These no bake granola bars are soft, chewy and easy to make with only 5 ingredients! A homemade healthy snack that is so much better than store-bought.
More snack recipes we love include this granola recipe, no-bake breakfast cookies and peanut butter oatmeal balls!
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No Bake Granola Bar Recipe
I’m always looking for healthy snack ideas that are quick and easy to make. These homemade granola bars are loaded with healthy ingredients, inexpensive to make and taste so much better than the store bought ones.
Growing up, my favorite afternoon snack was chewy granola bars. I still love a healthy granola bar recipe to this day. This no bake granola bar recipe doesn’t require any oven time like my oatmeal breakfast bars and is made with only 5 ingredients!
Granola Bar Recipe Ingredients
You only need 5 ingredients to make this no bake granola bar recipe! And once you have the base down, you can add what you like.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Oats: I recommend using quick cooking oats instead of rolled oats for the best texture. Other types of oats may make the granola bars too chewy or hard.
- Nut butter: You can use any type of nut butter, such as almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter. The nut butter helps the granola bars stick together.
- Almonds: I like to add in sliced almonds for extra crunch and protein. Other types of nuts (like pecans or walnuts) would work too.
- Chocolate chips: What’s a granola bar without chocolate chips?! :) I love the sweetness they add. I’ve found that the mini chocolate chips are just the right size to add in. For a healthier alternative, you could add in cacao nibs.
- Honey: I recommend using honey (instead of maple syrup) because it’s thicker and helps the bars hold together. If using maple syrup, you might want to use less or boil it down since honey is thicker than maple syrup. Agave is another good substitute for honey.
No-Bake Granola Bar Variations
Feel free to add in any of the below ingredients when making these healthy granola bars:
- Seeds: Add chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for an extra boost of fiber.
- Spices: Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice will add warm flavor!
- Dried fruit and coconut: Dried fruit like raisins or cranberries or shredded coconut add an extra chewy texture.
- High protein: Add a 1/2 cup of protein powder or collagen to the granola bars.
- Vegan. Use a dairy free chocolate chip and substitute agave for the honey. If the bars aren’t sticking, roll them into balls instead.
- Nut-free: Swap out the nut butter for sunflower seed butter.
How to Make Granola Bars
It’s so easy to make these homemade granola bars you will wonder why you didn’t make them sooner. You don’t even need to turn on the oven!
- Stir. Add all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and stir until well combined. Add more honey to the peanut butter mixture to hold shape if needed. And salt and cinnamon, to taste.
- Press. Line a 8×8 square baking dish with a piece of parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. Using a rubber spatula, press the oat mixture into the pan.
- Freeze. Place in the freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until firm. Remove paper from pan and then cut the large square in half. Then cut each half into 6 rectangles.
- Wrap. Wrap bars individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Expert Tips
- Line your pan. Not only does this make clean up extra easy, but it keeps the no bake chewy granola bars from sticking to the bottom of the square pan. You can even spray the parchment with cooking spray for even easier release!
- Nut butter. Make sure the nut butter you’re using has a smooth and creamy consistency (not dry and firm). This will help the mixture bind together.
- Consistency. If the bars are a little crumbly and not holding their shape, add in a little more honey or almond butter to help bind the mixture.
- Let chill. Don’t skip this step! These no bake bars need to chill in the freezer for about an hour so that the mixture has time to set and firm up.
More healthy snack recipes include this Honey Nut Cheerios peanut butter bar recipe, homemade muesli and trail mix!
More Healthy Snack Recipes
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Homemade Granola Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
- ¼ cup honey , plus more if needed
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup sliced almonds , optional
Optional: Salt and ground cinnamon, to taste
Instructions
- Combine. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups quick cooking oats, 1 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup honey, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup almonds, if using, until well combined. Add more honey if needed to hold shape, and stir in salt and cinnamon, if desired.
- Press into dish. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, with extra paper over the edges. Press the oat mixture evenly into the dish.
- Chill. Freeze 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until firm. Remove from dish and transfer to a cutting board. Cut in half. and then cut each half into 6 rectangles. Wrap bars individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap.
Notes
- Nut butter: You may also use cashew or sun butter for allergies
- Nuts: you can leave out the sliced almonds or use chopped peanut or cashews.
- Additions: Feel free to substitute the chocolate chips for dried cranberries. Another yummy addition is shredded coconut.
- More nutrition: 1/8 cup flax seed meal, 1/8 cup chia seeds, 1/8 cup sunflower seeds. Add a Tablespoon more honey for each addition.
