No Bake Granola Bars Recipe

Name: No Bake Granola Bars Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups oatmeal; 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or any nut butter); 1/4 cup dried cherries (or raisins or other dried fruit); 1/4 cup chocolate chips (any variety); 1/4 cup flaxseed meal (optional); 1/2 cup almonds (chopped (or any other nut)); 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)

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This easy no Bake granola bars recipe is the perfect snack for both kids and adults. Ditch the store bought variety and satisfy your sweet tooth with a snack you feel good about eating.

top view of three granola bars lined up on parchment and drizzled with icing

Original post: April 2020 | Updated: June 2021

Why This Recipe Works

I love having good snacks available in my house at all times. By “good” I mean snacks that aren’t loaded with preservatives and added sugar. We have made many batches of Snack Bites over the years, which always fly out of our fridge quickly.

Another super yummy option is these easy no bake granola bars. The most recent batch we made was so delicious I literally could not keep my hands off them!

One of the things I love about this easy recipe is that so many of the ingredients can easily be substituted with something else. Do a little digging in your pantry and you’re sure to find the perfect combination of ingredients to use for these irresistible bars.

Recipe Ingredients

Oatmeal – Any variety of oatmeal is great to use in this recipe. Check the label to ensure wheat is not involved if you’re looking for a gluten free granola bar.

Nut butter – Use any type of nut butter, not exceeding 1 cup total. Options include: peanut butter, Nutella or almond butter.

Dried fruit, chocolate chips and nuts – Use any combination of dried fruit, chips and nuts, but do not exceed a total of 1 cup. Options include: any variety of chocolate chips, peanut butter or butterscotch chips, coconut flakes, raisins, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts or macadamia nuts.

Power mix-ins – These ingredients are optional, but can boost the nutritional value of the recipe. Do not exceed 1/4 cup total. Options include: flaxseed (good source of fiber; known for controlling cholesterol naturally), wheat germ, chia seeds or protein powder.

Sweeteners – Use any combination of natural sweeteners, not exceeding 1/2 cup total. Options include: honey, maple syrup or agave nectar.

Optional sugary mix-ins – For a little extra indulgence, consider adding no more than 1/2 cup total of sugary ingredients. Options include: granulated or brown sugar or Rice Krispies cereal.

red plate with granola bars stacked on top

How To Make Easy No Bake Granola Bars

Step 1

Line an 8×8 square pan with parchment paper and set aside. Combine the following ingredients in a large bowl:

Oatmeal
Nut butter
Dried fruit
Chocolate chips
Flaxseed (optional)
Nuts
Honey

Mix well. Pour into prepared dish.

Step 2

Using a spatula, press down evenly in pan, being sure to press into the corners. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours.

Step 3

Holding onto parchment paper, remove from pan and place onto a flat work surface. Cut into bars and serve! Store refrigerated in a sealed container.

Recipe Notes

The more finely you chop ingredients such as nuts, the more successful the bars will be and the less likely they’ll be to fall apart.
Press the granola bar mixture firmly into the pan, either with your fingers, the back of a large spoon or even the bottom of a cup or glass.
Refrigerating the bars before cutting and diving in will help solidify them and keep them from falling apart.

granola bars cut into strips and drizzled with pink icing

FAQ About Granola Bars

Can granola bars go bad?

Granola Bars can be refrigerated or frozen in order to extend the shelf life. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Are granola bars healthy?

Pre-packaged granola bars purchased from the store may contain a lot of sure and preservatives, making them relatively unhealthy. The great thing about granola bars is that they are easy to make at home, so you can control the amount of sugar and unhealthy ingredients that are put into them. Homemade granola bars can be a very healthy snack!

Are granola bars gluten free?

When purchasing store-bought granola bars, check the label on the packaging to determine whether or not they are gluten free. When making them at home, be sure to read the label on the oatmeal included in the recipe to ensure it does not contain wheat. Otherwise, most other granola bar ingredients are gluten-free.

More Healthy Snack Options

Healthy Breakfast Cookies – These cookies aren’t just for breakfast and they are deceptively delicious. Kids will never know how healthy they are!
These Healthy Snack Bites take less than 10 minutes to make and you probably have all of the ingredients sitting in your pantry. Great after school or anytime snack with no preservatives or unknown ingredients.
Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups – Eliminate artificial and unknown ingredients by making your own homemade fruit roll-ups! This is the ultimate snack food for kids. Great for lunch boxes, too!
Packed with protein and honey to satisfy your sweet tooth, these Peanut Butter Honey Wraps are the perfect snack or lunch for kids! Easy to put together in a lunch or for an afternoon snack.
Raspberry Honey Yogurt – Fresh raspberries, honey and Greek yogurt join forces to create the most delicious, fruity and filling snack! Eat immediately or freeze for a cold treat.
Instant Pot Applesauce – Make your next batch of applesauce in your Instant Pot for an added touch of delicious flavor! This recipe requires only a handful of ingredients and takes just a few minutes to make.

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