Homemade No Bake Granola Bars are healthy and made with ingredients you can pronounce. Skip the store-bought bars and make them instead.
This easy no-bake oat bar recipe is perfect for always having on hand. Even the kids can have some fun with these DIY healthy snack bars. They taste delicious, travel well, and are inexpensive to make.
A nutritious and delightful blend of wholesome goodness. Simple homemade granola bars are perfect for snacks, or anytime you need a little energy in your day.
A healthy snack bar that is vegan-friendly, and can be made gluten-free too.
Which granola bar do you prefer? Crispy, or soft chewy granola bars? I happen to like both.
How about trail mix snack balls? My grandkids have lots of fun with this recipe.
What I don’t like about store-bought granola bars are all the additives, preservatives, sugars, and ingredients that I don’t have a clue about. Honestly, if I can’t pronounce it, I don’t want to eat it.
Hubby and I love to hike and have been enjoying our outdoor treks. On most days, even if we are not hiking, we try to get in a 40-minute walk most days. I always have many healthy things to eat to help keep our energy levels up. When you are walking for a few hours, nutrition is key. Hard-boiled eggs, fruits, and veggies are always stocked in the fridge.
No Bake Granola Bar Ingredients
Simple and nutritious ingredients. Most people already have them in their pantry.
- Oatmeal (I like large flakes)
- Agave Nectar
- Peanut Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Hemp Hearts
- Dried Banana Chips
- Chocolate Chips
- Protein Powder
There is lots of wiggle room with this recipe. Continue reading, I list great substitutions and ingredient swaps.
No-Bake Homemade Granola Bars Are Easy
This energy bar recipe with natural ingredients is super easy to make.
- Line a baking pan with parchment. This makes it easy to get the bars out.
- Combine all the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
- Warm the remaining ingredients in a small pot. You could also heat them in a microwave.
- Pour the warm mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
- Place the mixture into the baking dish. Flatten, and place the dish into the fridge to harden.
- After about 1 hour, remove from fridge and cut into bars.
Store bars in a sealed container in the fridge. They will last for up to a week, however, these are devoured long before that LOL.
Substitutions/Variations
These healthy protein bars can be made just the way you like.
- Gluten-free oats can be used for regular oats.
- You can combine the oats with kamut flakes, spelt flakes or any flaked grains.
- Honey can be used in place of agave nectar.
- Peanut butter can be replaced with any type of nut butter.
- Dried banana chips can be replaced with any dried fruit. Cranberries, Goji berries or dried blueberries would work great.
- You can add coconut or any other type of nut if you wish.
- Chocolate chips can be swapped out for dark chocolate.
- If you don’t like protein powder, no problem. You don’t even have to use it. Try a spoonful of cocoa powder instead.
- Applesauce can replace the coconut oil.
FAQ
I have found the best binder to be honey or agave nectar. If you find the combined mixture too dry, add a little more of either to reach the desired consistency.
Absolutely. I like to wrap them individually in plastic. Perfect for pulling out of the freezer when hiking, adding to lunch boxes, or eating on the run. They thaw quickly.
CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU. You will get recipes delivered to your inbox ONCE A WEEK.
Other Oatmeal Recipes
Looking for more recipes using oatmeal? Here are a few of our favourites:
- Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Donuts are a hit with the grandkids. Packed with nutritious ingredients. Yes, you can eat donuts for breakfast.
- Homemade Muesli is so much better than the boxed stuff. You can customize it just the way you like.
- Festive Granola makes a great foodie gift for the holidays. Your house will smell just like Christmas while this bakes.
- Oatmeal Pancakes are hearty and nutritious. Perfect for weekend brunch. They freeze well too.
- Apple Oatmeal Muffins are great with your morning coffee.
- Overnight Chocolate Oats make breakfast easy and stress-free in the morning.
- Baked Breakfast Casserole is like eating dessert for breakfast.
- No one can resist a freshly baked Chewy Oatmeal Cookie.
- Granola Dust is the best yogurt topper ever. This is a fun Jamie Oliver recipe.
- This homemade oats and seed bread recipe is a delicious kitchen project for a rainy day.
Homemade Granola Bars (No-Bake)
Ingredients
- 3 cups oatmeal (I used large flake)
- ½ cup agave nectar
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ½ cup hemp hearts
- 2 ounces banana chips (crushed)
- 2 ounces chocolate chips
- 1 ounce chocolate protein powder (or your favourite flavour)
Instructions
- Line a square baking dish (8×8 or 9×9) with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the peanut butter, agave nectar and coconut oil. Heat until melted and easy to mix. Remove from heat.
