Homemade Healthy Nut and Seed bar Recipe
This healthy nut and seed bar recipe makes the most amazing soft nut bars, with a combination of nuts packed with healthy fats, almond butter, and honey.
It’s an easy recipe that doesn’t need to be baked, and the perfect snack! after making these, you’ll think twice before buying store-bought bars again.
Why you’re going to love these bars
- They’re packed with healthy fats and nutritious ingredients
- They are no-bake, so they require no baking time at all
- These are super quick to make (think of a quick breakfast!)
- You can make many substitutions and can be customized, depending on your personal preferences or nut allergy
- They’re sweetened with natural sweeteners and have no refined sugar. They still have the right amount of sweetness and you won’t be missing the sugar at all!
- You can make them ahead of time, and these can become a grab-and-go healthy breakfast
- You can use them on top of smoothie bowls or yogurt
- They taste A-MA-ZING! these were a big hit at home, gone by the second day!
Are seed bars healthy?
Generally speaking, seed bars are considered healthy when they are made with natural nuts, seeds, and a refined sugar-free base.
They have plenty of good fats and fiber, and they’re a good source of vitamins and antioxidants.
The problem is when you start adding marshmallows, chocolate candy, pretzels, nuts covered in oil, and all those unhealthy extra ingredients that will change your bars completely.
This recipe looks to incorporate as many healthier ingredients as possible, without compromising flavor, all-natural, and as clean as manageable. Try to stick to that when substituting ingredients for a healthier bar.
Ingredients you’ll need for this healthy snack
This recipe calls for healthy ingredients that can be found in any big grocery store:
- Almonds, cashews, pecans, and Hazelnuts. Packed with goodness and fatty acids, these nuts will be the main ingredient in your bars. Make sure they are 100% natural, without any added oil
- Chia and hemp seeds. These are smaller seeds, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Coconut flour. It will not only give flavor to these seed bars but also will help bind all the ingredients together
- Honey. Sweetens the bars naturally, without the need to use refined sugar
- Almond Butter. The glue to these energy bars
- Vanilla extract. Good quality pure vanilla extract for better results
- Cinnamon. Provides flavor to these homemade granola bars
- Sea salt. Enhances flavors
- Chocolate Chips. I used paleo-friendly, refined sugar-free, dark chocolate chips
Take a look at the printable recipe card at the end of the post for the full recipe with the exact ingredients!
Step-by-step instructions on how to make these healthy granola bars
Start by lining the bottom and sides of an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper, letting it hang slightly from the sides, then spraying it with non-stick oil.
In a small bowl mix the Honey, almond butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and sea salt, and heat for a few seconds in the microwave or over a stove top, just until a bit softer. This is so you can mix it more easily with the rest of the ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients (Almonds, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts chia seeds, and hemp seeds).
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until everything is very well combined. Let cool slightly (otherwise chocolate chips could melt) incorporate the chocolate chips, and mix.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and using a sheet of parchment paper or a flat spatula, press tightly into an even layer. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or freeze for 1 hour.
Pulling from the parchment paper, remove the mixture from the pan, place it on a cutting board, and cut into 12 equally sized bars. If you want to, drizzle the bars with some chocolate. Keep refrigerated
How do you make granola bars stick together?
There are a few ingredients that could help granola bars stick together; in this recipe, I used honey and almond butter to help all of the ingredients bind together. I think of them as the “glue” between all the nuts and seeds.
Tips and tricks for making this nut bar recipe
- Do not overheat the wet ingredients, just enough for them to be soft and for you to be able to mix them more easily
- Wait until the mixture is completely cooled before adding the chocolate chips, or you might end up with a melty mess
- Press the mixture as tightly as possible with the help of a piece of parchment paper or a rubber spatula. This will help the bars hold their shape better when cutting them
- Keep the bars refrigerated at all times; these bars are not made to be at room temperature, they would be too soft to hold their shape
- You can substitute the seeds and nuts for any of your choice! take a look at the “substitution” suggestions below
Substitutions for this Healthy nut and seed bar recipe
- Nuts: You can substitute the nuts for Brazil nuts, macadamias, pine nuts, pistachios, or any of your favorite nuts
- Seeds: substitute the seeds for sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, or any other seed of your choice
- Almond Butter: substitute the almond butter for natural peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, or any other nut butter of your preference
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do homemade granola bars last?
