Chewy Toasted Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars
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These Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars are chewy, soft, and packed with hearty rolled oats, juicy raisins, toasted pecans, and warm cinnamon. They’re made with simple pantry ingredients and come together without actually baking the granola bars! The oats and pecans are toasted in the oven for extra flavor, then everything is mixed with a brown sugar & honey mixture and chilled until firm. If you love oatmeal raisin cookies, these easy homemade granola bars are basically the chewy, snackable version!
My husband’s favorite cookie is an oatmeal raisin cookie (probably an unpopular opinion!), so naturally, I decided we needed a granola bar that tasted JUST like one. I wanted them chewy and substantial, with plenty of raisins, warm cinnamon, hearty rolled oats, and toasted pecans. After a little testing, I think this recipe nailed it!
These homemade granola bars use simple pantry ingredients and come together with a few easy steps. The oats and pecans are toasted in the oven for extra flavor, while a simple butter and sugar mixture is made on the stovetop to help bind everything together. Once it’s all mixed, the bars just need some time to set in the fridge.
And speaking of testing…the first version I made was baked after everything was mixed together. They tasted delicious, but they were SO hard and crunchy that they could probably break a tooth! We can’t be having that. So I reworked the recipe, and these are now perfectly chewy and soft while still holding their shape like a proper granola bar.
The Best Raisins
Tricked ya!!! Unlike the title above says, there is no best raisin for this recipe. Really any raisin you love would be perfect for these granola bars. I used regular thompson raisins (although they were much larger than regular-sized raisins).
I suggest using a jumbo raisin if you can find it, it adds a large pop of sweetness and texture to the bars. When my mom tried these a few weeks ago her first comment was about how big and juicy the raisins were! Golden raisins would be delicious, or even dried cranberries if you prefer those!
Toasted, But Not Baked
No “baking” is needed for this recipe, although we will turn the oven to toast the oats and nuts. This gives them a deeper flavor and removes any moisture from the oats.
After toasting the oats, set aside while adding the rest of the wet ingredients into a saucepan. Over medium-low heat, dissolve the sugar for a few minutes. Then add the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. I think next time I make these in the fall, I’ll add my homemade pumpkin pie spice in place of the cinnamon!
Pour the honey mixture over the oats, add the raisins, and toss until everything is evenly coated. Pour the granola into the baking pan you’ve already prepped, and press into an even layer. Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to chill (aka the “no-bake” part of the recipe).
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Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups (286.36 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup (49.5 g) pecans, chopped coarse
- 6 tbsp (126 g) honey
- 6 tbsp (72 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup (75.67 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
- 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
- 1 cup (145 g) raisins
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350℉. Toss oats and pecans together, and spread mixture over baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes, mix, and toast again for another 5 minutes, until lightly toasted. Transfer toasted oat mixture to a large bowl.3 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup pecans
- Line an 8×8 square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Cook honey, sugar, butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until sugar is fully dissolved (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat, stir in salt, vanilla, and cinnamon.6 tbsp honey, 6 tbsp light brown sugar, ⅓ cup unsalted butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Add honey mixture and raisins to oat mixture and toss until well combined. Transfer mixture to the prepared dish and press firmly into an even layer.1 cup raisins
- Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours. Lift the granola out of the dish using the liner and remove the paper. Slice into 12 individual bars.
Notes
- Store granola bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: For longer storage, wrap individual bars in parchment or plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To serve: Let frozen bars thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a little while before eating.
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