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Life Made Sweeter

Healthy & Delicious Recipes to sweeten up your life

5 Ingredient Granola Bars – No Bake + Video!

5 Ingredient Granola Bars – No Bake – perfect healthy snacks for on the go made in less than 10 minutes using just ONE pot  Best of all, NO refined sugar and a great way to refuel before or after a workout. Plus a step-by-step video!

Granola bars and energy bites are a favorite around here. We whip up a different batch every week since they’re so easy to throw together. Making them at home means I can customize the different add-ins and use what I love or have on hand.

They are so much better and healthier for you than the store-bought granola bars. I love that I can pack them with even more delicious goodies than the boxed versions with ingredients you can easily pronounce.

No Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars make the perfect easy grab & go snack. Best of all, they are healthy and come together easily in just ONE pot! Gluten free, refined sugar free and super delicious! They make amazing snacks to refuel up after a workout and great for on the go!
These No Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars are super simple to make and clock in at just 252 calories per bar. And the chew factor on these guys is ridiculously insane. We are obsessed with chewy granola bars around here and these guys definitely have that chewy quality we all love about granola bars.

Homemade Granola Bars - 12 Ways - Switch up your snack lineup with these healthy on-the go snacks. Best of all, these protein bars are simple to customize and make ahead for school or work lunchboxes. Refined sugar free, gluten free, nut free and keto options.

Another great thing about these homemade granola bars is that they are completely refined-sugar-free. Instead, you’re going to use honey  (or coconut nectar for vegan or yacon syrup to lower the carbs ) to sweeten them up. To keep them gluten, be sure to use certified gluten free oats and a gluten free or sugar free chocolate chips.

Plus, since these 5 ingredient granola bars are completely no bake, they are perfect when it’s too hot or you don’t want to turn on your oven. All you need is ONE pot either on the stove or one bowl in the microwave.

No Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars make the perfect easy grab & go snack. Best of all, they are healthy and come together easily in just ONE pot! Gluten free, refined sugar free and super delicious! They make amazing snacks to refuel up after a workout and great for on the go!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS:

  1. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
  2. Heat the almond butter and honey in a large saucepan over very low heat and allow to bubble and thicken for about a minute while continuously stirring.. Remove from heat.
  3. Stir in the oats, shredded coconut, and chopped almonds until sticky and combined. R
  4. Press the mixture very firmly in the pan using a spatula. You want everything to be tight and compacted.
  5. Press the whole almonds on top and use your spatula again to flatten everything down.
  6. Store the pan in the fridge or freezer to firm up. Cut into bars

Homemade Granola Bars - 12 Ways - Switch up your snack lineup with these healthy on-the go snacks. Best of all, these protein bars are simple to customize and make ahead for school or work lunchboxes. Refined sugar free, gluten free, nut free and keto options.

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED TO MAKE CHEWY GRANOLA BARS:

  • gluten-free oats
  • no-stir almond butter (peanut butter or your favorite nut or seed butter would work well)
  • honey (use coconut nectar, yacon syrup or date paste for vegan or lower sugar / carb content)
  • shredded unsweetened coconut (can also use crispy Rice Cereal, flax seeds or oat flour instead)
  • roasted almonds

Optional: chocolate chips, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, apple pie spice etc.

Feel free to toss in whatever add-ins you want like! Chocolate chips for half of them or keep them on the simple side just as they are.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST GRANOLA BARS:

  • Granola bars are great for Sunday meal prep and school lunchboxes and can be made ahead of time. Store in the fridge or freezer so you to keep on hand.
  • If your mixture seems too dry, add a little bit more liquid (1 tablespoon warm water or honey) and press with your hands
  • Alternatively, if your mixture seems too wet or doughy, add more dry ingredients like oats or coconut
  • Chill the granola bars before slicing ensures even slices
  • For the chewiest granola bars, you want to make sure everything is tight an compact —> press the dough down firmly using a spatula or clean hands over some parchment paper – you want the bars to be tight an compact to hold together

Homemade Granola Bars - 12 Ways - Switch up your snack lineup with these healthy on-the go snacks. Best of all, these protein bars are simple to customize and make ahead for school or work lunchboxes. Refined sugar free, gluten free, nut free and keto options.

5 Ingredient Granola Bars with almond butter are sweet, chewy and super easy to make in only ONE pot
More granola bars:

Healthy Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars – 12 Ways

No Bake Pumpkin Cashew Butter Granola Bars

Interested in more no bake recipes? Check out No Bake Energy Bites – 12 Ways

5 Ingredient Granola Bars with almond butter are sweet, chewy and super easy to make in only ONE pot
Print
No-Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars
Prep Time
12 mins
 
Tasty and chewy granola bars that come together easily in about 5 minutes with just one pot and ONLY 5 ingredients. Best part of all, no baking required!
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy and healthy snacks for kids, healthy granola bars recipe, snack for kids
Servings: 12 bars
Calories: 205 kcal
Author: Kelly
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup unsalted almond or peanut butter or your favorite nut/seed butter
  • 1/2 cup honey can substitute with coconut nectar, 2/3 cup date paste or brown rice syrup
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil , optional but recommended since it helps the bars hold better together
  • 2 cups oats I used gluten free half rolled and half quick but use what you have on hand
  • *2/3 cup almonds chopped (see notes)
  • 2 Tablespoons whole almonds
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut can substitute with crispy rice cereal
  • pinch salt and ground cinnamon optional, but helps to balance the sweetness & boosts flavor
Add-Ins (optional):
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • chocolate chips
  • dried fruit
  • flax seeds
  • chia seeds
  • sesame seeds
  • pumpkin seeds
Instructions
  1. Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.