- Line your pan. Not only does this make clean up extra easy, but it keeps the bars from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Nut butter. Make sure the nut butter you’re using has a smooth and creamy consistency (not dry and firm). This will help the mixture bind together.
- Consistency. If the bars are a little crumbly and not holding their shape, add in a little more honey or almond butter to help bind the mixture.
- Let chill. Don’t skip this step! The bars need to chill in the freezer for about an hour so that the mixture has time to set and firm up.
- Minis. Looking for a preschool or play date snack? Cut the granola bars into mini squares and then place them in a mini cupcake liner (see picture below). Cute, easy and healthy!
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed
- Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Dried fruit (like raisins or cranberries)
- Protein powder
- Collagen
- Sunflower seeds
- Shredded coconut
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Don’t overmeasure your ingredients including the oats and add-ins. One cup of mix-ins is recommended so you don’t throw off the ratio of liquid to dry ingredients. Also, press the bars firmly into the pan. Try using a greased measuring cup to help press them down!
Not in this granola bars recipe! Since we are chilling the bars that is enough to bind them together.
As long as you use gluten-free oats it is! Always check packaging on your oats if you need gluten-free.
These homemade granola bars are best if stored in the refrigerator and eaten within a week. To store, individually wrap each bar with parchment paper or plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
I also love to wrap them individually and then place them in a zip top bag in the freezer. I always write the date on with a permanent marker so that I know the expiration. Then we just pull them out when we need them. Great for quick snacks on-the-go!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Breakfast, Dairy-Free, Energy Balls + Bars, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Make Ahead, Meal Prep, Snacks, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
A weekly must-make in our house. I love these so much more than store-bought. THANK YOU for this recipe!!
You’re welcome! My family loves them too!
My kids love these! And I love giving them a snack that I know what all the ingredients are ;)
Your recipe has saved me many times! My kids love granola bars & go through them so fast. They like to help me make these & add in all their favorites!
After making this recipe 5 times (with the latest batch being doubled), I figure I’d better leave a raving review! :) This simple recipe does not disappoint! I now make these homemade granola bars instead of consistently buying sugar-filled, processed ones from the store. For my rendition of these bars, I typically use smooth peanut butter, honey, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and crushed peanuts. The consistency and flavor is delicious! I would highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your review Nicole! I’m so happy to hear that you have loved these granola bars! :)
These turned out great and my son loved them! I made just a few changes that I thought other readers might find helpful. My little guy is funny about texture so I put the nuts and oats (I only had rolled oats, not quick oats) in the food processor first. I also ended up subbing walnuts for the almonds (because that’s what I had) and used 1/2 almond butter with 1/2 cup peanut butter. I did add in flax meal with an extra tablespoon of honey. I also added in a couple tablespoons of coconut oil though I’m not sure how much of a different that ended up making. Lastly, I put melted the chocolate chips with the butters and honey in a sauce pan (as my nut butters weren’t super smooth to begin with) before mixing with the dried ingredients. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing your substitutions!
My son is allergic to honey is there something else I can use so he doesn’t get sick. He loves granola bars and I would love to try this recipe. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
You could try it with agave or maple syrup :)
Delicious! Super easy to make. We cut them into small pieces for toddler granola bites.
Great idea. I’m so glad you enjoyed them! :)
Just perfect! Thanks!
I tried these and they were a hit with my family. They are very yummy and easy to make.
They are delicious! My kids approve. I added chocolate on top before putting it in the freezer which wasn’t a smart choice as it broke during cutting. Next time, I will add the chocolate layer after cutting the bars.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Great idea to add after cutting the bars!
Wonderful recipe! I feel like I’m eating some treats, but they are healthy protein snacks. I am addicted, and my family loved them. I left out the raisins because I am diabetic (raisins/grapes can really make your blood sugar rise).
Instead of honey could I use condensed milk? Neither my grandson of I are too find of honey, no matter how they try and flavor it . So I thought maybe condensed milk and super crunchy peanut butter would work to bind it all together. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
I haven’t tried it before, but I would love to know how it turns out if you give it try! :)
I am not the greatest cook and can about mess up anything, but these bars are amazing!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! :)
Love making homemade granola bars. These sound so amazing too.
My kids love granola bars!! They are the perfect thing to grab when running late. These look delicious & easy to make!
My kids go through these like crazy! I’m so happy they can be frozen and I can make them in big batches.
How long do these last if kept in the refrigerator?
They are best if eaten within a week in the fridge! They will last several weeks in the freezer.
Can you use old fashion oats instead of quick cooking?
That should be fine!!