Easy No-Bake Granola Bars
Total Time
20 minutes (plus 1-hour chill time)
Prep Time
20 minutes
Rating
4.9 out of 5 stars
(219)
Ingredients
16 bars
- 1 ¾ cups old-fashioned oats or quick-cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (if using regular table salt, scale back a bit)
- 2 cups mix-ins (nuts, seeds, chocolate, shredded coconut or dried fruit)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Preparation
Step 1
Line a 9-inch square baker with two strips of criss-crossed parchment paper, cut to fit neatly against the base and up the sides.
Step 2
Place the oats in a large mixing bowl. Add the cinnamon and salt, and stir to combine. Set aside.
Step 3
Blitz the mix-ins briefly in a food processor or blender. Add any large nuts first and blitz for a few seconds. Then add the rest and run the machine for a few more seconds, until the ingredients are all broken up into pieces smaller than your pinky nail. Pour the mix-ins into the bowl of oats.
Step 4
In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, measure out the nut butter. Top with ½ cup honey and the vanilla extract. Stir until well blended. If necessary, gently warm the liquid mixture on the stovetop or in the microwave, but make sure it’s close to room temperature before pouring into the dry mixture.
Step 5
Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix together until the two are evenly combined and no dry oats remain. Use additional oats if necessary.
Step 6
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baker. Use a spoon to arrange the mixture evenly, then use the bottom of a flat, round surface to pack the mixture down firmly and evenly.
Step 7
Cover the baker and refrigerate for at least one hour, or preferably overnight.
Step 8
Lift the bars out of the baker by grabbing both pieces of parchment paper on opposite corners. Use a sharp knife to slice the bars into 4 even columns and 4 even rows.
Step 9
Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Bars can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge, or in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer.
Step 10
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Chef's notes
Any combination of nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and/or dried cranberries or cherries can be used as mix-ins.
For a smoother texture, blitz your oats in a food processor for 3 to 5 seconds before using.
To increase fiber content, sweeten with Medjool dates. Soak in hot water, pit, and blend with maple syrup or honey until smooth.
Ensure to use certified gluten-free oats for a gluten-free version.
For nut-free bars, replace nuts with seeds and nut butter with sunflower butter.
To make it vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey.
