5 from 12 votes
No-Bake Tropical Granola Bars
This recipe creates no-bake tropical granola bars combining oats, Rice Krispies, and a medley of dried tropical fruits such as pineapple, mandarin, mango, and coconut. The bars hold together firmly due to a hot butter, brown sugar, and honey mixture that resembles the start of caramel. The mixture is pressed firmly into a pan and chilled to set, resulting in a chewy, sweet snack that can be made without an oven.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Additional Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
12
granola bars, one 8x8-inch pan
Calories:
171 kcal
Course:
Baked Goods
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter unsalted
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 cup oats do not use old-fashioned whole-rolled oats; too large and bars will not hold together, quick-cook
- 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal or similar generic
- 1 cup tropical dried fruit medley diced into small pieces (mine contained pineapple, mandarins, mangoes, and coconut)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- To a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter, brown sugar, honey, and heat on high power for 60 to 90 seconds, or until butter has melted and ingredients can be whisked smooth.
- Return bowl to microwave and heat on high power for 1 minute. Stop and whisk.
- Return bowl to microwave and heat on high power for 1 minute. Mixture should be bubbling. If you’ve ever made caramel sauce, it looks like the beginning stages of caramel. You want the mixture to be bubbling to ensure that the bars hold together upon cooling. If yours isn’t bubbling, return bowl to microwave and heat for another 30 to 60 seconds, or until bubbling.
- Add the oats, Rice Krispies, dried fruit, salt, and stir to combine.
- Turn mixture out into prepared pan, hard-packing it with a spatula so form an even, smooth, flat layer. Make sure to really press it down firmly and compactly.
- Freeze for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until bars have set, and slice into bars. I wrap each bar in plasticwrap and store them in a gallon-sized ziptop bag in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I have not tried storing the bars at room temp for longer than a few hours.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
1
Calories
171kcal
(9%)
Carbohydrates
32g
(11%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
5g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Cholesterol
10mg
(3%)
Sodium
63mg
(3%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
19g
(38%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12 granola bars, one 8x8-inch pan
Amount Per Serving
Calories 171
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 171kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Cholesterol | 10mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 63mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 19g | 38% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.