Did I have you at dark chocolate?! I made a batch of Gluten-free Cranberry Dark Chocolate Granola Bars last week and have been a very happy snacker ever since. This recipe is fairly straight forward and bakes in 30 minutes. To make a school-safe (nut-free) version – just omit the sliced almonds. Ok friends, here’s how to make Gluten-free Cranberry Dark Chocolate Granola Bars…
I am a grazer (someone who eats a bunch of little meals throughout the day). So I’m never super hungry but I’m also never super full. However, I find that around 4pm I get a big case of the munchies. This is when I find a hearty granola bar like this one…packed with oats and dried fruit and that hit of chocolate I crave…hits the spot so well.
Because this version has sliced almonds (which are yummy) I, of course, do not send these to school with my kids. Nor do I take them out with me as a snack. I tend to keep nut things at home in empathy of people with allergies. I once saw a caregiver bring nutella sandwiches to a park for her kids and I thought “Nutella = nuts”. And no, she did not wash the kids hands between eating and them going back on the play structure. Can’t nut oils transfer from hands to surfaces? Perhaps they can’t and I overreact about snacks with nuts.
Gluten-free Cranberry Dark Chocolate Granola Bars
You will need:
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 sliced almonds (omit if you want a nut-free version)
- 2 cups quick rolled oats
- 1/2 cup gluten-free flour (I use Robin Hood brand)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup of Becel margarine
Related: if you do want a school safe – homemade snack – I recommend my MICROWAVE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE RECIPE
Baking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Chop up dried cranberries and dark chocolate. Set aside.
- In large bowl mix together oats, flour, baking soda, and pinch of salt.
- Add in maple syrup, egg and margarine.
- Mix well until you have a crumbly mixture. It should clump together.
- Then, add in dried cranberries, dark chocolate, coconut, and almonds.
- Mix until combined.
- Spray an 8×8 pan with vegetable oil (or you could you could butter it).
- Spoon granola mixture into pan. Pack down so it’s flat on top.
- Bake for 30 min in the 375 oven.
- Cut while warm.
- Keeps us to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
These Gluten-free Cranberry Dark Chocolate Granola Bars are good as a snack or crumbled up into yogurt. It is a drier granola bar (add more margarine if you prefer a moister granola bar).
These sound really good! as a side note – not all oats are gluten free! I am not 100% sure what differentiates the GF from the ones containing gluten, but there is a difference.
Will google that (personally – I’m OK if it contains “some wheat” but I suppose others might need to be more careful.)
These granola bars sound awesome. I love snacks like this that I can just grab and go!
I love grab n’ go food myself
My favorite kind of granola bar is anything combining fruit and dark chocolate. That’s a combo I can’t get enough of.
One of my fav combos
I have a friend that needs everything to be gluten-free and I know she would love these. I think I will have to make them for her.
I thought going gluten-free would be tough but recipes like this make it easy
Aren’t oats gluten? I’d love to make it for my husband, but oats have gluten 🙁
I should try and make these for next week. I am always looking for a good snack for the family and these would be perfect!
It is so nice that you respect people and kids with nut allergies. This granola bar is one I would love t make and the pictures make it look so good and hearty.
Give it a try
I have been thinking about making my own granola bars for some time now. I took a look at the nutritional info on the back of the box we used to buy, and I was STUNNED by how much sugar was in it. Like, what?! There should not be that much sugar in these LOL so yeah, I want to know all the ingredients going into my bar so I’m thinkin it’s time to make my own!
I often use maple syrup or honey to sweeten granola bars. You can control the quantity much more than store bought.
I am loving this recipe for your Cranberry Dark Chocolate Granola Bars. I love making things home made so you know exactly what is in them. These totally sound nommy!
They are so good
This granola looks amazing!! I would love to make a batch for my family.
These bars look so good! I think I am going to make some and bring them to work to enjoy for an afternoon snack.
Just leave out the nuts if anyone has sensitivities
I love everything cranberry and chocolate. These sound PERFECT for me and my cravings. YUM!
They are a great combo
I need to give these a try. My kids love granola bars and I’m sure these are so much better than the store bought ones.
Granola bars are so handy
I’m always looking for new gluten-free recipes to try. I will have to pick up the ingredients I need to make these on the weekend. I’m sure they will be a big hit in my house.
I really liked them myself
Your Granola Bars look awesome, I just love Granola!
I just pinned this and will be making…The cranberries in them offer a nice tang I’m guessing.
I love granola bars and these are something I can do!
Do you mean the soft spreadable becel margarine? They sound really good & I don’t want to mess up my first attempt.
Any Becel margarine will do
All oats are gluten free. However, most oats are processed in a plant that processes other things (like wheat) and therefore cannot claim that they are gluten free due to cross contamination.
These bars sound like they are full of nutritious yumminess! I love the tart flavour of cranberries mixed with the bitter sweet taste of dark chocolate. Perfect for snacking!
Gluten free diet is very good. It’s a great way to lost weight.
I love the combination of ingredients in these. Yum.
Yum! I have not tried to make my granola bars yet, but I have always wanted to. Thanks for the recipe – I’m gonna try it this weekend 🙂
These sound pretty dang good, I’m looking for some new treats to make!
Ummmmm, my favourite combination can’t wait to try them, thx so much for the recipe!
This looks amazing and healthy