Description
Homemade Granola Bars for Toddlers are soft, nutritious bars made with wholesome ingredients tailored for little ones. These bars provide a tasty, energy-boosting snack free from added sugars and artificial additives, perfect for toddlers’ growing bodies and curious taste buds.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup finely ground oats or oat flour
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup natural almond butter or sunflower seed butter
1/4 cup finely chopped soft dried fruit (raisins, dates, or apricots)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional: 2 tablespoons finely chopped nuts (ensure no choking hazard)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix rolled oats, ground oats or oat flour, cinnamon, and optional nuts.
- In another bowl, combine mashed banana, applesauce, almond butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir until fully combined. Fold in chopped dried fruit.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until edges are golden and center is set.
- Let cool completely before cutting into small, toddler-friendly bars.
Notes
- Use sunflower seed butter instead of almond butter for nut-free option.
- Add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed for extra fiber and omega-3s.
- Mix in finely grated carrot or zucchini for added veggies.
- Use pureed pumpkin or sweet potato instead of banana for seasonal variation.
- Swap dried fruit for small pieces of fresh soft fruit if preferred.
- Store bars in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days.
- Refrigerate up to a week or freeze up to 3 months.
- Serve at room temperature; no reheating needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 small bar
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
