Spent Grain Snack Bars: Chewy, Nutty, and Packed With Brewhouse Fuel

Spent Grain Snack Bars are dense, satisfying, and full of real ingredients — oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and the toasty richness of your leftover brewing grain.

They’re the perfect beer-lover’s answer to trail mix bars: portable, protein-packed, and naturally sweetened without the filler. Whether you’re grabbing one for breakfast, a hike, or a post-pint snack, they keep things flavorful and functional.

Ingredients (Makes one 8×8 pan, ~10–12 bars)

Dry Mix

• 1½ cups rolled oats
• 1 cup spent grain (wet, well-drained, finely chopped)
• ½ cup chopped nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts)
• ¼ cup seeds (sunflower, flax, chia, or pumpkin)
• ½ cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, chopped dates or apricots)
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt

Wet Mix

• ½ cup nut butter (peanut, almond, or sunflower)
• ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: 1 tbsp beer (brown ale or porter for depth)

Optional Add-ins

• ¼ cup chocolate chips (stir in after mixing, or sprinkle on top)
• 2 tbsp shredded coconut
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (for a chocolate version)

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Pan

• Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment or lightly grease it.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) if baking, or skip if doing no-bake bars.

Step 2: Mix

• In a large bowl, mix oats, spent grain, nuts, seeds, fruit, spices, and salt.
• In a saucepan over low heat, warm nut butter, honey/maple, vanilla, and optional beer until smooth.
• Pour over dry ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly.

Step 3: Press & Set

• Press firmly into the pan using the back of a spoon or damp hands.
• For no-bake: chill for 1–2 hours until firm, then cut into bars.
• For baked: bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely before slicing.

Storage

• Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days
• Refrigerate for firmer texture
• Freeze wrapped bars for up to 2 months

Flavor Variations

🍌 Banana Walnut

• Add ½ mashed banana and use walnuts
• Pairs with: Hefeweizen, wheat beer, or banana bread ale

🍫 Mocha Chip

• Add 2 tbsp cocoa + ½ tsp espresso powder + dark chocolate chunks
• Pairs with: Coffee porter or milk stout

🥥 Almond Coconut

• Add ¼ cup shredded coconut + slivered almonds
• Pairs with: Blonde ale or cream ale

🧡 Apricot Ginger

• Use chopped dried apricots + ½ tsp ground ginger
• Pairs with: Saison or witbier

Beer Pairing

In the Mix

• Optional splash of brown ale, porter, or stout for depth
• Avoid IPAs or sour styles — too bitter or sharp

In Your Glass

• Cream ale or blonde ale for mild, smooth pairing
• Amber ale with nutty, maple-heavy bars
• Stout or porter with chocolate or banana bars
• Saison or fruited wheat beer with tart dried fruit combos

Final Thoughts

Spent Grain Snack Bars are the kind of zero-waste snack that actually fuels your day — chewy, malty, and packed with good stuff from grain to trail.

Easy to bake or chill, endlessly riffable, and perfect for pairing with coffee, beer, or a brisk walk to the brewery.

Cheers to compact energy, big flavor, and beer in every bite! 🍫🍺🔥

Explore Our Top Cooking-with-Beer Recipes 🍺 🍺

From crispy beer-battered classics to bold mains, cheesy dips, breads, and even desserts — these roundups bring together the best of beer-infused cooking. Whether you’re hosting a game day, planning a backyard BBQ, or just experimenting in the kitchen, there’s a beer recipe collection for every craving.

• 🍽️ Cooking with Beer (Main Hub) – Your ultimate guide to cooking with beer, from mains to apps and desserts.
• 🥨 Beer-Battered Appetizers and Sides – – Crispy onion rings, fried pickles, mushrooms, zucchini, & more pub-style favorites with a golden beer crunch.
• 🍞 Beer Bread Recipes – From 2-ingredient quick breads to jalapeño cheese loaves.
• 🧀 Beer Cheese & Dips – Beer cheese soup, queso, nachos, ranch dip & more.
• 🍖 Beer Can Chicken & Grilled Mains – Bold, juicy recipes straight from the grill.
• 🌶️ Beer Infused Chili’s – Hearty, bold, and slow-simmered beer-infused chili.
• 🍻 Beer Mac & Cheese – Creamy, quick& easy, made to impress.
• 🍰 Beer-Infused Desserts & Sweets – Sweet treats made better with beer.
• 🎉 Oktoberfest & Seasonal Ideas – Perfect pairings for parties, fall feasts, and festive gatherings.