All of the makings of an almond joy candy bar are found in these Almond Joy Granola Bars, just without the added fat, preservatives, and loads of sugar!
*Recipe and text from 01/09/13. Images updated 04/26/17.
You know how sometimes you want something that tastes really unhealthy but isn’t unhealthy for you? Let me rephrase that. . .you know how a lot of times you want something really unhealthy but you know you shouldn’t? 😉
Well, I really like dark chocolate and coconut and recently I couldn’t get the Almond Joy combination out of my head, but I didn’t want the candy bar.
Even if I did, we don’t keep candy in the house very often, and we rarely buy it except maybe around the holidays.
My solution? Well, make something healthy that tastes like an Almond Joy, of course! 🙂 These granola bars are just that. All of the rich flavor of dark chocolate, coconut, and almonds without all of the added sugars, fats, and preservatives that are found in the candy bar.
Plus, there’s a little added oat bran and flaxseed thrown in for good measure. 😉
There is an option to add a bit of brown sugar to make the granola a bit richer, but feel free to just add a bit more honey in place of the brown sugar if you want to leave it out.
So the next time you want a candy bar, try these granola bars instead! They are well worth the little extra prep work of toasting the almonds and coconut. The toasted flavor adds so much to the overall flavor combination.
If you really can’t wait, I suppose you could skip that step, but you’d be missing out!
- 1½ C shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened depending on preference)
- ¾ C chopped almonds
- 2 C regular oats
- ¼ C oat bran
- ¼ C ground flaxseed
- ½ C honey
- ¼ C milk of your choice
- ¼ C brown sugar, optional (can substitute 3 tbsp honey)
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate unsweetened baking cocoa
- 2 tbsp butter/coconut oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ C dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Spread out coconut and almonds on a baking sheet. Toast for for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Remove baking sheet from oven and leave oven at 300.
- In a large heat-safe bowl, stir together oats, oat bran, and flaxseed. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, stir together honey, milk, brown sugar, baking cocoa, butter, vanilla, and salt. Heat over medium-low heat just until mixture starts to boil, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and stir a couple of times to cool.
- Stir toasted coconut and almonds into oat mixture until combined.
- Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and press firmly into bottom of dish. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips, if desired.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges start to appear dry. Remove dish to a wire rack.
- Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in an airtight container.
This recipe is adapted from One Hungry Mama.
Liz says
These look great Jessica! I love almond joy too but I think this recipe sounds so much better 🙂
Erika @Southern Girls Kitchen says
Almond Joy Granola Bars.. I could use 1 or 3 this morning.. : )
tanya says
I don’t have a lot of candy in the house that my kids are allowed to eat, they mostly go into my baked goods. But I do have granola bars. They are store bought usually. I SHOULD be making these for my family instead of buying them! Great recipe!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Ooooooh yessss!!! I love a chocolatey granola bar! 😀
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
oh girl, you know I am in love with granola and granola bar recipes! Almond joy, one of my favorite indulgences, is a fabulous flavor! So clever Jessica. coconut, chocolate… you can’t go wrong. 🙂
Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection says
I’m doing the same thing lately…craving bad foods and trying to make healthier options that satisfy those cravings. These look delicious! Awesome idea.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I need to buy coconut, STAT! I heart almond joys!!!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
You made my favorite candy bar semi healthy. I will be forever in your debt.
Rina@Itheecook says
I am so going to make these! I actually have everything in the pantry!
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
when i first saw the title of this post, i thought i wouldn’t like it. but then i remembered that i tried an almond joy in December & loved it (after a lifetime of loathing it). ha ha! now i need to go get some almonds to make these! great job, girl 🙂
Ashley says
I love homemade granola bars. And you can never go wrong with chocolate, coconut and almonds! I totally do the same thing with adding in flaxseed – that way it’s better for you, right? haha : )
Rachel @ Bakerita says
These look amazing! I was just thinking how I wanted to make granola bars when I stumbled upon this…they look phenomenal!
Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking} says
Yeah, these really aren’t too bad for you… I’m in love and have to try these!!
Holly says
These sound so yummy! I LOVE homemade granola bars 🙂
Ramona says
You have me drooling over health food. yes.. now that’s what I call a winner. 🙂
Baking Serendipity says
I love Almond Joy candy bars…but might like these even more! Granola bars are the best snack 🙂
a farmer in the dell says
I love almond joys! This granola bar recipe is genius!!! I’m making these this weekend! Thanks for the recipe!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
I was just thinking today as I was eating a granola bar about making some homemade ones again. These look fantastic and yummy.
Meg @ Sweet Twist says
I love the sound of these. Pinned for later!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I am ALL over this. Genius!
Suzanne says
Tis the season for making healthy snacks for sure, I made some granola bars last week but I think I need to try making some more because we ate them all up. Happy New Year!
Pamela says
YUMMY! ok this is going in my recipe book! Love it
Jess @ OnSugarMountain says
DUDE almond joy granola bars?! I’m swooning over here. I also try to not keep candy in my apt because then I will slowly get so fat no one will know what to do with me :O These sound perfectly decadent while still being okay for my waistline teehee 😀 bravo!
Bree says
I havea always wanted to make my own granola bars and these look terrific! Like you said-they taste like chocolate, but are good for you too!
Steph says
I was just thinking to myself that I need to make some granola bars and then I see these! YUM!
Mercedes says
Wow, all of that goodness and only 2 Tbsp of butter?? Impressive! Almond Joy are one of my favorite candy bars and I see these bars in my near future!
Anna @ hiddenponies says
These look awesome, I love homemade granola bars!
RavieNomNoms says
These look really good. I have to say I would never have thought to do this. I would be the only one to eat them in my household haha, but they look perfect!
Carole@ The Sweet Chick says
I love Almond Joys and I love granola. Can’t wait to try these!
Diana Rambles says
I’ve never done homemade granola bars!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
I’ve been soooooo into homemade granola bars lately. I love this almond joy version – can’t wait to try these!
DesignedByBH says
These look great! Thank you so much for sharing! I pinned the recipe. 🙂
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
I can’t keep candy in my house for the very fact that it’s all I think about. When it’s all I think about, it’s all I end up shoving into my mouth. No candy in this gal’s house. I love granola, and this sounds like the perfect combo. A treat without the guilt. Love it!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
These look delicious! I’m all about healthy treats that taste indulgent 🙂