These Apple Almond Oat Bars Are the Perfect Grab-and-Go Snack

Finding a homemade snack that’s healthy, filling, and easy to pack can feel harder than it should be. These Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars check all the boxes with wholesome oats, almond butter, applesauce, and a boost of sweet potato for natural sweetness and softness.

They’re lightly sweet, great for meal prep, and sturdy enough to toss into a lunchbox, backpack, or snack bag when you need something satisfying on the go.

Why This Recipe for Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars?

It’s natural to be a little skeptical, especially once you see the ingredients list! However, these granola bars really are better than they sound and quite healthy to boot. They’re great for taking on a long car trip or a hike. Best of all, they’re not very likely to crumble into annoying bits in your backpack!

Equipment for Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars

• Instant Pot or Saucepan or microwavable vegetable steamer
• Large mixing bowl
• Food processor
• Sturdy mixing spoon
• Large baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Wire cooling rack

Key Ingredient Roles for Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars

Does that sound like a lot for granola bars? Each of these ingredients really does bring something to the table when making them! Here’s a quick rundown.

Sweet Potato

3/4 cup diced sweet potato

I like to dice the sweet potato pretty small to make it easier to work with while making the granola bars together. It adds a mild, sweet, earthy flavor to the granola bars.

Cauliflower

1 cup cauliflower florets

Like the sweet potato, I’ll cut the cauliflower florets fairly fine to make it easier on the food processor. On its own, cauliflower has a pretty neutral flavor.

Old-Fashioned Oats

2 cups old-fashioned oats

Old-fashioned oats usually form the base of granola bars. You might also see them labeled as steel-cut oats while shopping for ingredients.

Unsweetened Natural Applesauce

1/2 cup unsweetened natural applesauce

The applesauce doesn’t necessarily need to be sweetened, as it’ll bring its natural fruity sweetness to this recipe. The sweetness comes from fructose, a type of sugar that naturally occurs in fruit, some vegetables, and honey.

The thing to remember about fructose is that it is sweeter than table sugar, so if you are replacing table sugar with something that contains fructose, such as honey, you will typically need less of the fructose-based substitute. If you don’t reduce the amount when replacing table sugar with fructose, your recipe might turn out too sweet.

Ground Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

The cinnamon naturally complements the applesauce, giving the granola bars a nice flavor.

Slivered Almonds

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Slivered almonds add a bit of crunch and protein to the granola bars.

Pure Maple Syrup

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Maple syrup adds more sweetness to this recipe. The trick is to find genuine maple syrup and not imitation syrup like “pancake syrup”. Genuine maple syrup will list only maple syrup in its ingredient list and won’t contain any corn syrup.

Inexpensive brands like Mrs. Butterworth’s, Aunt Jemima, and Log Cabin are more likely to be fake. (Simple tip: If it advertises that it now contains no high-fructose corn syrup, it’s probably fake maple syrup.) Other brands like Butternut Mountain Farm and Kirkland Signature are typically genuine maple syrup.

How Maple Syrup is Made (and how to spot real maple syrup)

This video shows how maple syrup is made and how to tell if your maple syrup is real.

Cocoa Nibs

2 tablespoons cocoa nibs

Cocoa nibs add the chocolate bits you probably remember from those granola bars you had as a kid. They’re so fun and nostalgic that you might forget these granola bars have other healthy ingredients.

Salt

1/2 teaspoon salt

A little salt balances the sweet flavors without making these granola bars too salty.

Method for Making Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars

Let’s jump right in and see how easy making these granola bars really is!

Step One: Preheat Oven

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius)

Step Two: Steam Sweet Potato and Cauliflower

Set up your Instant Pot for steaming vegetables. Steam the sweet potato and cauliflower according to the Instant Pot’s directions until they are tender.

Alternatively, you can steam them in a saucepan with a lid on the stovetop. Just be careful not to use too much water. Keep an eye on the saucepan so it doesn’t boil dry.

When I feel like taking the convenience route, I’ll steam vegetables in my microwavable steamer for five minutes until they are tender.

Step Three: Blend Sweet Potato and Cauliflower in Food Processor

This is the sneaky part, because it’s why my family never notices chunks of cauliflower in these granola bars! Once the sweet potato and cauliflower are steamed, put them in the food processor and blend until smooth.

Step Four: Add Oats, Applesauce, Almond Butter, and Maple Syrup to Mixing Bowl

Add the old-fashioned oats, applesauce, almond butter, and maple syrup to a large mixing bowl. Stir until evenly mixed.

Step Five: Add Remaining Ingredients to Oat Mix

Fold the sweet potato and cauliflower mix, salt, cinnamon, and slivered almonds into the oat mix. Then fold in the cocoa nibs.

Step Six: Prepare Baking Sheet

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step Seven: Form Granola Bars

Transfer the granola mix to the baking sheet. Form a flat “sheet” of granola bars that’s about 1/8 inch thick. Don’t cut them yet. They need to cool first.

Step Eight: Bake Granola Bars

Put the baking sheet of granola bars in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes until the granola bars are firm.

Step Nine: Cool Granola Bars

Transfer the granola bars to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before cutting them into granola bars of your desired size.

Substitutions for Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars

These apple almond sweet potato granola bars are easy to customize with a few simple swaps. Whether you are working with different ingredients, adjusting for dietary needs, or just using what you have on hand, these substitutions will help you keep the same texture and flavor.

FAQ About Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars

These bars look easy enough to make, right? We do sometimes get questions about them! I answered some of the most commonly asked ones here. If you think of one I haven’t answered yet, feel free to ask in the comments section!

Are these granola bars gluten-free?

They can be, as long as you use certified gluten-free oats and make sure any add-ins are also gluten-free. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but might have been processed in a facility that also processes foods containing gluten, so they could get cross-contaminated. Look for certified gluten-free labeling on the package.

Why are my granola bars crumbly?

Crumbly bars usually mean the mixture was a little too dry. They also might not have completely cooled before you cut them.

How do I know when the granola bars are done baking?

The bars should look set and lightly golden around the edges. They may still feel a little soft in the center when they come out of the oven, but they will firm up as they cool.

How should I store these granola bars?

Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days, or freeze them for longer storage. If you freeze them, thaw them in the fridge overnight before eating.

What’s the best way to pack these for hiking or travel?

Let the bars cool completely before packing so they stay firm. Layer them in a container with parchment paper between pieces, or wrap them individually for an easy grab-and-go snack.

Did You Try These Granola Bars?

If you make these Apple Almond Sweet Potato Granola Bars, please let us know what you think in the comments section. Did you try any swaps? Also, don’t forget to rate this recipe!