Servings
Font
Back
0 from 0 votes

No Bake Granola Bars

The best healthy, chewy no bake granola bars! Made with peanut butter, oats and the mix-ins of your choice. Perfect for kids and adults.

Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 12 bars
Calories: 241 kcal
Course: Breakfast , Snacks
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
  • ½ cup honey or pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups quick oats or rolled oats* (do not use instant oatmeal)
  • ¼ cup ground flaxseed
  • ¼ cup wheat germ or additional 2 tablespoons oats
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon or try 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 ¼ cups mix-ins of choice** dried cranberries or raisins, roughly chopped toasted nuts, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, etc.

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper so that two sides overhang like handles.
  2. In a small saucepan, heat the peanut butter and honey, whisking until smooth. Remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla. Let cool for several minutes (especially if you are using chocolate chips, which will melt if the mixture is too warm).
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the oats, flaxseed, wheat germ, cinnamon, and salt. Roughly chop any mix-ins that are larger than a chickpea (you can also roughly chop them in a food processor), then stir into the oat mixture.
  4. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients. With a wooden spoon or very sturdy spatula, stir to combine. The mixture will be very thick and a little tough to stir, but keep working patiently and you will get there. Once combined, the mixture should feel somewhat sticky, but not liquidy and should easily hold together when pressed. If it seems too sticky (this can vary based on your nut butter), add more oats. If it’s dry, drizzle in a bit more honey.
  5. Press the mixture into the pan very firmly so that the bars stick together (to help, use the back of a large measuring cup or just got at it with your fingers). Refrigerate the no bake granola bars for 1 hour, to allow the bars to set.
  6. Using the paper “handles,” lift the bars out of the pan onto a cutting board (if they are sticking to the pan at the edges, use a knife to loosen). Slice into bars of desired size (I do 1 row of 4 and 1 row of 3 for 12 bars total).

Notes

  • TO STORE: Keep bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. Be sure to separate with layers of parchment paper or wax paper or they will stick together. You can also keep the bars, wrapped individually, at room temperature for a few days, though their texture will soften.
  • TO FREEZE: Individually wrap and freeze for several months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
  • *INGREDIENT NOTE: We prefer these bars with quick oats, as they are a little more tender (rolled oats are thicker and have more "chew.") For a finer texture, you can blitz rolled oats in the food processor a few times to break them down further.
  • **MY FAVORITE MIX-IN COMBO: 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 chopped dried cherries or raisins, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, 1/4 cup chopped pecans or almonds, and either 1/4 cup sunflower seeds or additional nuts.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1(of 12) Calories 241kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 34g (11%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Potassium 202mg (6%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 22g (44%) Vitamin A 1IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 25mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 241

% Daily Value*

Serving 1(of 12)
Calories 241kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 34g 11%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Potassium 202mg 4%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 22g 44%
Vitamin A 1IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 25mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.