No Bake Granola Bars

These no bake granola bars are as healthy as they are tasty. They’re jam packed with nutrients and proteins, have no refined sugars, and only take 12 minutes to make. Plus, they’re easy to make gluten-free!

Updated January 2022

On the Go, No Bake Granola Bars

Granola bars are one of my favorite snacks. They’re an instant burst of healthy, protein-rich flavor, and you can eat them wherever. And when you make them at home, they’re even more healthy, and more flavorful than the store bought versions. 

One of my favorite recipes are these no bake granola bars. They’re so easy to make, as you need just 12 minutes. You can make a large batch of them in no time at all, and have a ready-made snack whenever you need it. 

What You’ll Need

Here are all the ingredients that you need for no bake granola bars. Make sure that you visit the recipe card at the bottom of the article to see the specific quantities for every ingredient.

• Unsalted almond butter – You can also use peanut butter, or any type of unsalted nut butter that you prefer. 
• Honey – Feel free to substitute this with date paste, maple syrup, coconut nectar, or brown rice syrup if you don’t eat honey. 
• Coconut oil
• Oats – Be sure to use gluten-free oats if you want to keep this recipe gluten-free.
• Almonds – You need both chopped and whole almonds, and they should be unsalted. 
• Unsweetened shredded coconut – If you prefer, you can use crispy rice cereal instead.
• Salt – Salt is optional. 
• Cinnamon – Cinnamon is also an optional ingredient.

How to Make No Bake Granola Bars

These granola bars are so easy to make, and take no time at all.

• Prep. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
• Make the base. Melt the oil, honey, and almond butter in a pot over medium heat while stirring constantly. When the mixture boils, lower the heat, and stir until it thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, and add the salt and cinnamon if using.
• Add the dry ingredients. Fold in the oats, chopped almonds, and shredded coconut. 
• Assemble. Pour the mixture into the pan. Press it down with a spatula to compress the mixture. Press the whole almonds into the bars.
• Chill. Put the pan in the fridge or freezer for about an hour, until the no bake granola bars have hardened. Then remove from the pan and cut into bars. 

Tips for Success

Here are some tricks and tips for making no bake granola bars.

• Adjust the consistency. If the granola bars seem too dry, you can add a little bit of water, or some additional honey, until they’re the right consistency. If they’re too wet, add some additional oats. 
• Really compact the bars. When you put the mixture in the pan, make sure to thoroughly compact it. The more you compact the granola bars, the chewier they’ll be, and that’s the texture you want. 
• Thoroughly chill the bars. The more you chill these no bake granola bars, the easier they’ll be to cut into rectangles. 

Variations

This is a fun recipe to play with. Here are some easy variations you can make to switch up the no bake granola bars.

• Add seeds. If you want a little extra nutrition, as well as a little bit of a crunch, you can add some seeds to these granola bars. I like pumpkin seeds in my granola bars, but chia seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds are also great options. Add the seeds when you add the rest of the dry ingredients. 
• Add fruit or chocolate. If you really want to boost the flavor of these no bake bars, you can add dried fruit or chocolate chips. Press them into the bars at the same time that you press in the whole almonds. 
• Add seasonings. This recipe calls for some optional cinnamon, but you can use other seasonings, too. Ground nutmeg, ginger, cloves, or allspice will give the no bake granola bars a fall flavor, while vanilla extract will give them a traditional dessert taste. 

How to Store

Store these granola bars in an airtight container. They’ll last for up to 1 week in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer. You can eat them directly out of the fridge or freezer.

More Granola Bars to Try 

If you enjoyed this recipe, then check out some of my other favorite granola bars.

• Healthy Chewy No Bake Granola Bars
• Strawberry Granola Bars
• Chewy No Bake Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola Bars
• No Bake Pumpkin Cashew Butter Granola Bars
• Peanut Butter Granola Bars

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No Bake Granola Bars

Prep Time

12 mins

 

These chewy, healthy, no bake granola bars have almond butter, shredded coconut, and almonds. They're quick and easy to make, and a perfect snack for when you're on the go.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gluten-free granola bar, healthy snacks, high protein snacks, homemade granola bars

Servings: 12 bars

Calories: 205 kcal

Author: Kelly

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup drippy unsalted almond butter or peanut butter (be sure to stir first and not use old near the bottom of the jar nut butter) , can sub with your favorite nut/seed butter – be sure to stir well before using
• 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 8×8 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 Granola Bars

Amount Per Serving (1 granola bar (nutrition facts will vary based on ingredients))

Calories 205 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 5g10%

* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.