It’s the recipe you’ve all been waiting for, and a sneak peek at my upcoming Healthy Snacks to Go eBook!
Readers have been enjoying the Kitchen Stewardship granola bars (NEWLY UPDATED 1/12!) by the tens of thousands since 2009, and I have to say: This is one soaked recipe that I enjoy more than the unsoaked version by quite a bit. It’s a centerpiece in my Healthy Snacks To Go eBook, along with over a dozen reverse engineered larabar recipes. UPDATE: Healthy Snacks to Go is published! Buy it here.
If you can’t see/print the above, click here for a free download of the soaked granola bar recipe. It’s just a little glimpse of what you’ll get in the full eBook. You may want to know how to soak and dehydrate oats for quick use in order to follow this recipe.
I’ve also been tweaking the original granola bar recipe, and it’s much less crumbly now with all the great taste. Look for the new and improved version in the Healthy Snacks To Go eBook!
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Katie, so excited for you and your e-book! plenty of treasures in there, i am sure! the granola recipe looks fabulous and the format is easy to read.
does the baked version come out more crunchy and dry? do you prefer one version over the other? thanks!
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Katie Reply:
April 9th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Erin,
Both are totally chewy! The baked version is a little more like a cookie consistency, but not all the way to cookie – it’s still a granola bar. It’s almost hard to describe how they’re different; my husband and I were taste-testing side by side and trying to figure out last night! The unbaked are definitely sweeter, even when using the exact same mixture. I have no idea how that works! I actually updated the download with some of this info and a “less sweetener” option, so you’ll want to grab it again for sure!
Both versions are really good, in my opinion. As my 5yo, and he’d say “the sweeter one”. !!
Katie
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katie, reading through my comment, i feel like clarifying… obviously it will turn out more dry and crunchy due to the baking. is it a dry texture like a nature valley granola bar or is there some stick where the honey kind of gets stuck in your teeth? does that make sense? and then i am wondering the roll of the baking soda since there is no need for a rise? thanks!
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Katie Reply:
April 10th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Erin,
Katie
I updated the post with some answers – but they’re both totally chewy and totally different! I stuck the baking soda in just b/c of the original recipe, but I feel like it must do something, maybe a little poof or maybe neutralizes something to change the flavor. It’s bizzare how different they taste!
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You must have read my mind! I was just wondering about a soaked granola bar recipe today!
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I haven’t tried your granola bar recipe but if it’s anything like your granola recipe my husband will wolf it down in a heartbeat. Seriously I’ve been making and trying every variation of your granola I can think of with nothing but good results. It’s a waist friendlier way to get my baking fix too.
.-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Planters that Double as Garden Art =-.
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In answer to your question about making PDFs: CutePDF Writer is our favorite way to do this. You can download the latest version via cnet.com (a trustworthy site).
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Frances Reply:
April 9th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
And I forgot to add: it’s free!
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They look delicious – and I am very excited about your ebook!
.-= Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen´s last blog ..A Spring Dinner – Grassfed Beef Steaks with Chimmichuri, Fresh English Peas with Garlic and Pan Roasted Fingerling Potatoes =-.
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They look really moist and full of flavor! You certainly can’t go wrong with granola!
~Aubree Cherie
.-= Aubree Cherie´s last blog ..Burgers That Can’t Be Beet! =-.
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I just found your blog today and I am so excited to try these bars out. I am also excited for the book!! Thanks for the recipe and Good luck with everything!!
.-= Tiffanee´s last blog ..Chicken & Asparagus Bake =-.
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So I’m a little behind – in life in general. But had a question about the granola bars that I hope to get to today (will you get the question or when they are this far back do they get ‘lost’?). Anyway, the qustion: does one version stay together better than the other (for travel)? Thanks for the great guidance! (on soaking the oats too)
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Katie Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Emily,
I think the unbaked stay together better, especially if you use flat waxed paper or a spatula to jam them in the pan when warm. Let me know how it goes! 
Katie
I see all the comments!
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Katie, I was wondering if you’ve ever made these once you had soaked the oats, but before you dehydrated them? The mixture I have soaking now seems like a great consistency to work with, but I guess it might turn out more like a cookie than a crunchy granola bar? If you have any experience with this variation, please let me know. Thanks!!
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Katie Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:50 am
Susanna,
Katie
I haven’t tried that one, but a reader did and they didn’t come out very well. If you experiment with it, successfully or not, do let me know! It would be a great way to cut corners, you know?
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Susanna Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Just wanted to post that I couldn’t resist trying to make the bars w/ the soaked oats (before they were dehydrated) and they turn out similar to oatmeal cookie bars – not at all like a crunchy granola bar. I don’t recommend them.
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Katie Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
S,
Katie
Thank you for testing that out and sharing so others don’t make the same mistake!
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I won you ebook on Passionate homemaking and LOVE it. Thanks you so much! I’ve made the granola bars twice now…but was too anxious so I made them without soaking them…but I will next time! They are great. My 1 year old son, revolted the first day…meaning, he wouldn’t eat anything BUT the granola bars. He and my 3 year old daughter…and myself…and my sister’s whole family have loved them! Thanks!
.-= Leah M´s last blog ..Home Grown Families envibum giveaway =-.
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Katie Reply:
June 10th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Leah,
Katie
You made my day! (My daughter’s name is Leah, how fun.) I’m currently hooked on the protein bars, but I’m feeling some gran bars in our future…
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I have made the recipe twice now, using the free printout, and there is no mention of baking soda. I have baked mine both times, since you said that is was more like a cookie and mine were not. They were delicious! However, they were sticky and did not stay together well. I don’t mind but it makes them difficult to pack and for the kids to hold. Could it have anything to do with the lack of baking soda? Maybe I should just try unbaked next time.
