Thinking about going hiking? Need a mid-afternoon work snack? These Puffed Millet Granola Bars are the best take-along snacks for your day. They’re easy to handle, easy to carry, and deliver a quick boost of energy when you need it most. The nutrient-dense ingredients in these granola bars also help satiate hunger, keeping you focused on the task ahead.

---

Whenever we go hiking, we usually visit the market to load up on easily transportable snacks. Ten years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for us to walk out with a box of Cliff bars. My favorite was the White Chocolate Macadamia or anything with chocolate or peanut butter. These days, I opt to make my own hiking snacks to lower my sodium intake and use more natural sweeteners.

These Puffed Millet Granola bars also make great work snacks. I’ll have one in the morning and one in the afternoon, which keeps me full until I’m ready for my next meal.

Why Make Your Own Healthy Granola Bars

• It’s a money saver
• You’ll get more granola bars out of one batch than a box of pre-made bars
• It’s filling and keeps you satiated throughout the day
• You have more control over the ingredients
• Less sugar, less sodium, and more natural ingredients
• Customizable with your favorite dried fruits and nuts
• Kids love them, they’re a perfect and fun recipe to make with the kids

What’s in Puffed Millet Granola Bars

• Sprouted Old Fashioned Oats
• Puffed Millet
• Almonds
• Almond Butter
• Flax Seed
• Raw Honey
• Organic Raisins
• Chocolate Chips

How to Make Puffed Millet Granola Bars

Step 1: How to Roast the Oats and Almonds

The first step in making the granola bars is to roast the oats and almonds. Preheat oven at 325ºF/165ºC. Prepare the almonds by chopping them by hand or in a food processor. Take a 9” x 13” baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Add the oats and chopped almonds and roast in the oven for 10 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from heat and transfer to a large mixing. Keep the parchment paper on the pan as you’ll need it later.

Step 2: Making the Honey and Nut Butter Mixture

In a small bowl, add the almond butter, honey, and vanilla extract and mix evenly. Add the mixture to the large mixing bowl with the roasted oats and almonds. With a wide paddle, mix all the ingredients together. I used my handy rice paddle here.

Step 3: Mix the Ingredients

Add the puffed millet and the golden raisins to the large mixing bowl. If using bar chocolate, chop the chocolate into small, coarse pieces. Add that in as well and give it a good mix. Transfer the mixture to the 9” x 13” baking pan, using the same parchment paper from before.

Step 4: Bake the Granola Bars

Place the tray in the preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes at 325ºF/165ºC. If you would like a softer, chewier bar, a shorter bake would work here. Since I made these snacks for hiking, I baked it for the full 15 minutes. I wanted a firmer granola bar to hold up being tossed around in my backpack. Let the granola bars cool fully to room temperature before cutting.

Tips for the Best Puffed Millet Granola Bars

Puffed Millet: start by adding ¾ cup if you desire a softer, chewier granola bar. If you prefer a more solid granola bar, add more millet. I used 1 ½ cups altogether.

Roasting the Oats and Almonds: You can get away with not roasting the oats and almonds beforehand, but it is recommended. Roasting the oats and almonds beforehand produces a nice toasted flavor.

Honey Nut Butter Mixture: You can microwave the mixture for 15-30 seconds or until it reaches a runnier consistency so it is easier to work with.

No-Bake Method: if you prefer to keep the recipe raw, you can opt not to roast the oats and almonds. The granola bars can be made without baking, resulting in a softer, chewier granola bar.

Substitutions: You can substitute the almond butter for peanut butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter, or any seed or nut butter of your choice.

Why are these the Best Granola Bars for Hiking

These granola bars are perfect for hiking. When you are active all day, make sure to maintain your stamina with these healthy, energy-boosting, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Almonds

Almonds pack a lot of nutrients in their small package. One-half cup of almonds provides 413 calories, 36g of fat, and 15.2g of protein. Loading up on almonds will give you the energy you need for the day. Almonds are also a great natural source of calcium, providing 177mg or 14% RDI

Almond Butter

This recipe calls for ⅓ cup of almond butter. Just think of almond butter as a potent punch of almonds. A third of a cup of almond butter provides 522 calories, 49g fat, and 12g protein, spread over 24 individual bars.

Sprouted Oats

Oats naturally contain a substance called phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals such as calcium and zinc, acting as an anti-nutrient, making those minerals less bioavailable to the body. Sprouted oats are harvested just as they begin to germinate, which allows more of the phytic acid to be broken down. I usually prefer sprouted oats for this reason. This recipe calls for 2 cups of oats, providing 1,124 calories, 168mg calcium, 15mg iron, and 52.7g protein in total.

Puffed Millet

Puffed millet adds a nice texture to the hiking bars similar to Rice Krispies. It’s a gluten-free grain that is low in fat and high in fiber. Puffed millet provides minerals such as phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium. Manganese has anti-inflammatory properties while magnesium helps prevent cramping by relaxing muscles and nerves.

Raisins

Aside from adding a burst of sweetness to your hiking snacks, raisins provide a good amount of potassium and iron. While hiking, potassium stores need to be replenished for the proper functioning of the muscles. Iron is essential for delivering oxygen to your cells. The natural sugars in raisins provide quick, usable energy to your body.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a mood-boosting ingredient that provides energy and antioxidants and is high in healthy saturated fat and iron. It’s a calorie-dense food that will keep your body running during your hikes.

Puffed Millet Granola Bar Variations

This granola bar recipe is versatile and can be modified to achieve different flavors. Try adding these ingredients:

• Substitute raisins with other dried fruits:
• Cherries
• Mangoes
• Berries
• Peaches
• Candied Ginger
• Apples

• Try adding peanut butter chips
• Try adding seeds: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds
• Puffed quinoa can be substituted for puffed millet
• Add cinnamon and nutmeg for more flavor

Can Puffed Millet Granola Bars be Frozen?

Yes, these granola bars can absolutely be frozen. Once the granola pieces are cut, you can set them on a baking tray and freeze them for an hour. Then, transfer the bars to a ziplock bag. They can stay in the freezer for two months. 

The granola bars can be stored on the counter for up to a week or stored in the fridge for 2 weeks. I usually store it in the fridge, especially in the summertime, to keep the chocolate from melting.