My Clever Trick for Making Store-Bought Granola Bars Taste 100x Better

Do you have a favorite snack? I have a few, but at the very top are granola bars. The variety of textures and flavors as well as their portability makes them a staple in my home. I’ve tried my fair share, too, and for every bar that’s awesome there’s one that’s … not. 

The chewy ones are great, but they don’t feel as satisfying as a crunchy granola bar. The crisp bite is what I crave when I’ve declared that it’s officially “snack time!” That being said, I can easily get bored with any ol’ bar — even one with a really good crunch. My solution to this problem is treating my granola bar as a platform for delicious toppings. Bonus: It’s also a more nourishing snack. I started doing it about 12 years ago, after my daughter was born and I was ravenously hungry. 

First, find a sturdy granola bar for your base. My current favorites are Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars or Kind Simple Crunch Bars. Keep in mind that any flavor will work, but the basic honey and oat bars are my favorite because they’re mild enough to complement a variety of other ingredients.

It’s shockingly easy to dress these up and prevent granola bar fatigue (yes, it’s a thing). The most difficult part is deciding which spreads, toppings, and “bonus” ingredients to use.

• Choose a spread. Some obvious choices are nut or seed butters, flavored whipped cream cheese, and Greek yogurt. I also like smashed avocado, creamy labneh, and ricotta for a more savory option. 
• Cover with toppings. For even more crunch, consider adding seeds and nuts. For something sweet, try fresh berries or sliced seasonal fruit. Dried fruit is also tasty; I personally love unsweetened cherries or toasted coconut. 
• Add a little something extra if you want. This is the fun stuff (or, as we call them in my house, “bonus” ingredients). We like mini chocolate chips, honey or agave syrup, ground cinnamon or other spices, mini marshmallows, and even fresh herbs!

Looking for some ideas to get you started? Here are a few of my go-to combinations.

• The “Elvis”: Top a honey-oat, peanut butter, or chocolate granola bar with peanut butter, banana slices, and chocolate chips.
• The Blueberry Cheesecake: Top a honey-oat granola bar with whipped cream cheese, blueberries, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (optional).
• The “Italian”: Top a honey-oat granola bar with ricotta then cover with apricot slices or pomegranate arils and pistachios.
• The After-School Snack: Top any flavor granola bar with nut or seed butter and thin slices of apple, then dust with ground cinnamon. Sometimes I’ll add a dollop of apple butter — it’s delicious!
• The Avocado “Toast”: Top a honey-oat granola bar with mashed avocado and drizzle with honey. Garnish with black sesame or chia seeds.
• The Favorite: Top a honey-oat granola bar with labneh, berries, and a drizzle of honey.

Do you have a simple trick to dress up a beloved snack? Tell us about it in the comments below.