Zero Waste Granola Bars

I’ve always loved granola bars but ever since going zero waste, I’ve avoided eating them. Why? Simple: They come in disposable wrappers. That said, it doesn’t mean I have to give up granola bars entirely. I’ve been itching to create some homemade granola bars for a while now, and I finally got around to it. I’m so excited to share this recipe with you for several reasons: It’s delicious, it’s easy to make, it’s healthy, and it’s waste free! Yay for zero waste granola bars!

I grabbed all the ingredients for this pretty much package free, or in glass jars. The dry ingredients for this recipe can mostly be found at your local bulk food store, which is where I got mine. Trust me when I say, these bars are ten times better than store bought – so much so, you won’t want to go back. My parents, my boyfriend, and me alike devoured them very quickly so these didn’t last too long. Without further ado, here’s how to make zero waste granola bars!

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Zero Waste Granola Bars

These vegan granola bars are more like granola squares, but hey, that doesn’t change how delicious they are. Unlike store bought granola, these aren’t completely dried out. Instead, they have a gentle moistness to them mixed with a dry crunch. They’re fresh and delectable, I’ll tell you that. These didn’t last more than a week in my house. They made great snacks, and also a good breakfast option!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup of almond butter
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of raisins or dried cranberries
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/2 cup of sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil (melted)
• 1/2 cup of almond flour
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of ground nutmeg

How to get ingredients waste free: First and foremost, you’ll want to try and get these ingredients as package free as possible. I suggest hitting up your local bulk food store. The oats, almonds, chia seeds, and raisins can all be found at the bulk food store. I was able to purchase them in my own glass jars. Just in case, here’s how to shop waste free without bulk options. You can purchase almond butter, vanilla extract and maple syrup in glass jars.

For almond flour: No need to purchase this in a plastic bag. Almond flour can be made easily from scratch by blending chopped almonds in a food processor or blender for at least 20-30 seconds, or until it resembles a powder.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8 x 8 inch baking pan and line the bottom with compostable parchment paper (I use this brand because it’s fully compostable when you’re done using it – most parchment paper is actually lined with plastic).
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, almond flour, almonds, maple syrup, raisins or cranberries, almond butter, chia seeds, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly golden on the edges. Let cool completely in the pan.
3. Cut into 8 rectangles (or, if you’re like me, approximately 11 squares). They will keep for about 1 week if wrapped well and stored in a cool place.

Storage: You can keep these in a tin or container in the fridge like I did. If you’re transporting them somewhere, consider wrapping them in some parchment paper or getting a silicone storage bag like Stashers.

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So good, you won’t miss store bought granola…

If you’re looking to get on track with your eating, but know you like to snack, this is a great healthy alternative. Personally, I’m definitely a snacker, so having these around help me out a lot. Plus, I like to eat a bar before going on a jog – it keeps me fueled.

I notice once you go zero waste, you tend to eat more whole foods and less processed junk. That, and a lot more stuff cooked from scratch – like these zero waste granola bars.

These are loaded with healthy ingredients that actually fuel your body. Oats are mineral rich and high in magnesium which helps maintain healthy hair and supports mitochondrial health.

Would you give these zero waste granola bars a shot?

For more zero waste recipes, check out my vegan chocolate bites and zero waste bliss balls.

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