Ultimate Easy No Bake Granola Bars Recipe: Chewy, Customizable, and Ready in 20 Minutes
Make these easy no bake granola bars for a quick, healthy, grab and go snack. They are chewy, require no oven time, and are perfect for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 min
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No Bake/Chilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (or other nut butter)
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup mix-ins (e.g., mini chocolate chips, dried fruit, chopped nuts)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and crispy rice cereal.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, gently warm the peanut butter and honey (or maple syrup) until smooth and easily pourable. Do not boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over the oat and cereal mixture. Add your chosen mix-ins.
- Stir everything together thoroughly until all dry ingredients are evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Press the mixture down firmly and evenly into the pan using the back of a spatula or a second piece of parchment paper. Pressing firmly is key for chewy bars.
- Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour, or until completely set.
- Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the block out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and slice into 12 or 16 bars.
- Store the no bake granola bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- For a vegan option, substitute maple syrup for honey.
- If you want protein no bake bars, mix in 1/4 cup of your favorite unflavored or vanilla protein powder with the dry ingredients.
- For gluten free no bake bars option, use certified gluten free rolled oats.
- If the mixture seems too dry, add 1 tablespoon more nut butter or honey.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg