January always feels like a clean slate: a time when balance, energy, and wholesome habits come back into focus. Instead of reaching for store-bought snacks with extra sugar or preservatives, start fresh with a batch of homemade granola bars. These raw vegan Superfood Granola Bars are just the thing to keep you nourished through busy mornings, mid-day cravings, or post-workout hunger. Made with natural sweetness and rich texture from oats, dates, dried fruit, and seeds, they’re easy to customize and even easier to love. Form them into compact squares or roll them into bite-sized energy balls for an on-the-go treat that’s full of flavor and purpose.
Superfood Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (about 10–12), softened in warm water
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 2 tablespoons almond butter or cashew butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
· Optional: 1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel or 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots for a citrus or tangy twist
Directions
- Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
- In a food processor, pulse oats, dates, almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt until the mixture clumps together but still has some texture. It should hold when pressed between your fingers.
3. Add almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, chia, flax seeds, and optional orange peel or apricot pieces. Pulse a few more times to combine while keeping visible bits of nuts and fruit.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and press it evenly into the corners using the back of a spatula. For a firmer texture, place the pan in the fridge for 1–2 hours.
- Lift out the chilled mixture using the parchment overhang and slice it into bars or squares.
- For granola energy balls, roll tablespoon-sized portions between your palms into compact rounds. Chill until firm.
Store your freshly made granola snacks in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for longer freshness. They make an energizing breakfast companion or afternoon pick-me-up—a wholesome habit you’ll actually want to keep beyond January.
Packed with oats, dates, and superfood seeds, these raw vegan bars deliver pure, lasting energy—perfect for powering busy mornings or healthy snacking.