This is my first post but I have made and continue to make several of your recipes. Thanks so much.
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Katie Reply:
June 28th, 2010 at 2:58 am
Colleen,
Katie
I had to go look at the download just to make sure! If you look under “choose your own ending” and “baked” it does say to add 1 tsp. baking soda. It kind of sneaks in there, though, so I can see how you missed it! I do think it’s the baking soda that makes them more like cookies. If you try unbaked, the trick to getting them to stick together is to make sure you cook the honey mixture long enough, until the froth disappears and it’s more gooey, like soft crack candy. I should really make a video of these someday. Someday! (The unbaked will still be sticky, just not so crumbly if you get the honey right.) Let me know if you try the baked again w/baking soda and if it does make the difference and even help them stick together. Be sure not to overbake. Enjoy!
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I’m grain free right now – but I made soaked oatmeal cookie bars using almond flour (so they could be wheat free) and they turned out amazing. I would consider them to be chewy granola bars. I liked skipping the step of drying the oatmeal before making the bars, and I love how chewy they turned out.
Have you done much with just soaking the oatmeal and skipping the drying step?
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Katie Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Jen,
With granola bars, I haven’t tried skipping the drying step, but I do that with granola and most other recipes. I was nervous about ending up with mushy granola bars!
I’m so glad the worked out for you!
Katie
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hi katie,
I just bought your camping e-book and tried to look up the soaked granola bar recipe but it’s not working. =( i’d love to bring some on our next trip. any idea how i can get the recipe?! thanks!
megan
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Katie Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Megan,
I checked the link and it worked fine – it’s a download, so you actually have to “click here” or right here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/29651883/Soaked-Granola-Bars to get the recipe. Hope that works! Thanks for your purchase – Katie
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I was wondering what the flour in the recipe is about? Is it for the soaking of the oats? Or am I adding unsoaked flour to the dry ingredients?
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Katie Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Stacy,
Katie
The flour is unsoaked, I know. It’s an adaptation on a recipe that includes flour. I am guessing it would be fine without it completely and will try that someday! I tweak this poor recipe every time I make it…
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I have a baked oatmeal recipe that’s really good. It has you soak overnight 2 c. oatmeal with 1 c. yogurt and 1/2 c. water. Then you mix it up with eggs and whatnot in the morning and bake. My question is that to reduce the amount of phytates – do you think I should add just a little bit of whole wheat flour with the yogurt, oatmeal and water???
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Katie Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Yep! That’s exactly what I did with Kelly (Kitchen Kop)’s baked oatmeal recipe, and you don’t even notice it. Supposed to be 10% or something, so a bit less than 1/4 cup will suffice.
Katie
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You have such divine recipes. You obviously put a lot of care into getting the final result just right, so I hope you are open to a gentle suggestion: Please list the ingredients in the order that they are used.
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Katie Reply:
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Gopika,
Katie
Thank you, what a gentle comment! You are so right, and that’s a lesson I’ve learned since this snacks ebook. It’s one of my goals for the new beans book – to get all the ingredients easy to follow! Thanks!
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I just happened onto your website through a link from The Happy Housewife. My very picky 6-year-old came home from school yesterday and asked me to buy him some Sunbelt Fudge Dipped Chewy Granola Bars (chocolate chip).
I was wondering if you’d ever tried anything like that on yours? Also, what is the best way to get them to the chewy consistency?
Thanks! I can’t wait to try out your recipe.
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Katie Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Amy,
Welcome! These bars are automatically chewy, so you’re good there. I haven’t tried out fudge-dipped – I would think melted chocolate chips would be a start, but that would be a bit crackly instead of fudgy. Maybe adding coconut oil to the melted chocolate…that’s where I’d start!
Enjoy!
Katie
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I’ve stumbled upon your site based on my decision to go all organic/natural… I’m SO ready to try this recipe, just a matter of getting ingredients ready. I’m a single divorced mom of one with week to week custody, so it’s just me one week and me and him every other week. I know granola needs whey, but seems we have to go the route you posted – so I don’t know I can go through ALL of this and it get used up in my household. So, I guess we need to get the whey from the yogurt and not any of the powdered form?
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Katie Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Debbie,
Katie
Since I just answered your Q over at the whey post, it sounds like you totally figured this out. The bars will keep plenty long enough for even a few weeks, and they can be refrigerated. Good luck on your big changes – but don’t beat yourself up if it seems like too much all at once. This site is all about the baby steps, so I hope you find great support here!
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Sorry to bother you with another question, (I’m everywhere!)….So say that I don’t feel up to soaking the oats, will this recipe still work with just regular rolled oats?
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Katie Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Beth,
Katie
It should, yes! It’s based on my original granola bars here: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/06/16/recipe-connection-granola-and-granola-bars/
but is a different way to hold them together.
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Soaked Oat Granola Bars « Unbought Delicacies // Aug 4, 2011 at 7:08 pm
[...] Original recipe and instructions/variations here: [...]
“Buttery” Granola Bars « My Kitchen // Sep 20, 2011 at 5:50 am
[...] yummy. Butter really does make everything better! The original version of these bars comes from the Soaked Granola Bars recipe at Kitchen Stewardship. I have made a few changes, mainly not soaking and drying my oats. The original recipe has two [...]
Think I found it!
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Ditto, LOL. There isnt a MSG function on your page either . I would love to be your product tester. I have to convert everything to Gluten free( which is super easy), so I will be happy to share that conversion with you too after I test it
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What the heck is sucanat and is it necessary? I have never heard of the stuff, which I think is a first for me in a recipe. I’m excited to try these.
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