These Apple Cinnamon Granola Bars are a throwback to those classic Quaker Chewy Granola Bars that my mom would pack in my school lunches as a kid. This was back in the mid-90’s when the flavor selections were pretty much limited to Chocolate Chip and Apple Cinnamon. Now that they’ve gotten all creative with peanut butter chips and Girl Scout Cookie flavors, I don’t even think the Apple Cinnamon flavor exists anymore. Come to think of it, was it ever was a flavor? Maybe I’m thinking of the Apple Cinnamon Quaker oatmeal packets. Oh dear.
In any case, these granola bars remind me of the snacks I ate growing up. And while Quaker apple cinnamon granola bars may not have ever been a thing, we’re just gonna go with it and make our own easy homemade version today because it’s fall and apple and cinnamon belong together.
This recipe is unique in that it contains little pieces of baked apple. Any kind of apple will do. Slice them really thin and bake them until they dry out a bit. (Sidebar: baked apple slices are awesome snacks by themselves, so resist the urge to eat all of them!) Then, chop them up into tiny pieces. Add the chopped apples, oats, and spices to the binding mixture made of nut butter, honey, and coconut oil. Combine everything and then press it into a pan. After about 10 minutes in the fridge or freezer, slice up the bars and enjoy.
They’re the perfect treat for school lunches or a healthier dessert option after dinner. Or you could just eat them in multiples directly out of the Tupperware in the fridge like my husband and I did all last week. One day, I got a little creative though and broke them into chunks as a topper for my Greek yogurt! Either way, these granola bars are a snack both adults and kids will enjoy!
- 2 apples, cut into ¼ inch slices
- ¼ cup sunflower seed butter (or any nut butter)
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, divided
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
- Place the apple slices in a single layer on a large lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with ½ tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
- Bake the apples in the oven for 20 minutes. Then flip the slices over and bake for another 20 minutes until they’re soft and semi-dry. Let the apples cool for about 10 minutes.
- While the apples are cooling, add the nut butter, honey, and coconut oil to bowl and stir until the combined and smooth.
- Finely chop the apples into little pieces. In a large bowl combine the oats, apples, and ½ tablespoon of cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the nut butter mixture to the oats mixture and stir to combine.
- Press the mixture into an 8 x 8 inch baking dish or a small cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the bars in the refrigerator overnight or in the freezer for at least 20 minutes until firm.
- Slice into 12 bars. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Nutrition Information (per serving) from Caloriecount.about.com
Calories: 127 Fat: 5.6g Carb: 18.7g Fiber: 2.1g Protein:2.4 g Sugar 9.2g Sodium: 28mg
Hi! I'm Krista, a self-proclaimed vegetable lover who likes to put a creative spin on healthy cooking. Here you'll find a variety of lightened up recipes using fresh and wholesome ingredients! 
I made these but they never got hard and can only scoop the bar out. Any suggestions for next time? I used cashew butter
Hi Janet. Gosh, I love cashew butter. Great nut butter choice! If you’d like a firmer bar, I’d suggest reducing the amount of honey to 1-2 tablespoons OR increasing the amount of oats to 2-2 1/2 cups. These bars are at their firmest right out of the freezer. Thanks for the comment!