The homemade Granola Yogurt Bars are made with simple ingredients and easy to prepare. Topped with a white chocolate drizzle, it's a yummy kid-approved snack!
Granola yogurt bars are one of the most nostalgic snacks for me. You know, the chewy, chocolate chip ones with a thin, creamy coating on the bottom? I'm pretty sure every kid had one of those Quaker yogurt granola bars in their lunchbox at some point.
I still love a granola bar now, but as an adult I find the storebought ones to be pretty sweet, and that yogurt coating is definitely NOT real yogurt. This homemade granola bar recipe uses wholesome ingredients and all the yummy mix-ins like almonds, shredded coconut, and freeze-dried strawberries. It's super delicious and with a coating that I guarantee uses real Greek yogurt.
If you loved my nut free granola bars or even my cinnamon roll granola (inspired by Trader Joe's), this recipe is the happy mixing of those recipes!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Lower in sugar. Storebought granola bars can be pretty high in sugar, especially for a snack marketed as "healthy". Making your own granola yogurt bars at home is an easy way to reduce the amount of added sugar in your diet.
- Balanced snack. I always recommend to pair at least 2 food groups for a balanced snack. These bars have fibre from the oats and healthy fats from peanut butter to ensure it's a snack with true staying power.
- Customizable. You can easily make these bars gluten-free and vegan using my substitutions listed below.
Ingredients
Oats. These make our fiber-filled base! Quick, minute or rolled oats will all work in this recipe. I do not recommend using steel cut or Scottish style oats, as they are too coarse to be eaten raw.
Puffed rice cereal. Rice Krispies or no-name brand will both work. Using a blend of oats and puffed rice cereal helps add textural variety and lighten up the bars, but you can always replace with oats if that's all you have.
Almonds. A source of healthy fats and crunch. I always choose raw, or unsalted unroasted almonds. Almonds can be replace with any nut or seed you prefer.
Coconut. I recommend using unsweetened shredded coconut. If you don't like coconut, replace with extra oats.
Spices and seasoning. Salt and cinnamon for the only spices you'll need.
Vanilla extract. For the most natural flavour I recommend using pure vanilla extract if it is available, however artifical extract is fine too.
Peanut butter. This is essential to hold the bars together. I look for a natural peanut butter made of just peanuts to help minimize added sugars.
Honey. Our source of natural sweetness! The stickiness from honey also helps bind these bars.
Freeze-dried strawberries. These are optional as they can be a little tricky to find, but I love them for additional flavour. If you can't find freeze-dried fruit, dried fruit will work too.
Greek yogurt. I use plain Greek yogurt. Choose an unsweetened yogurt, as we will be sweetening it ourselves.
Cream cheese. I recommend using light cream cheese. This helps create a smooth, even consistency when paired with the yogurt.
Milk. To help thin the coating, making it easier to dip the granola bars in.
Icing sugar. Just a little bit of additional sweetness! It also helps solidify the coating.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
In a microwave safe bowl, combine honey and peanut butter. Microwave for 30 seconds to soften the peanut butter, creating a runny consistency. Add vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
In a large mixing bowl combine oats, puffed rice cereal, shredded coconut, salt, cinnamon, almonds, and freeze dried strawberries.
Pour peanut butter/honey mixture over the dry ingredients, Stir to combine. It may help to use your hands to ensure everything is fully mixed.
Press the mix into a parchment paper lined, 8-inch square pan. This is essential to ensuring the bars stay together. Freeze for at least 2 hours.
Once the bars are frozen, gently slice into 16 equal-sized granola bars.
To make the yogurt coating, whisk together Greek yogurt, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk.
Dip the top of each granola bar into the yogurt coating and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle with additional freeze-dried strawberries if desired. Store in the freezer!
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats and a gluten-free puffed rice cereal. Note that Rice Krispies are not certified gluten-free.
To make vegan: Swap the honey for maple syrup. For the coating, use coconut yogurt and dairy-free cream cheese and milk.
To make nut-free: I have not tested a nut free version of this recipe! However you can try making my nut-free granola bars and adding the yogurt coating.
Equipment
Storage
These granola yogurt bars are best stored in the freeze, as this helps hold them together and allows the yogurt coating to stay firm. I recommend storing in an airtight container and freezing for up to 3 months. You should be able to eat them directly out of the freezer.
Top Tip
Homemade granola bars can be a little tricky to hold together. For the most formed granola bars, ensure you are really pressing your granola bar base into the pan. Don't forget the corners!
Frequently Asked Questions
Trader Joe's has them! I have also found them at Real Canadian Superstore as well as Amazon.
I HIGHLY recommend storing these in the freezer. As we are not baking these granola bars, they hold their shape best if stored in the freezer. It also keeps the yogurt coating firm.
These are more of a chewy granola bar! Unlike a baked granola bar, these aren't hard, though depending on how well you pressed the bars into the pan, they may be a little crumbly once removed from the freezer!
More Healthy Snack Recipes
Homemade snacks that are easy and delicious:
- Homemade Perfect Bars (No Bake)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Squares
- Cosmic Brownie Protein Bars
- Homemade Oatmeal Cookie Bars
See you in the kitchen!
I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these granola yogurt bars, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Granola Bars with Yogurt Coating
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups oats
- 1.5 cups puffed rice cereal
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup almonds chopped
- ¼ cup freeze dried strawberries crushed
Yogurt coating:
- ¼ cup+ 2 tablespoon plain 2% Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon light cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk to thin
Optional:
- ¼ cup melted white chocolate for drizzle
Instructions
- In a microwave safe bowl, combine honey and peanut butter. Microwave for 30 seconds to soften the peanut butter, creating a runny consistency. Add vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl combine oats, puffed rice cereal, shredded coconut, salt, cinnamon, almonds, and freeze dried strawberries.
- Pour peanut butter/honey mixture over the dry ingredients, Stir to combine. It may help to use your hands to ensure everything is fully mixed.
- Press the mix into a parchment paper lined, 8-inch square pan. This is essential to ensuring the bars stay together. Freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Once the bars are frozen, gently slice into 16 equal-sized granola bars.
- To make the yogurt coating, whisk together Greek yogurt, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk.
- Dip the top of each granola bar into the yogurt coating and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle with additional freeze-dried strawberries if desired. Store in the freezer!
Ali Pearson says
I added a scoop of protein powder. Never got around to making the top layer and honestly didn’t think it even needed it. So good!
Amy says
Is it possible to use the yogurt coating to coat pretzels? I love yogurt coated pretzels but not the ingredient list in the storebought ones. Thank you!
Nicole Addison says
Hi Amy! Great question, this is something I've been working on perfecting for a while (with not too much success) I find when you coat the pretzel's in the yogurt coating they tend to get soggy instead of staying crunchy like they do when you purchase storebought ones!
Janet says
These are delicious!! I even added 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder for some extra protein and still came together just right. Great find.
Faith says
These were so good!
Bela says
Thank you for this great recipe. I was looking for an alternative to the expensive plastic wrapped supermarket brands, which are full of palm oil and UPFs. I adapted it a bit according to what I had in the kitchen but kept all the quantities the same and it worked really well.
Jennie Posada says
Absolutely love these bars! And what’s great is you can add different ingredients to change the flavor to your liking. My kids new favorite. Thanks!