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Meet your new favorite snack bar…crisp, golden, and honey-sweet with that satisfying snap. These homemade oats ’n honey bars deliver the Nature Valley vibe, just fresher and a little more cozy from your own oven.
They mix up fast, bake toasty, and keep well for the week. Perfect for lunch boxes, hikes, or an afternoon pick-me-up with tea.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Classic oats + honey flavor with serious crunch.
- Pantry ingredients, quick prep, and easy to customize.
Ingredient Notes
Oats: Rolled oats = chunkier texture and more crunch; quick oats = finer, maybe less crumbly
Honey: Use a mild, light honey for a clean flavor; strong varietals taste more floral/robust (still delish, just different).
Fat (butter or oil): Butter adds flavor; neutral oil can bake a touch crisper.
Salt: Even a small pinch sharpens the honey and controls sweetness.
Add-ins (optional): Sesame seeds, finely chopped nuts, or a sprinkle of cinnamon change texture/flavor.
The story behind the recipe
It’s snowing non-stop here. And to think two days ago I thought maybe spring might come a little earlier up here in the mountains.
Yeah, right. Those days of awesome sunshine and 30 degrees temps were short. Too short.
My die hard snowboarder brothers are pretty happy. Apparently, it was a major pow, pow day (Pow, pow is a lot of snow. I asked, they rolled their eyes.).
Ah, welcome to my life. Snowboard talk 24/7. Most the time I have no idea what everyone is talking about. I am in my own world thinking about Flourless Chocolate Cakes, Spring Pasta and those cute as can be Easter straws I got at Target thanks to Jessica.
So I tuned out the snowboard talk and day dreamed about Florida and palm trees and 80 degree weather. All while I stood by the heater (that is duct taped together, because the neck broke in half, jimmy rigged I think my dad calls it) that never leaves my side (never) and made granola bars.
Copy cat Nature Valley Oats ‘n Honey bars. They are the real deal.
My family loves these bars and I wanted to see if I could replicate them.
Mission accomplished! Oh, and they are SO easy. Like you need nine simple ingredients that you probably have on hand right now, five minutes of prep time and a little love from the oven. Then your golden! Literally they come out all golden and your kitchen will smell AMAZING. The smell alone is reason enough to make these.
Seriously, they are healthy, easy and in my opinion way better than the store-bought! Make yum today and eat them as a snack all week long!
Tieghan’s Tips
Line with parchment: Use parchment with overhang so the slab lifts out cleanly.
Press firmly: Pack the mixture very tightly with the flat bottom of a measuring cup. The tighter the pack, the crisper the slice.
Bake to color, not time: Pull when the edges are deep golden and the surface looks set and toasty; pale bars = softer, crumblier.
Cool completely in the pan: Let them cool until room temp and firm before lifting. Warm bars can fall apart.
Score before slicing: Lightly score the surface while barely warm for cleaner breaks, then finish slicing when fully cool.
Optional finish: A light drizzle of melted chocolate is a great idea
How do I keep them extra crisp like the packaged bars?
Press the mixture very firmly and bake until the edges are deep golden. Let the slab cool fully in the pan before slicing so it sets.
Why are my bars crumbling when I cut them?
They were likely sliced while warm or not packed tightly enough. Score gently while just warm, then finish cutting once completely cool.
Can I use quick oats instead of old-fashioned?
Yes, but the texture changes…quick oats make a finer, less chunky bar that can hold together a bit better. Rolled oats give that classic toasty bite.
Can I swap the honey?
Maple or agave will work for a vegan version, but the flavor is different and bars may be slightly less crisp. Choose a mild honey!
Just Like Nature Valley’s Oats ‘n Honeys Bars…..Actually they
Servings: 6 bars
Calories Per Serving: 243 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup rolled oats use gluten free oats for a gluten free version
- 1/2 cup rice crispies cereal
- 3 tablespoons cornmeal
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons canola oil or I like to sometimes use coconut oil
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 9×9 inch square pyrex dish with parchment paper.
- Combine the oats, rice crispies, cornmeal, salt and baking soda in a medium size mixing bowl. In a glass measuring cup or microwave safe bowl mix the honey and canola (or coconut oil). Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir to melt the coconut butter then add the vanilla and brown sugar. Whisk to combine and then mix the wet with the dry ingredients. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pyrex dish that is lined with parchment paper, and press down hard. I used the back of a measuring cup (spray or oil the bottom so it does not stick and press hard!) and it worked awesome!
