Chocolate Chip Chia Seed Granola Bars
This was my second try making these chocolate chip chia seed granola bars and I’m so glad I re-attempted because I love the addition of chia seeds in this version. They give a nice little crunch and add some extra nutrition. These bars taste amazing and are super easy to make with everyday, basic ingredients. They’re no bake and can be made in one bowl with no blending needed!
Chia Seed Favourites
One of the first recipes I posted on Running on Real Food was my No-Bake Chocolate Chia Energy Bars which continue to be a reader favourite. Since then, there’s been Chia Seed Pancakes, Nut and Seed Nutrition Bars and now I get to add these Chocolate Chip Chia Seed Granola Bars to the growing list of chia seed recipes.
Chia seeds have a ton of great health benefits. They’re high in antioxidants, fibre, protein and omega-3 fatty acids as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Chia seeds are a particularly good addition to a plant-based diet for their high levels of calcium, omega-3 and protein.
These bars are no-bake and only require a few common ingredients to make. Simply mix them up in a bowl, no blending required, press into a baking pan and place in the freezer to set.
They taste awesome, are chewy but have a nice crunch from the chia seeds and they make a great breakfast on-the-go or snack anytime of day.
You can enjoy these bars for breakfast, as a healthy snack or a sweet treat anytime you need one. They can also be crumbled over a smoothie bowl, dairy-free yogurt or banana ice cream for the ultimate topping!
Related Recipes
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Chocolate Chip Chia Seed Granola Bars
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Prep Time: 10 mins -
Total Time: 10 mins
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Yield: 8–16 1x
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Category: Snack
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Method: No-Bake
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Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Method:
Cuisine:These simple, homemade granola bars feature just a handful of healthy ingredients. No baking required, vegan and gluten-free.
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Line a square baking pan with parchment paper or saran and firmly press the mixture into the pan.
- Spend a few minutes really pressing it in there, this will help them hold together properly once they’re done.
- Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- Cut into 8 bars or 16 squares and store in the fridge or freezer in a sealed container.
Notes
- Please note these need to be kept cold to hold together properly. They’re okay at room temperature for a while but as the coconut oil starts to melt they won’t hold together quite as well, it will stay in bar form but be a little crumbly as you eat it. They’re absolutely awesome straight from the fridge, so stick to that for best results!
Keywords: chia seed bars, chocolate chip granola bars
These are great and soooooo easy! I add craisins to them and use part rolled oats as well. I replace honey for the maple syrup and then keep them frozen for eating! So yummy!
★★★★★
This was a staple of mine through college. There was always a batch in my freezer for at least 2 years….
I like to add dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut flakes and just increase the amount of peanut butter and coconut oil. (sometimes I’ll chop up dried fruit like apricots and add that as well)
★★★★★
Delicious! I formed these into balls rather than bars, only because I thought they might be easier to put in my freezer this way. They are pretty tasty and kid-approved, as well. Thank you!
★★★★★
Glad you enjoyed them!
I’d like to make a recipe using Chia seeds but would like them to remain soft because my children have sensory issues with texture. How can I include them in their soft state?
Thanks!
That won’t work I’m this recipe unfortunately. All I recommend is making chia seed pudding. I have a number of chia pudding recipes, you can find them by searching chia seeds from the home page. Good luck!
Do you melt the coconut oil before you mix?
For ease, yes I’d recommend melting it before mixing. 🙂
Is there anything to substitute for peanut butter? Would love to try these, but just don’t like the taste of peanut butter.
Almond butter, tahini, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter…as long as it’s fairly drippy it will work fine. 🙂
These are a fan favorite with my husband, 2 year old and 5 year old! I double the recipe to make enough for the week for all of us. I feel good knowing all the ingredients in my kids granola bars and I’m obsessed with chia seeds because they are so good for you!
★★★★★
That’s amazing! So glad you guys all like them 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
What could be used in place of coconut oil?
You can’t really sub the coconut oil in this recipe since it’s needed to hold the bars together. Sorry about that!
What could i use instead of peanut butter? Don’t eat nuts in any form. Thanks
Tahini or sunflower seed butter.
Yes I have alot of shelled hemp seeds and need to use them up
Sounds delicious! Do you think that I could use steel cut oats instead of the quick oats in the recipe? Thanks!
I don’t think steel cut oats would work very well in this one.
I made these recently and they were delicious! I did substitute the maple syrup with honey and I thought they turned out great 🙂 excellent recipe, thank you!
★★★★★
This are fab! Thanks so much for posting!!
This looks great and i love making Granola so this recipe is getting put to use one day
★★★★★
These turned out great! My daughter is allergic to peanuts and we successfully subbed in almond butter. I bet any peanut butter substitute will work just fine. This is a great addition to our snack portfolio for our clean eating food allergic family! 🙂