No-Bake Granola Bars

Made with rolled oats, nuts, and seeds, and naturally sweetened with honey, these no-bake granola bars are the perfect healthy snack that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Granola bars are a go-to snack for adults and kids alike and are perfect for everything from school lunches to road trips and on-the-go breakfasts. Unfortunately, many store-bought bars are filled with excessive refined sugars, additives, and preservatives, making them a less-than-healthy choice. Fortunately, making homemade granola bars with wholesome ingredients is super simple, especially when they involve no baking at all.

The combination of old-fashioned oats, dried fruit, peanut butter, and honey in this no-bake granola bar recipe ensures that they are full of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and natural sugars without skimping on flavor. These bars are such a delicious, quick, and easy recipe that I’m willing to bet they will become one of your go-to healthy homemade snacks.

Why You’ll Love Them

• No Bake – The homemade granola bars do not require any cooking or baking at all.
• Quick and Easy – With only 10 minutes of prep time, these bars are ready in a matter of minutes.
• High in Fiber – Not only are these bars naturally sweetened with honey, but they contain 4 grams of fiber per bar.
• Kid-Friendly – The sticky and chewy texture of these bars ensures they are a family-friendly snack. Plus, the recipe can be easily adapted to ensure they are a school-safe snack.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Oats – The recipe calls for old-fashioned rolled oats, as I think they provide the best texture, but you can use quick-cooking oats if desired, however, steel-cut oats and instant oats are not recommended.
• Pumpkin Seeds – The add some healthy fats and some crunch. You can swap them for sunflower seeds or nuts, such as chopped walnuts or almonds, if preferred.
• Raisins – To add some fruit and a chewy texture to the bars. I used Thompson raisins, but you can swap them for other dried fruits such as golden raisins, currants, sultanas, dried cherries, dried cranberries, chopped dates, or chopped dried apricots if desired.
• Coconut – The recipe calls for shredded coconut, but coconut flakes will also work. If you’re not a fan of coconut, you can swap it for additional old-fashioned oats, nuts, or seeds.
• Honey – To add some sweetness and bind the bars. You can swap it for maple syrup or agave if desired.
• Peanut Butter – To add some healthy fats and bind the bars, I used creamy peanut butter, but crunchy almond butter will also work. You can swap it for almond butter or another nut butter if desired.
• Vanilla – To add flavor and fragrance.
• Cinnamon – To add flavor, although it’s optional.
• Salt – To balance the sweet and salty flavor of the bars.

How to Make No-Bake Granola Bars

1. Mix the wet ingredients. In a medium bowl, add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract, and stir to combine.
2. Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, add the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, raisins, cinnamon, and salt, and stir to combine.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture and, using a rubber spatula, stir until the mixture is well combined.
4. Transfer the oat mixture to a baking pan. Transfer the granola bar mixture to a baking pan lined with long strips of parchment paper, spread it out evenly, and press into down into the pan.
5. Refrigerate the bars. Transfer the baking pan to the fridge and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
6. Slice and enjoy! Remove the bar mixture from the pan by pulling the parchment paper, transfer to a cutting board, and then slice into evenly sized granola bars.

You can find the detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

Additional Mix-Ins

The best thing about these no-bake granola bars is that they are super adaptable, and you can mix and match the mix-ins based on what you like or have in your pantry. In addition to pumpkin seeds, raisins, and shredded coconut, you could use:

• Sunflower Seeds
• Chia Seeds
• Flax Seeds
• Crushed Peanuts
• Sliced Almonds
• Yogurt Covered Raisins
• Dates
• Dried Cranberries
• Chocolate Chips
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• Crispy Rice Cereal

More Bars Recipes:

• Peanut Butter Protein Bars
• Chocolate Puffed Rice Bars
• Almond Butter Rice Crispy Bars

No-Bake Granola Bars

Author: Stephanie Kay

With only 10 minutes of prep time, these no-bake granola bars are super quick and easy to make. Plus, they are full of flavor, fiber, and healthy fats making them tasty and healthy snacks.

• Author: Stephanie Kay
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 10 bars
• Category: Snack
• Method: No-Bake
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with two strips of crisscrossed parchment paper, to help to easily remove the bars.
2. Add 1/2 cup of the rolled oats to a small food processor or blender and blitz for 10-20 seconds until finely chopped. Note: This step is optional, however, it provides a better texture to the bars.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add the oats, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, raisins, cinnamon, and salt, and stir well to combine.
4. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract and whisk until well combined, then transfer to the microwave for 15 seconds.
5. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir until well combined and the mixture begins to stick together when pressed.
6. Once mixed, transfer the oat mixture to a parchment-lined baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Using something flat (such as the bottom of a drinking glass) press down on the oat mixture to pack it into the baking pan. The tighter and more evenly you can pack it down, the easier the bars will be to slice.
7. Once pressed, transfer the baking pan to the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight to allow the bars to firm up.
8. Once refrigerated, remove the bars from the pan, pulling on the tabs of parchment paper to not break the mixture, and place it on a cutting board. Using a large sharp knife slice into 8 large bars, 12 medium bars, or 16 small bars.
9. The bars can be eaten immediately, stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or wrapped individually in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months.