be sure to use old fashioned or rolled oats – NOT quick cook oats.
2. Nuts, Seeds, & Spices: 1 cup total Nuts & Seeds, Spices per your discretion.
- Use 1 cup of your favorite nut or a combination of several different nuts.
- Nuts are a good source of protein, fiber and the good fats (omegas). Because they’re calorie dense, they will help fill you up.
- Accent your bars with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or another favorite spice. Or, simply omit.
3. Sticky Sweetener: 1/3 + 1/4 cup
- For something sweet you’ll need a sticky sweetener, such as honey, agave, molasses, maple syrup, etc. Sweetener adds moisture and flavor.
- Use the full amount as one sweetener, or mix up the flavors.
4. Dried Fruits: 1 cup total
- Fruits are what I most look forward to experimenting with. You can change the flavor of the bar so easily with different fruits.
- Fun combinations: triple berry, apple cranberry, pineapple mango
5. Binder: 1 cup total
- This is what will hold the bars together and keep them chewy without over drying.
- These Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars use pureed dates, but get creative. Prunes, Apple Butter, and Almond Butter would be great choices too.
- Just make sure you use something that has a thick consistency that will also add moisture.
Click HERE to save this recipe for Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars to Pinterest!
I am hoping that the kids will be game for eating these homemade granola bars as well since they are so simple to make. I think they’d make a perfect afternoon snack paired with apple slices, or another fruit.
These soft and chewy granola bars really hit the spot for me when I was in need of a little bit of a sweet fix.
More Granola Bar Recipes
Simple, delicious SOFT cherry chocolate chip granola bars made without any weird ingredients. (Gluten free, vegan).
Celebrate fall with these easy to make Pumpkin Chai Chocolate Chip Granola Bars featuring oats, real pumpkin puree, chai spices, mini chocolate chips, and pepitas.
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Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars
Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars inspired by Gingerbread Cookies, plus a simple 5 ingredient formula for creating your own homemade granola bars.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cook)
- 1-2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- In a full-sized food processor, combine the molasses, maple syrup, vanilla, and dates. Pulse three times.
- Add the cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. Puree until mixture is smooth. Add the oats and pulse until the oats are coarsely chopped.
- Remove the oat mixture from the food processor and transfer to a medium bowl, taking care to scrape the edges of the food processor to remove all of the mixture.
- Stir in the cranberries, pecans, apricots, and sunflower seeds until well mixed.
- Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper (Kitchen Tip: Lining Pans with Parchment).
- Press the oat mixture into the baking pan until the mixture is evenly distributed throughout the pan and tightly packed.
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, cool in the freezer until the bars are firm.
- Lift the parchment paper out of the pan, remove, and cut into 8-12 bars.
Notes
Store bars in an airtight container for up to a week. Bars may be frozen for up to a month and thawed as needed.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 258Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 262mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 5gSugar: 32gProtein: 4g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Sheila says
Thanks for your recipe. As presented it sounds AMAZING!. However, I was looking for a recipe that would allow customization and this fit the bill perfectly. I have borderline iron levels and wanted a fiber bar I could pack full of high iron ingredients like molasses, cashews, dried apricots etc. Can’t wait to make these once I get back from the grocery!
Marian Rabe says
I’ve made these bars with 3 different ‘binders.’’ Also tried different dried fruits, and they are always delicious. My daughters asked about the nutritional info; the sugar, calories and carbs per bar suggest each one is a meal substitute alone. My batch is cut into 12 or 15 bars so proportionally the amounts are smaller.
The ingredients are healthy and nutrient dense, but the totals are more than I’d like to consume for a snack.
Katie says
I’m so glad that you liked the bars! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and let me know. 🙂 I have updated the nutritional information for 12 bars in the post so you can see what that is. For 15 bars it would be as follows: calories: 207 fat: 6 carbs: 38 fiber: 4 sugar: 25 (these are all estimates as I use a program to generate nutritional data for the recipes). Have a great day!
Stephanie says
I was looking for a new recipe to use molasses but I’d never imagined using ginger with it in a granola bar. I made these and I’m so impressed. I really did need a new granola bar recipe and this one hit the spot. My kids like them too. I’ll be making these again soon.
dinah says
This recipe sounds good and I’m going to try it. Love molasses and have been making my own brown sugar for years. So much easier to make what is needed than to store brown sugar. One thing that would be nice is some nutrition information about calories, sugar, fat and salt content.
siewlingchaw says
why is it that we can’t use instant quick oats for this recipe ? 🙁
Katie says
Because I did not test the recipe using instant quick oats and therefore cannot endorse as to whether or not it works to achieve desired results.
Mary Lou says
Katie,
I’ve been looking for a good granola bar recipe and yours looks the best so far. I have them in the oven now and will post your recipe on my blog. Thanks!
Leah Adams says
I currently have some granola bars in the oven, just waiting to come out. I made mine with my granola mix, rolled oats, wheat, barley, & rye. I added honey & some pomegranate syrup, as well as nutmeg, mace, ginger, cinnamon, cloves & vanilla. To round it out, there are walnuts & almonds and cranberries & dates. I can’t wait to see how they come out!
Audrey Ellen says
Hi Katie!
Sorry about the mixup with your recipe. Thanks for putting this together and I can’t wait to try other options. I appreciate you letting me know what I’m doing wrong here on the blogosphere, I am new at it. And I hope you have a chance to look at my blog sometime when it’s not about my errors, I am trying to get the hang of it.
Thanks for the recipe, and great looking site!