No Bake Granola Bars

As much as I love heating up the oven for a nice home-cooked breakfast, there are many days when I simply don’t have the time. Easy recipes like this No Bake Granola Bars recipe have saved me more times than I can count. They are a great way to get a filling, satisfying breakfast on the go. They are also great for kids' lunches and better for you than store-bought protein and granola bars.

This recipe is loaded with fiber, protein, vitamins, and antioxidants. It has all the good stuff that nourishes our bodies, with none of the artificial sugars and additives found in store-bought granola bars.  This recipe is naturally gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and dairy-free, making it the perfect guilt-free indulgence for any occasion.

Serve them up for breakfast, pack them into your kids’ lunches as a side dish, or bring them with you when you’re rushing out the door and need a quick bite. These easy homemade granola bars are the perfect healthy breakfast or snack for the whole family to enjoy and they are easy to customize with any toppings you like.

Key Ingredients and Easy Swaps

To make this easy and healthy dish, you will need the following key ingredients:

• Rolled oats: Known as one of the healthiest grains on earth, rolled oats are packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They make the perfect base for these delicious granola bars. Both rolled oats and quick cooking oats work for this recipe. Quick cooking oats have a softer texture for the final product, while rolled oats are heartier. 
• Almond butter: Not only does this help everything stick together, but it’s also loaded with healthy fats, protein, and fiber to help keep you full for longer. Any nut butter works including sunflower seed butter for nut-free option, peanut butter for a classic option, or cashew butter for a subtle nut flavor.
• Coconut oil: Much like almond butter, coconut oil is a great source of healthy fats. It also adds a richer flavor and acts as a binding agent to keep the granola mixture together.
• Honey: This acts as a natural sweetener and flavor enhancer. For vegan granola bars, swap out the honey for pure maple syrup or agave nectar instead.
• Add-ins: My add-ins of choice are flax seeds (or flaxseed meal), chia seeds, and dark chocolate chips. The seeds add a ton of nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, while the chocolate makes the bars extra delicious! However, you can use any combination of add-ins you like. Some favorites include mini chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, walnuts, dried fruit, and freeze-dried fruit.

Recipe Variations

Here are some of my favorite ways to switch up these No Bake Granola Bars:

• Add some nuts. To make these granola bars even more hearty and satisfying, try adding some whole or chopped nuts. Almonds, cashews, and pecans all work well.
• Make it vegan-friendly. This recipe can easily be made vegan-friendly by swapping out the honey with maple syrup or agave. Just make sure your chocolate chips are dairy-free!
• Use a different nut butter. I like to use almond butter, but you can use any kind you like. Other great options include peanut butter, sun butter, and cashew butter.
• Add dried fruit. You can up the sweetness with all kinds of dried fruit! Some of my favorite choices include banana chips, raisins, dried cranberries, shredded coconut, and dried apricots.
• Give them a chocolate drizzle. If you’re a chocolate lover like me, then you know you can never have too much chocolate. By melting coconut oil and chocolate chips together, you can create a delicious chocolate sauce to drizzle over the tops of the granola bars before setting them in the fridge.

Make it a Meal: What to Serve with Granola Bars

While I love serving these granola bars on their own as a quick and easy breakfast or snack, they work great as part of a larger meal. If you’re looking to make these easy more filling, consider pairing them with: 

• Tropical Kale Pineapple Smoothie
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Broccoli and Cheese Frittata
• Greek or regular yogurt
• Protein-Packed Banana Berry Smoothie

How to Store No-Bake Granola Bars

This recipe is fantastic for meal prep, so I typically like to make a big batch over the weekend to keep throughout the week for my family to grab when they’re in need of a healthy snack. These bars are also super helpful to have on hand when I’m running late and need a quick bite on my way out the door. To store your granola bars, you can transfer them to an airtight storage bag or container and store them in one of two ways:

• In the fridge for up to 10 days.
• In the freezer for up to 1 month.