Keto Granola Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients) (2024)

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Low carb snacking alert- These keto granola bars will be your new favorite! Made with just 4 ingredients, they are thick, chewy, and loaded with delicious nuts!

Keto Granola Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients) (1)

When it comes to keto snacks, my favorite recipes to make are crackers, tortilla chips, and these low carb granola bars.

Now, these don’t actually have granola in them because, well, they aren’t keto-friendly (unless you use my keto granola!), but they are a fabulous alternative. Oh, and no oats.

Table of Contents
  1. Recipe highlights
  2. Ingrediends needed
  3. How to make keto granola bars
  4. Flavor Variations
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More keto snack recipes to try
  8. Keto Granola Bars (Recipe Card)

Recipe highlights

  • Quick and easy. They are quick to make and need just four ingredients to make.
  • Versatile. They are perfect to enjoy between meals to keep the snack monster at bay, and great for lunch boxes.
  • Zero sugar. And also grain-free and gluten-free, but you’d never tell.
  • Perfect texture and flavor. The texture is thick, chewy, and stable at room temperature. They are pleasantly sweet and easily customizable with your favorite nuts and seeds.

Ingrediends needed

As mentioned earlier, this recipe calls for simple low carb ingredients. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Almonds– Raw sliced almonds, with or without added salt. If you enjoy the sweet and salty combination, use the latter.
  • Cashews– Raw cashews that have been roughly chopped. Use a mix of finely and roughly chopped cashews, as the finer bits help hold the bars together.
  • Keto crispy cereal– A fantastic low carb substitute for crispy rice cereal.I typically buy mine at Costco or Sam’s Club, but you can find it online, too. No cereal? Try crushing up my homemade keto cereal or using chopped nuts.
  • Maple SyrupKeto maple syrup, to provide sweetness, but also holds the bars together.You can also use my keto honey or keto simple syrup. If you choose to use a store bought brand, make sure it has allulose as the sweetener, not erythritol or monk fruit sweetener.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How to make keto granola bars

Step 1- Prep. Start by covering an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, and greasing generously.

Step 2- Make the base. Next, stir your almonds, cashews, and cereal together in a large bowl. Add your keto maple syrup and whisk very well, until completely combined. Transfer the mixture into the lined pan and using a rubber spatula, press into the pan.

Step 3- Bake. Bake the bars at 160C/320F for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely, before carefully slicing into bars using a sharp knife.

Keto Granola Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients) (2)

Flavor Variations

While these low carb granola bars taste delicious as they are, feel free to change up the flavors for some variety! Depending on what ingredients you use, the net carbs may increase to 3 grams per bar.

  • Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate– Replace the cashews with chopped peanuts and drizzle melted dark chocolate over the top.
  • Blueberry Pecan– Add 2 tablespoons of dried blueberries to the mixture. Replace the cashews with roughly chopped pecans.
  • Cranberry Almond– Add 2 tablespoons of dried unsweetened cranberries to the mixture and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • Dark Chocolate Almond and Coconut– Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of coconut flakes on top of the granola bars before baking them. Drizzle melted dark chocolate over the top.
  • Vanilla Almond and Sea Salt– Replace half the almonds with smoked almonds, add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, and sprinkle the tops of the bars with sea salt.

Storage instructions

To store: Granola bars are fragile and sticky, so should always be stored in the fridge. Keep them covered, and they will keep well for up to 4 weeks.

To freeze: Individually wrap bars in parchment paper and place them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Keto Granola Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients) (3)

Frequently asked questions

Why are my bars soft?

Your bars may be soft and a little limp if you don’t bake them long enough. Oven makes and models differ. If, at the 25-minute mark, your granola bars are still soft when touched, cook for a further 5-10 minutes.

Why are my bars hard and brittle?

If you wait too long to slice the granola bars, they will firm up too much and be difficult to slice.To make the granola bars easier to slice, heat the knife first, by pouring boiling water over it and lightly patting it dry.

Can I keep them unbaked?

As the keto maple syrup isn’t as thick as non-keto sweeteners (like brown rice syrup or honey), they need to be baked to ensure they hold together.

Can I use other nuts and seeds?

Yes! These bars work with walnuts, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, and even nut butters like almond butter and peanut butter.

More keto snack recipes to try

  • Keto Protein Bars– These taste like candy bars!
  • Low Carb Rice Krispie Treats– With homemade keto marshmallows.
  • Fat Bombs– Every keto dieter needs these in their snacking arsenal.
  • Energy Balls– Protein-packed and so delicious.

Keto Granola Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients) (4)

Keto Granola Bars

These keto granola bars are thick, chewy, and stable at room temperature! Made with just 4 ingredients, they are loaded with nuts and seeds!