  2. In a large pot, melt almond butter, honey and coconut oil (if using) over medium-heat until the mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove the pot. (At this point, you can add vanilla, cinnamon and salt, if using).

  3. Fold in oats, shredded coconut, and chopped almonds. reserving the whole almonds for topping.

  4. Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan while pressing down very firmly and flattening with a spatula until tight and compressed. Press the reserved whole almonds down into the bars, evenly spaced apart. Press in some chocolate chips or any other add-ins of your choice.

  5. Press down with spatula one more time so everything is nicely packed and compact. Place the pan in the freezer (or fridge) until hardened, about 1 hour. When the bars are set, use the parchment paper to lift them from the pan. Slice into even bars.

  6. Bars are softer when left out at room temperature. For best results, store bars in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
Recipe Notes

*can also use 1/2 cup of almond flour or oat flour instead of the 2/3 cup of chopped almonds

Bars are best enjoyed cooled straight from the fridge or freezer. When warmed they don't hold together as well.

Nutrition Facts
No-Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars
Amount Per Serving (1 granola bar (nutrition facts will vary based on ingredients))
Calories 205 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Total Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 8g
Protein 5g 10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

 

No Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars make the perfect easy grab & go snack. Best of all, they are healthy and come together easily in just ONE pot! Gluten free, refined sugar free and super delicious! They make amazing snacks to refuel up after a workout and greatNo Bake 5 Ingredient Granola Bars make the perfect easy grab & go snack. Best of all, they are healthy and come together easily in just ONE pot! Gluten free, refined sugar free and super delicious! They make amazing snacks to refuel up after a workout and great for on the go! for on the go!

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Comments

  2. I love your summer routine and I used to enjoy taking my nieces to the art gallery, museum and library when they lived closer. These quick treats are the perfect take-along snacks and your photos make them look oh so YUM!

    Reply

  5. I love the sound of these granola bars, Kelly! Almond and sunflower butter are two of my favorite things to add to grnaola bars (along with peanut butter naturally), so these sound perfect! That’s great that there are only 5 ingredients too! You sound like you’re having a great summer with your little ones — enjoy!

    Reply

    • I haven’t felt like turning on the oven lately since it’s been so hot here too. Thanks Eva, hope you’re having a great week so far 🙂

      Reply

  10. Your summer days with your little ones sounds just perfect! I bet they’re having the time of their life. These granola bars sound delicious! I always seem to have a granola in my purse or car, in case I need a quick snack. Now I can make my own : )

    Reply

  12. I totally remember when my little guy was younger and all those trips to the park, library, and kids’ museums. Now that he’s older, it’s a little different. I’m just thinking how smart you are to make all these tasty, healthy granola bars to have on hand. I could’ve really used them back in those days of running around, with hardly any time to eat right. I do love a granola bar with a hot coffee once in a while for breakfast and if I’m traveling, they are always handy. These simple ones are right up my alley. Love the simple ingredients and the no-bake.

    Reply

    • I hear you, it can be hard to find time to eat right when you’re running around with a little one. My kids get hungry fast so having quick snacks like fruit and granola bars on hand definitely help 🙂 Thanks Monica! Hope you’re having a great week so far!

      Reply

  13. Kelly, I love these granola bars!! so much better for you than the store bought ones!!! I bet our bags look the same when going out with the kids!! I always have snacks on hand . . for them and me! love these granola bars! these are perfect and of course, love the almonds!!

    Reply

  14. No bake and only 5 ingredients?! You can’t get a granola bar better than that! These sound sooo tasty Kelly, and I love the use of almond butter. It adds the perfect moisture and creaminess. I definitely need to try these! Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Reply

  15. I use to have a serious addiction to granola bars.. like I almost needed rehab. Somewhere along the line, life got crazy hectic and I stopped making them. Your post has me amped up to get back to my granola bar hoarding and devouring obsession! I LOVE that these are so quick, no bake and only have 5 ingredients! Like, whoa! Gimme! Plus they sweet and salty- I swoon. And I Pin!! <3 Cheers, girlie!

    Reply

  16. Homemade granola bars are the absolute best and I love how few ingredients are in these! I used to eat granola bars like mad when I worked in an office and now I sometimes forget about them for a few months … and then go on a binge making them! haha Very all or nothing apparently 🙂

    Reply

  20. Wow, these granola bars look fantastic! I love that they come together so easily and only require 5 ingredients. I love the addition of chocolate chips too! Never underestimate the power of chocolate making healthy food taste like a treat! 😉 XO

    Reply

  25. Sounds like you’re having a fun time with your family. I love how we can spend more outside without an extra layer. And these granola bars sound perfect for something quick, fresh, and easy to make. Love these!

    Reply

  28. Only 5 ingrediants? These are my kind of bars! I love making snack bars rather than buying shop bought ones as you know what goes into them – ill certainly be making a batch of these!

    Reply

  41. Hi! These look great! One question: no one in my family likes coconut, is there a replacement for it or is it fine to just not include it? Thanks!

    Reply

  42. How can I cut the sugar way back and still make these taste good? I have elevated blood sugar and I have to watch the sugars and carbs.

    Reply

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