- Place in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. The bars will be golden on top. Remove the bars (if your bars seem a little loose, I like to push down again on them to make sure the bars will hold together) and let the bars cool in the pan for 10-20 minutes then remove from the pan and then cut while the bars are firm, but still somewhat soft. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in a sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap.
Adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie
Maybe the spring forward will bring some spring weather. Hey, I can hope. Right?
Shared with: Inside BruCru Life, Lil Luna, Chef In Training, Buns In my Oven, Foodie Friday Friends, Tidy Mom, Taste and Tell, Cheerios and Lattes, Somewhat Simple, Mom on Timeout, I Heart Nap Time, Fine Craft Guide, The Country Cook, Whipperberry, Chef In Training
This post was originally published on March 10, 2013
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Hi! I can not wait to make these! I am always secretly jealous when I buy the NV bars for my daughter because I can’t have them! I’d love to make a double (or even triple!) batch. Have you ever frozen them? How long should they last otherwise?
Thanks!
I would love to know how many calories each bar works out at for the ingredients amount listed.
Just made my 1st attempt at making these. My Husband is addicted to Nature Valley Bars, he was so excited to try them he insisted on taking them out of the tin early & eating it warm. He loved them, he’s already eaten 2 & is chomping at the bit for a 3rd he he… I think they will take even nicer once they have properly cooled & have turned crispy.
These are awesome! I didn’t Have rolled oats, honey or rice krispies so i subbed quick cooking oats, maple syrup and cheerios and they were soo yummy! And just like nature valley..THANK YOU!!!!!!
I’ve made them twice now and I LOVE THEM… i use the crumbs in my yogurt sooooooooooo good… i added almonds to mine just because I love nuts…
So excited you love these! Thanks!
Very excited about this. Think I could sub in Vegetable oil or crisco for the coconut oil or canola? (my canola smells bad and I don’t have Coconut oil….)
Hey Jenna! I would stick with the coconut oil, it helps bind everything together. If you can’t get coconut oil, try butter.
Hope you love these!!
Do I have to you rice crispies?
I would, they add a nice crunch and help hold the bars together. You can use brown rice krispies if you need too.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Can I substitute the honey for agave nectar?
Hey Sidney, I am not sure. Agave will give the bars a blander flavor. I would stick with honey, but let me know what you do. Hope they turn out great!
Tieghan, I’ve been cooking a variety of your recipes for the past week and I have to tell you, every single one has been a hit. Tonight we had the polenta/mushroom/marinara sauce from one of your recent posts. I am never in the habit of commenting on blog posts but I need to start!
These granola bars look delicious. I’m wondering how I could incorporate apples into the mix?
Thanks!! 🙂
So happy you are loving my recipes! Thanks for making them!
I would just stir in 1 cup dried apples. Should work great! Let me know how it goes!
these are awesome!!! do you have the nutrition stats for them?
Hi Kathleen! Thanks so much, but I am sorry to say I do not have the nutrition info on these. You can calculate them for free online though!
I don’t have cornmeal and do not normally buy it can I replace it with something else?
Hi Christine! If you do not have cornmeal try using whole wheat flour or even all purpose. I do not think the texture will be as awesome, but it should work!
Hope you love these!
why do you use the rice cereal? do you know if there is a substitute for that? thanks!
The rice cereal helps with the texture of the bars. You might be able to sub another unflavored cereal, but the texture will be different and I do think the rice cereal is the the best. If I were to use another cereal though I would use cheerios or corn flakes, but again I am not sure on the result of the bars then.
Hope these work out for you and I hope you love them!
We love this recipe so much! Shared it today (with a few changes for our family) with my readers at http://www.created2fly.net/2013/07/friday-feature-oats-n-honey-granola.html
Blessings!
Tonya
Ya! So happy you guys loved these Tonya!!
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Blessings!
Tonya
Thanks Tonya!
These look so fantastic! I love these bars, so homemade must be even better. Have you ever tried shipping these? One of my friends loves granola bars, so I’m sure he’d love getting some in the mail if I made them. I’m just worried about how well they would keep after being in the mail for a few days…
I have never shipped them, but I would think if you packaged them really well they would be ok!! They lasts for weeks!
Awesome! Thanks so much. I’ll definitely be making these to include in my next round of care packages!