Homemade Fruit and Nut Bars

If you love nuts and crave sweet and salty snacks, these Homemade Fruit and Nut Bars are for you. Seed and nut bars are a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and they contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. This KIND bar copycat recipe is made with various seeds and nuts and sweetened with dried cranberries and a touch of honey. This recipe is completely customizable, so you can make a snack bar that you will love eating.

Healthy nut bar recipe on parchment paper.

Homemade copycat KIND Nut Bars knock the socks off the store bought competitions. Not only are these seed and nut bars good for you, the recipe is easy to make and affordable. In less than an hour, you can make a healthy nut bar recipe that tastes amazing and keeps well. You should probably make a double batch!

If you love nuts, try my Maple Pecan Glazed Salmon or my Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Nut Bars

It’s a simple recipe. The simple recipe contains just seeds, nuts, honey, vanilla, dried cranberries and a touch of salt but it’s also easily customizable, so you can use what you have on hand.
It’s a money saver. Storebought KIND bars are more than $2 a piece, so making them at home will save you money, and they are so fresh.
It’s a healthy snack. These bars are loaded with healthy fats, protein and a host of vitamins and minerals.

Healthy Nut Bar Ingredients

Ingredients needed for homemade kind nut bars.

Nuts – Use half whole nuts and half chopped nuts for texture. Choose your favorite or use a combination of cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, macadamia nuts, etc.
Dried Cranberries – You can use any dried fruit such as raisins, golden raisins, dates, coconut, etc. Cut larger fruit into smaller pieces.
Seeds – Add sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sesame seeds and flaxseeds.
Salt – A touch of salt makes these perfectly snackable.
Honey – You can also substitute pure maple syrup if desired.
Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of all the other ingredients.

How To Make Fruit and Nut Bars

Prepare the equipment. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray with cooking spray and line an 8” square baking pan with parchment paper.

Nuts and seeds combined with honey mixture in a bowl.

Combine the ingredients. Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix them thoroughly.
Press into a pan. Transfer the mixture to the baking pan. With the help of the spatula, flatten the nuts down in one layer by firmly pressing on them.

Seed and nut mixture in a parchment lined tray.

A spatula presses the healthy nut bar recipe into a pan.

Bake the nut and seed bars. Bake for 40-50 minutes until the nuts start to brown a little. They will have a nice deep golden-brown color.
Cool and cut. Cool the bars in the pan completely. For about 2-3 hrs. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into 12 bars.
Wrap and store. Wrap each bar individually in parchment paper. Store in the refrigerator for 1 week or freeze for longer storage.

Tips To Make Healthy Nut Bars

We use 1 cup of whole nuts and 1 cup of roughly chopped nuts to help the mixture hold together nicely. You can choose to use all the whole nuts; it’s up to your liking.
If you make substitutions make sure the quantities remain the same so the honey coats everything well; otherwise they won’t stick together.
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and easy removal.
After adding the nut and seed mixture to the baking sheet, cover it with a sheet of greased parchment and use the bottom of a sturdy glass to press the mixture firmly into the pan.
When ready to remove, run a spatula around the sides of the pan, and the bars come out easily.
Cut the bars into 12 equal pieces.
Use a sharp knife and press down to cut rather than a sawing motion.
Wrap the bars in parchment paper to keep them fresh.

The best homemade KIND nut bars cut into individual bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Homemade Nut Bars healthy?

KIND bars are packed with protein, healthy fats and are a good source of fiber. They also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. They are lightly (not overly) sweetened and contain just a touch of salt making them a perfect addition to a balanced diet.

Are these bars vegan?

These homemade bars contain honey as an ingredient. Most vegans do not eat honey. To make these vegan, substitute the honey with pure maple syrup.

How can I customize a homemade nut bar?

It’s easy to customize these nut bars by using a mix of nuts and seeds and swapping in the ones you love best. You can also add a variety of dried fruit or puffed rice. Dip the bars in melted chocolate or drizzle it over top.

How do I store this healthy nut bar recipe?

Store these nut bars in the fridge, especially if you live in warmer climates. They will keep for at least a week or longer. The ingredients won’t go “bad” but the nuts will go stale over time.

Can I freeze nut bars?

Yes! Store in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. These bars will keep in the freezer for several months so make a big batch and freeze the extras.

What to serve with homemade kind nut bars?

Enjoy your nut bar with yogurt, a Blueberry Smoothie Recipe with Mint, an Orange Smoothie, or a cup of Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee).

More Healthy Snack Recipes

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Homemade Fruit and Nuts Bar recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

If you try this recipe and like it, please leave a star rating and comment below. Use my hashtag to share it with me on Instagram so I can see your delicious recreations! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

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