These seed granola bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
If you’re stacking them, make sure to add a piece of parchment paper paper in between each layer, so they don’t stick together.
How to store these Nut bars?
Make sure to keep these bars refrigerated always; they’re not meant to be kept at room temperature as they might become too soft and lose their shape.
Can you freeze seed bars?
Sure! you can freeze these for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
The same applies as if you were refrigerating them: make sure to add a piece of parchment paper in between each bar layer if you’re stacking them before placing them in a container and placing them in the fridge
Can I make a large batch of bars and freeze them for later?
Yes, you can make a large batch of nut and seed bars and freeze them for later. Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper before placing them in a freezer-safe container or bag.
Can I add dried fruits or chocolate chips to the nut and seed bars?
Absolutely! Feel free to add dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or apricots, or chocolate chips for extra flavor and sweetness.
Can I add different flavorings or spices to the bars?
Yes, you can customize the flavor of your nut and seed bars by adding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract for extra flavor.
Can I make nut and seed bars without nuts or seeds?
Yes, you can make nut and seed bars without nuts or seeds by using other ingredients like dried fruits, coconut flakes, or crispy rice cereal as substitutes. Just adjust the recipe accordingly to maintain the desired texture and consistency.
Here’s a video of this healthy nut and bar seed recipe so you can see up-close texture and consistency.
Follow this link for more healthier dessert recipes, or follow the links below for some similar recipes:
Healthier Chocolate Hazelnut Granola
Chocolate Almond Butter Recipe
Healthier Chocolate Hazelnut Tart
Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookie recipe with Chocolate Chips
If you make this recipe, please be sure to give it a star rating and leave a comment!
Healthy Nut and Seed bar Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup almonds 100% natural
- 1/2 Cup cashews 100% natural
- 1/2 Cup hazelnuts 100% natural
- 1/4 Cup pecans 100% natural
- 1/4 Cup chia seeds
- 1/4 Cup hemp seeds
- 1/2 Cup coconut flour
- 1/3 Cup honey
- 1/3 Cup almond butter 100% natural, no added sugars
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Cup dark chocolate chips I used paleo friendly
Instructions
- Start by lining the bottom and sides of an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper, letting it hang slightly from the sides, then spraying it with non-stick oil.
- In a small bowl mix the Honey, almond butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon and sea salt, and heat for a few second in the microwave or over a stove top, just until a bit softer. This is so you can mix it more easily with the rest of the ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients (Almonds, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts chia seeds and hemp seeds). Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until everything is very well combined. Let cool slightly (otherwise chocolate chips could melt) and incorporate the chocolate chips, and mix.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and using a sheet of parchment paper or a flat spatula, press tightly into an even layer. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or freeze for 1 hour.
- Pulling from the sides of the parchment paper, remove the mixture from the pan, place it on a cutting board, and cut into 12 equally sized bars. If you want to, drizzle the bars with some chocolate. Keep refrigerated
Notes
- Do not over heat the wet ingredients, just enough for them to be soft and for you to be able to mix them more easily
- Wait until the mixture is completely cooled before adding the chocolate chips, or you might end up with a melty mess
- Press the mixture as tightly as possible with the help of a piece of parchment paper or a rubber spatula. This will help the bars hold their shape better when cutting them
- Keep the bars refrigerated at all times; these bars are not made to be at room temperature, they would be too soft to hold their shape
- You can substitute the seeds and nuts for any of your choice!