- Pour the warm liquid over the dry ingredients, and combine well.
- Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish. Using the bottom of a glass, press to flatten evenly.
- Place in the fridge to harden. About 1 hour or so.
- Remove from fridge. Using a sharp knife, cut into bars.
Claudia Lamascolo
I have always wanted to try making this myself. I never knew it was easy to make. I am glad to find this recipe and going to make it this weekend my son will love it. I’ve been waiting for a recipe with peanut butter in it its his favorite! Thanks!
Homemade & Yummy
These are super easy to make. Mix and match your favourite ingredients….I’m sure he will love them.
Meg
These sound so bomb!!! I love using hemp hearts and the addition of the banana chips is exciting! I’m pretty hungry right now in the coffee shop I’m working at and I wish I had one of these to snack on right now!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….wish I could send some you way. I have a container in the fridge right now. So easy to make…hope you give this recipe a try soon.
Pavani
I have tried making baked granola bars and have not been very successful in making them into bars. They never hold never and end up crumbling on me. I LOVE your no bake recipe and the granola bars have turned out just perfectly shaped. Will definitely be trying these out soon. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give the super easy recipe a try. You can mix and match your favourite ingredients.
Kris
We just love granola, and you are so right, the store-bought variety are so often packed with things I have no idea what they are. These are so fresh, and I love that they are no bake. Thanks for the recipe, will be making these most-likely tomorrow morning.
Homemade & Yummy
Well sure hope you enjoy these. They have become a staple in our house…especially during hiking season.
Susie
I absolutely love this recipe! Especially that it is so flexible in the ingredients that you can add… using up what you have in your pantry!
I always want to have a granola bar in the morning, but hate all the sugar they contain. I do not want to start my day like that. I love that with this recipe I could use a no sugar peanut butter and flax and protein powder and oats to keep it healthy and low sugar.
Thanks so much!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…play with ingredients to create your own combination of flavours. So easy to make….ENJOY!!
Sarah
I’ve never made my own granola bars! These look so easy- I really need to do it. We go hiking all the time, and I usually load up on bars from Trader Joes. BUT it would be better to make my own!!!
Homemade & Yummy
You really need to give these bars a try. No-bake is awesome….and really these are so addictive. We use them as meal replacements…for breakfast and lunch. With hiking season here…these are always in our backpacks. Even the grandkids love them. So healthy.
The Foodie Journey
They look so delicious! I love that they are no-bake ones, makes it so easy and quick to make. May have to go get some banana chips now 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
So easy to have on hand all the time.
Amanda
I love a wholesome granola bar with ingredients you can pronounce and aren’t just glorified candy bars. (don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of chopped chocolate in mine every now and again). I love that you gave a great blank canvas recipe so we can customize according to our moods and pantry stock.
Homemade & Yummy
YES…create your own designer granola bar.
Jolina
I looove making granola bars. We mix and match different ingredients. Mine don’t always stick and come out as pretty as yours though lol! I’m gonna try your recipe next. When we’re out of ideas we always default to some kind of peanut butter.
Homemade & Yummy
Well you can never go wrong with any kind of peanut butter….or other delicious nut butter.
Jyothi(Jo)
Granola bars is something that I keep all the time in my snack box. Homemade are always the beat and it looks so healthy and hearty.
Homemade & Yummy
Had one for lunch yesterday….after a 2 hour power walk. GREAT!!
Jagruti
These homemade granola bars sound so delicious, nothing beats homemade granola, tasty and healthy too.
Homemade & Yummy
These are super easy to make….and super easy to eat too. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Jessica Robinson
These look so simple to make and would be perfect for after my burn workouts with the girls! I’ll definitely be sharing the recipe with them!
Homemade & Yummy
They are super easy to make….give them a try and see.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
These granola bars look like such a hearty, healthy treat. I confess that I’m a sucker for snacks like this and sometimes I overindulge. Right now, I’m feeling particularly hungry and your bars are calling my name. I think I’ll slip one or two in my bag for snacking emergencies!
Homemade & Yummy
I know….these can be addictive for sure. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Courtney
I agree with your sentiments about not eating things you can not pronounce! I also like making granola bars at home for my daughter, but I usually bake them. I love your no bake recipe! So quick and easy! We definitely will be trying this 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
I know…if I can’t pronounce it….I really don’t want to eat it. These are the totally opposite….YOU KNOW exactly what is in them.
Carlee
I enjoy making homemade granola but have never made bars. These look delicious and are so much healthier than what’s in the store!
Homemade & Yummy
These are super easy…give it a try and see. You will never buy bars again.