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Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Coconut chocolate chip granola bars are perfect for school lunches.  Cheaper and somewhat healthier than store-bought versions, these are soft, chewy, not-too-sweet, and rather easy to make.  Oats, coconut, and almonds create the perfect texture balance for me: not too firm (so kids, like my son with braces, can eat them) and they hold together nicely.  My granola bar recipe is so simple, that kids can make these themselves.  And why not?  If school hasn’t started for your kids yet, this can be a great back-to-school cooking project for them to try.  My younger son began helping with his lunches last year and has put his stamp of approval on these delicious sweet treats.

coconut chocolate chip granola bar ingredients

Simple, child-friendly ingredients that you likely have hidden in your pantry make this recipe easy to whip up any time of year. You can make these coconut chocolate chip granola bars ahead, individually wrap and store them in the refrigerator for easy use. Plan ahead, make them on Sunday in advance of a busy week.  Great in lunch boxes, for an after-school snack, or for busy parents who need something sweet with their morning coffee.

coconut chocolate chip granola bars

I like to lightly roast the almonds in this granola bar recipe to help bring out that delicious nutty flavor, but you can omit that step if in a hurry or you don’t want your kids using the oven.  I like to use a mixture of almond and peanut butter, but you should feel free to use just one if you prefer, the recipe works just fine either way.

Getting a nice flat surface may be the trickiest part of this recipe, if using the palm of your hand is not working for you, try using the bottom of a jar or drinking glass which I like to do to help press the ingredients firmly and evenly into the pan.  Once refrigerated, the granola bars are set, allowing you to cut them into bar shapes afterward.  If making your granola bars is not your thing, I get that, but be sure to check out this Huffington Post article, Best Granola Bars: Our Taste Test Results, which may help guide you when shopping for store-bought ones. Wishing everyone a great school year ahead!

coconut chocolate chip granola bars

About the Author

Andrea Potischman

I am a professionally trained NYC chef turned CA mom and food blogger. I post about real food, with doable ingredient lists that are family friendly.

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