These no bake granola bars are soft, chewy and easy to make with only 5 ingredients! A homemade healthy snack that is so much better than store-bought.

An angled view of homemade granola bars cut into individual servings on the counter.

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Our Favorite No Bake Granola Bar Recipe

Chewy granola bars were my afternoon snack growing up, and not much has changed except that now they’re my kids’ favorite snack too. I keep a batch of these healthy granola bars wrapped up in the freezer at all times.

These homemade granola bars take just 5 ingredients and a few minutes to prep, and since they are a no bake granola bar recipe, there’s no oven needed and they cost a fraction of the store-bought kind. After making these more times than I can count, two things make or break them: don’t skip the chill time, and add a little extra honey if the mix looks crumbly before you press it in the pan.

And if you love the peanut butter in these, you’ll want to try our no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars and these peanut butter oatmeal balls, too. For more easy morning options, the oatmeal breakfast bars and no-bake breakfast cookies are both reader favorites.

XO - Jamielyn

Granola Bar Recipe Ingredients

Quick oats in a glass bowl with honey, peanut butter and chocolate chips measured out in measuring cups for a granola bars recipe.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Oats: I recommend quick cooking oats (gluten-free if needed) for the best texture; rolled oats can make the bars too hard. These granola bars are meant to come out chewy, so if you want crunch instead, try our granola recipe.
  • Nut butter: I used creamy peanut butter but any nut butter works, such as almond butter or cashew butter. The nut butter helps the granola bars stick together.
  • Almonds: I like to add in sliced almonds for extra crunch and protein. Other types of nuts (like pecans or walnuts) would work too.
  • Chocolate chips: What’s a granola bar without chocolate chips?! :) I love the sweetness they add. I’ve found that the mini chocolate chips are just the right size to add in. For a healthier alternative, you could add in cacao nibs.
  • Honey: I recommend using honey (instead of maple syrup) because it’s thicker and helps the bars hold together. If using maple syrup, you might want to use less or boil it down since honey is thicker than maple syrup. Agave is another good substitute for honey.

No-Bake Granola Bar Variations

Feel free to add in any of the below ingredients when making these healthy granola bars:

  • Seeds: Add chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for an extra boost of fiber.
  • Spices: Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice will add warm flavor!
  • Dried fruit and coconut: Dried fruit like raisins or cranberries or shredded coconut add an extra chewy texture.
  • High protein: Add a 1/2 cup of protein powder or collagen to the granola bars.
  • Vegan. Use a dairy free chocolate chip and substitute agave for the honey. If the bars aren’t sticking, roll them into balls instead.
  • Nut-free: Swap out the nut butter for sunflower seed butter.

How to Make Granola Bars

It’s so easy to make these homemade granola bars you will wonder why you didn’t make them sooner. You don’t even need to turn on the oven!

Oats, peanut butter, honey and chocolate chips stirred together in a glass bowl.
  • Stir. Add all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and stir until well combined. Add more honey to the peanut butter mixture to hold shape if needed. And salt and cinnamon, to taste.
  • Press. Line a 8×8 square baking dish with a piece of parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. Using a rubber spatula, press the oat mixture into the pan.
  • Freeze. Place in the freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until firm. Remove paper from pan and then cut the large square in half. Then cut each half into 6 rectangles.
  • Wrap. Wrap bars individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Homemade granola bars pressing into a pan.

Expert Tips

  • Line your pan. Not only does this make clean up extra easy, but it keeps the no bake chewy granola bars from sticking to the bottom of the square pan. You can even spray the parchment with cooking spray for even easier release!
  • Nut butter. Make sure the nut butter you’re using has a smooth and creamy consistency (not dry and firm). This will help the mixture bind together.
  • Consistency. If the bars are crumbly and not holding their shape, add a little more honey or almond butter to help bind the mixture. Keep your mix-ins to about a cup so you don’t throw off the ratio of wet to dry, and press the bars down firmly, a greased measuring cup works well for this.
  • Let chill. Don’t skip this step! These no bake bars need to chill in the freezer for about an hour so that the mixture has time to set and firm up.
Homemade granola bars cut into individual bars on the counter.

More healthy snack recipes include this nut-free granola recipe, Honey Nut Cheerio bars recipe and trail mix!

More Healthy Snack Recipes

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Homemade granola bars cut into individual bars on the counter.

Homemade Granola Bars

4.98 from 128 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Freeze: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 12
These homemade granola bars are soft, chewy and easy to make with only 5 ingredients! A simple no-bake healthy snack that is so much better than store-bought.
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
  • ¼ cup honey , plus more if needed
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips
  • ½ cup sliced almonds , optional

Optional: Salt and ground cinnamon, to taste

Instructions

  • Combine. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups quick cooking oats, 1 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup honey, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup almonds, if using, until well combined. Add more honey if needed to hold shape, and stir in salt and cinnamon, if desired.
  • Press into dish. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, with extra paper over the edges. Press the oat mixture evenly into the dish.
  • Chill. Freeze 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until firm. Remove from dish and transfer to a cutting board. Cut in half. and then cut each half into 6 rectangles. Wrap bars individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Variations:
  • Nut butter: Cashew or sunflower seed butter both work, good for allergies.
  • Nuts: Leave out the almonds, or swap in chopped peanuts or cashews.
  • Mix-ins: Try dried cranberries or raisins in place of the chocolate chips, or add shredded coconut. For extra nutrition, stir in chia seeds, flaxseed meal, or sunflower seeds, about 1/8 cup each, plus a tablespoon more honey per addition. Keep total mix-ins to about a cup so the bars still hold together.
Expert Tips:
  • Line your pan. Makes cleanup easy and keeps the bars from sticking. A quick spray on the parchment helps them release.
  • Consistency. If the bars are crumbly, add a little more honey or nut butter to bind, and press firmly into the pan.
  • Let chill. Don’t skip it. The bars need about an hour in the freezer to set and firm up.
  • Minis. For a preschool or playdate snack, cut into small squares and set each in a mini cupcake liner.
Storage: Wrap bars individually and keep in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 weeks. Store the same way in the freezer up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 98mg, Potassium: 173mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 17IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.