A must-have snack for on the trail and for when you’re craving an easy, sweet treat, granola bars are a camper’s best friend. You don’t need to run out to the grocery store every time. They’re simple to make and a fun activity for kids to help out with. Many of these ingredients are already in your kitchen cupboard, but you can easily make substitutions or alter the recipe to include only your favorite ingredients. (Who says you can’t have four kinds of chocolate?)

 

The Best Dang Granola Bars Ever, Courtesy of Sugar Dish Me

Instagram: @sugardishme

When Sugar Dish Me named these granola bars “the best dang granola bars ever,” she wasn’t kidding. Just look at the ingredients. This is the perfect recipe for a chewy, scrumptious treat.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups old fashioned oats (if GF is important to you use certified GF oats)
  • 2 Tablespoons oil (grapeseed, canola, vegetable, melted coconut – any will work)
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 – 1½ cups add-ins (dried cranberries, raisins or other fruits – chopped if you need to, nuts, sunflower seeds, pepitas, chocolate chips; all your favorite things!)
  • 5 ounces GOOD dark chocolate (the less sweet the better, but you wanna like the taste so pick your favorite!)

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and scatter the oats in a 9 X 13 pan. Let them toast, stirring at least once, for about 15 minutes. When they are done they will look slightly golden and you will smell the toasty oats.
  2. Line a 9 x 9 pan with parchment paper or foil. You want a piece large enough that the sides will come back over and cover the top of the bars once you fill the pan.
  3. While the oats toast heat the oil in a small saucepan on the stove. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. Bring it to a simmer over medium high heat. Stir to make sure the brown sugar dissolves, and turn the heat off.
  5. Put the toasted oats in a large bowl. Pour the hot liquid over the oats and stir to coat evenly. Stir in all your add-ins. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
  6. Fold the parchment or foil over the top of the granola in the pan and PRESS to fill the corners and flatten. Keep pressing and smooth the granola out so that it is even across the pan.
  7. Let the granola bars set up in a cool dry place for at least an hour. They will set faster in the freezer. I like to make mine in the evening and let them set up overnight.
  8. Turn them out of the pan onto a cutting board. Peel the parchment or foil away. Slice down the middle and then cut each half into 6 bars. Lay the bars on a clean piece of parchment or foil. Melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate over the sliced bars. (If you are feeling very fancy you can spoon a strip of chocolate onto the parchment, place the granola bars on top, and then drizzle more over the top of the bar.) Let it set up and ENJOY!

 

No Bake Sweet-and-Salty Granola Bars, Courtesy of Running with Spoons

@runwithspoons

No oven is required to make these delectable, appetizing granola bars, which makes this recipe a major win for campers.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup brown rice syrup (or honey if not vegan)
  • 2 Tablespoon sunflower seed butter (unsalted butter is fine, too)
  • 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
  • 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
  • 1/2 cup pretzels, crushed
  • 1/4 4teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit (i.e., raisins and cranberries)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips

 

Instructions

  1. Line an 8×8 (20×20 cm) baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal. Generously spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Add brown rice syrup, sunflower seed butter, and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and nuke on high until ingredients are fully melted and combined, about 1 minute. Remove from microwave and allow to cool and thicken.
  3. Combine remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring until evenly distributed. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
  4. Transfer mixture to prepared pan and use a spatula or your hands to spread it evenly, making sure to press down firmly. Cover pan with a sheet of foil and place into the fridge to set, at least 2 hours but preferably overnight. When bars have set, remove from pan using the foil overhang, and use a sharp knife to cut into individual bars. Store bars in the fridge or freezer for best results.

 

Copycat Nature Valley Honey Oat Bats, Courtesy of Betty Crocker

@bettycrocker

These were a family favorite, so it’s great to have a recipe on-hand to be able to make them in the kitchen at home. The crunch factor and sweet taste of honey are particularly satisfying!

 

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
  • 1/4teaspoon baking soda
  • Slightly less than 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4cup coconut oil
  • 1/4cup honey
  • 1/4cup sugar
  • 1teaspoon vanilla

 

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350° F. Line 8-inch square pan with cooking parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on 2 sides.
  2. Place 2 cups of the oats in large bowl. Add remaining 1/2 cup oats to blender or food processor; pulse into a rough flour. Add oat flour to bowl of oats. Add baking soda and salt to bowl of oats; stir.
  3. In microwavable bowl, microwave coconut oil uncovered on High just until melted. Stir in honey, sugar and vanilla; add to bowl of oats. Stir well to coat oats completely. Spread mixture evenly in pan; press down firmly and evenly.
  4. Bake 20 minutes. Oats should be golden and smell of honey. Cool on rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan using parchment overhangs. Cut into 8 rectangles while still warm. Cool completely before wrapping. The bars will firm and crisp up as they cool.

 

Apple Pie Granola Bar Bites, Courtesy of Amy’s Healthy Baking

@amyshealthybaking

 These healthy snacks taste just like the iconic dessert! They’ll keep for at least 6 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups crisp brown rice cereal (regular crisp rice cereal may be substituted for the brown rice cereal)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats (gluten-free if necessary)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, room temperature
  • ¼ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup finely diced apple

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F, and lightly coat an 8”-square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the rice cereal, oats, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, stir together the coconut oil and applesauce. Add in the Greek yogurt, honey, and salt, mixing until thoroughly combined. Stir in the cereal mixture. Gently fold in the diced apple.
  3. Gently press the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 300°F for 14-17 minutes or until light golden and the center feels firm to the touch. Cool completely to room temperature in the pan before slicing into squares.

 

When you make your granola bars, share a photo on Instagram with @michiganrvers as well as the handle for the sources who provided these wonderful recipes.