Favorite no-bake homemade granola bars made with only 5 ingredients! A super easy recipe that you can customize with your favorite add-ins. Healthy, chewy and delicious!
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Healthy Nut Butter Oat Bars
I’m always looking for healthy snack ideas that are quick and easy to make. These homemade granola bars are my absolute favorite because they’re loaded with healthy ingredients and perfect for on-the-go. And there’s absolutely no baking required!
Growing up, my favorite snack was granola bars. I still love them to this day and probably have one every other day. They are just so easy to grab on the go. I also store them in my diaper bag for when the kids need a snack too!
My kids love this natural and HEALTHY granola bar recipe. They are chewy and full of delicious flavors! Much healthier than store bought too. They are also super easy to make with only 5 ingredients. Plus they only take about 5 minutes to whip up, which is perfect for busy mornings.
5 Simple Ingredients
- Oats: I recommend using quick cooking oats for the best texture. Other types of oats may make the granola bars too chewy or hard.
- Nut butter: You can use any type of nut butter, such as almond butter, peanut 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 maple syrup. Agave is another good substitute for honey.
Extras to Add in:
Feel free to add in any of the below ingredients when making these granola bars:
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed
- Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Dried fruit (like raisins or cranberries)
- Protein powder
- Collagen
- Sunflower seeds
- Shredded coconut
How to Make Granola Bars
- STIR. Add all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and stir until well combined. Add more honey if needed to hold shape and salt and cinnamon, to taste.
- PRESS. Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. 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.
Tips for Success
- Line your pan. Not only does this make clean up extra easy, but it keeps the bars from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- 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 a little crumbly and not holding their shape, add in a little more honey or almond butter to help bind the mixture.
- Let chill. Don’t skip this step! The bars need to chill in the freezer for about an hour so that the mixture has time to set and firm up.
- Minis. Looking for a preschool or play date snack? Cut the granola bars into mini squares and then place them in a mini cupcake liner (see picture below). Cute, easy and healthy!
Freezer Instructions
These homemade granola bars are best if stored in the refrigerator and eaten within a week. To store, individually wrap each bar with parchment paper or plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
I also love to wrap them individually and then place them in a zip top bag in the freezer. I always write the date on with a permanent marker so that I know the expiration. Then we just pull them out when we need them. Great for quick snacks on-the-go!
5 star review
“After making this recipe 5 times (with the latest batch being doubled), I figure I’d better leave a raving review! :) This simple recipe does not disappoint! I now make these homemade granola bars instead of consistently buying sugar-filled, processed ones from the store. The consistency and flavor is delicious!”
– Nicole
Other Healthy Snack Ideas
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Homemade Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup almond butter , or peanut butter
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup honey , more if needed
Optional: salt and cinnamon to taste
Instructions
- Combine the oats, almond butter, almonds, chocolate chips and honey in a medium-sized bowl. Stir until well combined. Add more honey if needed to hold shape and salt and cinnamon, to taste.
- Line a 8×8" pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. Press the oat mixture into the pan.
- 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 bars individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
i made these one morning before work, the recipe is so simple & quick!
i used peanut butter and raisins in mine because simplicity is key for me with all of my allergies.
they taste great, definitely a recipe staple in my household.
So happy to hear that! We love them at our house too :)
What can i use to substitute the peanut butter or almond butter with for nut allergy?
Sunflower butter would be a good substitute :)
A little dry and hard to eat.
Hello! Thank you for this recipe! I would just like to know how long these will last in the freezer for if I make a big batch? Also do I put one in the fridge overnight to defrost? Thanks again! 😀
Hi Christine – They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months. Yes, you can thaw them overnight in the fridge or pull one out of the freezer and thaw at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes beforehand. Enjoy!
A weekly must-make in our house. I love these so much more than store-bought. THANK YOU for this recipe!!
You’re welcome! My family loves them too!
My kids love these! And I love giving them a snack that I know what all the ingredients are ;)
Your recipe has saved me many times! My kids love granola bars & go through them so fast. They like to help me make these & add in all their favorites!
Is the nutritional info per bar or per 100g?
Per bar.
After making this recipe 5 times (with the latest batch being doubled), I figure I’d better leave a raving review! :) This simple recipe does not disappoint! I now make these homemade granola bars instead of consistently buying sugar-filled, processed ones from the store. For my rendition of these bars, I typically use smooth peanut butter, honey, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and crushed peanuts. The consistency and flavor is delicious! I would highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your review Nicole! I’m so happy to hear that you have loved these granola bars! :)
These turned out great and my son loved them! I made just a few changes that I thought other readers might find helpful. My little guy is funny about texture so I put the nuts and oats (I only had rolled oats, not quick oats) in the food processor first. I also ended up subbing walnuts for the almonds (because that’s what I had) and used 1/2 almond butter with 1/2 cup peanut butter. I did add in flax meal with an extra tablespoon of honey. I also added in a couple tablespoons of coconut oil though I’m not sure how much of a different that ended up making. Lastly, I put melted the chocolate chips with the butters and honey in a sauce pan (as my nut butters weren’t super smooth to begin with) before mixing with the dried ingredients. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing your substitutions!