Servings: 12 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

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Print

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds optional
  • 1/2 cup keto crispy cereal
  • 5 tablespoon keto maple syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and grease it generously. Set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine your nuts and seeds with your crispy cereal. Pour the sugar free syrup over it and mix very well, until completely combined and all your nuts/cereal is coated in the syrup.

  • Transfer the granola bar mixture into the lined pan and using a rubber spatula, press down to ensure a uniform layer. Bake for 25 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely, before slicing into bars.

Notes

TO STORE: Granola bars are fragile and sticky, so should always be stored in the refrigerator. Keep them covered, and they will keep well for up to 4 weeks.

TO FREEZE: Individually wrap bars in parchment paper and place them in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 119mgFiber: 2gCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 2g

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Recipe originally published October 2020 but updated to include new information for your benefit.

Keto Granola Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients) (2024)

FAQs

What makes granola bars stick together? ›

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe.

Are granola bars good for a keto diet? ›

I do not recommend conventional granola bars on a keto or low carb diets, as they have far too many carbs. But making your own low carb versions with nuts and seeds rather than oats is an excellent snack option.

What is the binding agent for homemade granola? ›

Chia seeds are often praised for their binding powers. In fact, they secure ingredients so well that they can even be used as an egg replacer. Adding just a spoonful of chia seeds to your favorite granola bar recipe will make a huge difference in its texture.

Why do my no bake granola bars fall apart? ›

to not go overboard with your mix-ins otherwise your bars will fall apart (always happens to me..). that if your mixture seems too dry to add a bit of water (start with just 1 tsp) to get a stickier consistency. that if your mixture seems too wet to add more oats/oat flour/shredded coconut/or other dry ingredient.

What is the best glue for granola bars? ›

Honey and brown sugar help make a glue for the bars.

The honey and brown sugar really helps with keeping the bars together. Chocolate chips added to the mixture help, too. We add some to the granola mixture while it is still warm.

Is it cheaper to make your own granola bars? ›

They save well (wrap and freeze them for up to two months), are more affordable than store-bought bars, and don't contain the long list of unpronounceable ingredients. Plus, your kitchen will smell like a bakery while these granola bars bake. Ahhhh.

Do keto bars raise blood sugar? ›

Even though many protein bars are low in net carbs and touted as keto, they can still raise your blood sugar levels.

Is chocolate allowed in keto diet? ›

Yes, you can eat chocolate on a keto diet, but it should ideally be dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (over 70%) and low in sugar. It's essential to consume it in moderation to stay within your daily carbohydrate limits. Always ensure to check the nutritional label before indulging.

How to bind without flour? ›

The three most common binders are xanthan gum, guar gum and psyllium husk powder. Each one works in a slightly different way to help create the structure we need to hold baked goods together.

What ingredient acts as a binder? ›

In cooking, various edible thickening agents are used as binders. Some of them, e.g. tapioca flour, lactose, sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and various starches are also used in pharmacology in making tablets.

How to bind food without flour? ›

My GO-TO Binding Agents
  1. Chia Seeds. ...
  2. Flax Seeds (ground) ...
  3. I recommend starting with 5g (1Tbsp) of Psyllium husk powder when altering your recipes. ...
  4. Chia seeds are an excellent thickening agent and can assist with binding as well.

Why is my homemade granola not crunchy? ›

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

How do you individually wrap homemade granola bars? ›

I like to wrap the bars individually first with waxed paper or parchment paper, then store in large, labeled ziploc bags so I know which variety of granola bar I'm getting. They freeze well for up to 2 months.

Why is glycerin in granola bars? ›

Glycerin helps preserve moisture, prevents sugar crystallization, and adds bulk, smoothness, softness, sweetness, and texture to a range of foods and beverages. It gives the final product its smooth, thick texture.

Should you soak oats before making granola bars? ›

This soaking process will help the oats and seeds digest better. After the oat/seed mixture has soaked 8-12 hours, add the rest of the ingredients and combine.

What is glycerin in granola bars? ›

Glycerin is used as an ingredient in a variety of food and beverage products to help retain moisture, prevent sugar crystallization, and add bulk, smoothness, softness, sweetness and texture. Like most sugar alcohols, glycerin is not as sweet as sugar—it is about 60–75% as sweet.

What happened to Chewy granola bars? ›

The recall affects certain varieties of Quaker cereals, such as Oatmeal Squares, Chewy granola bars, Cap'n Crunch products and more. The Quaker Oats Company issued a recall in late 2023 and has added more products to its recall list in 2024 due to a risk of contamination with salmonella.

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