Homemade 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 having on hand all the time. Even the kids can have some fun with these DIY snack bars.
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 really don’t want to eat it.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these easy homemade granola bars can be found at the bottom of this post.
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 lots of 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.
Healthy Granola Bar Ingredients
Simple and nutritious ingredients. Most people already have them in their pantry.
- Oatmeal (I like large flake)
- 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.
Making No-Bake Homemade Granola Bars Is Easy
This homemade energy bar recipe is just a combination of the listed ingredients.
- Line a baking pan with parchment. This makes it really 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.
- 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.
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 fresh baked Chewy Oatmeal Cookie.
- Granola Dust is the best yogurt topper ever. This is a fun Jamie Oliver recipe.
- This homeade oats and seed bread recipe is a delicious kitchen project for a rainy day.
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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.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
You had me at no bake! I love how easy these are and how delicious these look!! Looks like I found my new snack to make this week!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you enjoy them as much as we do. We have them in the fridge all the time.
lauren
What a quick, easy recipe! This is perfect to make with the little ones and full of all the healthy good things. A great snack to pack and keep in your purse too. Have to say I’m mostly team chewy granola but I’ll settle for a crunchy here and there.
Homemade & Yummy
Well I would say this is sort of “in between”….but we love it.
Rezel Kealoha
This is perfect to make and take to picnics this summer with the kids! This is defiantly going on rotation for healthy snacks!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…we will be watching the grandkids 2 days a week for the summer. These bars will be flying out of the kitchen for sure.
Carol Borchardt
We’re going to be taking a number of summer road trips this summer and this recipe is going to come in very handy! Love that it doesn’t require baking!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes easy and delicious, especially for summer. Enjoy your road trips.
Femi. O
I honestly can’t believe you got your no-bake granola bars to look so well formed as my baked ones usually tend to crumble quickly! I’ll definitely be trying this!
Homemade & Yummy
The trick is a sharp knife!!
Jessica
Our family enjoys granola bars a lot. At any time, I have boxes stacked in the pantry but recently, I’ve started to make my own. I even got my mom hooked on making protein balls with the same ingredients but I know these bars will be perfect for long road trips this summer! And, now I know what recipe to use those extra gifted agave bottles in!
Homemade & Yummy
I always have some of these on hand. Perfect for travelling….and so much better than bought bars. Hope you give this recipe a try soon.
Leslie
I love a good homemade granola bar – especially if it’s a no bake recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
We always have some of these in the fridge. A quick snack, or even great to take on a hike. I need to make more soon.
Amy Nash
I love how easy it is to customize these granola bars and the long list of mix-ins you included! The bars at the store are always so basic – it’s awesome to be able to change up the flavor profile a bit!
Homemade & Yummy
YES….have fun with this recipe. Switch up the ingredients….make it your own.
Kitty
I love granola and my husband will is always looking for an excuse to eat things that have peanut butter in it. I am going to have to turn him on to these. Healthy AND peanut butter…two great things that go great together 😉
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…we love peanut butter too. However any nut butter works great. I just bought some almond butter for the next round.
Marisa Franca
I really think this is the perfect snack when you feel the urge to eat something sweet and NOT good for you. Not only do you get the yummy tasting ingredients, but they are also good for you too. This is such a win-win recipe. Heck, with making it for kids — this is a great adult snack!!
Homemade & Yummy
Honestly I would grab this before a chocolate bar any time….I find them totally addictive….and delicious.
Megan
Homemade granola bars are way better than store-bought! I love a no-bake recipe too!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes….you know exactly what is in them…and can adapt to suit your taste.
Veena Azmanov
I love how simple easy and awesome that looks Gloria. My son is a big fan of peanut butter so this will be his treat. Saving for later.
Homemade & Yummy
With this recipe you and mix and match your ingredients to make your favourite version.
Natalie
Granola bars are my favorite snack. And homemade is always THE BEST! I love all the ingredients you used here – especially peanut butter and banana chips – LOVE IT!. SO satisfying and soooo healthy.
Homemade & Yummy
I would eat these over a chocolate bar any day.
Megan
Chocolate chips are a must, not a “just because” ingredient! 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….yes I do agree.
Carmy
I love a good no bake granola bar recipe! I love knowing what I put inside the bars (and the amount of sugar!) so I’m always open to trying new granola bar recipes. Perfect for a quick snack.
Homemade & Yummy
We even eat these as a quick lunch too.