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. Vanilla extract – It amps up the bars' warm flavor.

Can you eat granola bars on keto diet? ›

While many granola bars have high carbohydrate content, you can't consider them keto-friendly. The good news is you can easily make granola bars at home and use keto-friendly granola ingredients to suit your low-carb and high-fat diet.

What is the binding agent for homemade granola? ›

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

What is the glue in granola bars? ›

While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey! When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together.

How do you keep homemade granola bars from falling apart? ›

If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.

What is a healthy binding agent for granola bars? ›

Ground Flaxseed. Adds protein and, when combined with the wet ingredients, becomes a glue-like binding agent that helps hold the bars together. Wheat Germ. A superfood boost that adds folate, fiber, vitamin E, and other key nutrients to these no bake granola bars (as well as this Healthy Granola).

Can you have honey on keto? ›

Honey is 100% carbohydrate, so it isn't part of the keto diet plan. For reference, one tablespoon of honey contains 17.2 grams of sugar. If you want to kick yourself out of ketosis, honey is a good way to do that.

Is chocolate OK with keto? ›

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.

Can you have yogurt on a keto diet? ›

Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are nutritious, high protein foods. While they contain some carbs, you can eat them in moderation on keto. Both yogurt and cottage cheese have been shown to help decrease appetite and promote feelings of fullness (33, 34 ).

Is oat flour a binding agent? ›

Binding Agents: Oat flour lacks the binding properties of gluten found in all-purpose flour. To enhance the binding capabilities, you can add ingredients like xanthan gum, guar gum, or ground flaxseed to your recipe. These ingredients help improve the structure and texture of the baked goods.

What are natural binders for protein bars? ›

Peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower seed, and pumpkin seed are all great options. Another great addition is dried fruit, which sweetens up your bar with naturally occurring sugars while providing fiber and vitamins—plus chewiness and binding.

What ingredient acts as a binder? ›

Binders are any ingredient that can help a mixture hold its shape or remain bound together. Traditional binding agents include flour and eggs. The most commonly used food binder is flour. Flour is created by grinding raw grains or roots into a powder and then served in diverse cuisines.

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.

Should you soak oats before making granola bars? ›

Fill the bowl up with water to completely cover the mixture – enough that you can stir to combine. 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.

Can I turn muesli into granola? ›

Stir in the sunflower oil. Pour in the museli and stir until the cereal is coated in the egg white mixture. Spoon onto a baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes, stirring once after 10 minutes. Leave the granola to cool completely on the baking tray before transferring into an airtight container.

How do you make granola clump after baking? ›

Overnight granola: Alternatively, bake the granola for 10 minutes at a higher temperature -- 375° F -- then turn off the oven and leave the granola in overnight. You'll end up with clusters like you've never seen them before.

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.

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