Nothing beats our homemade Granola Bars recipe that takes just 15 minutes to prep, no baking required, and they’re healthier and less expensive than store-bought.
We have tons of healthy snacks you’ll love, like our Banana Oat Muffins, Fruit Pops, Frozen Yogurt Recipe, or a Strawberry Banana Smoothie!
Chewy Granola Bars are my cure for hangry meltdowns
Chewy Granola Bars are my cure for hangry meltdownsA fridge stocked with ready-made snacks and healthy foods is what gets me through the grind of school-lunch and snack packing! I always try to have some healthy mini muffins, and our veggie bucket stocked with homemade ranch or hummus.
I love that our granola bars recipe is thick and chewy, and they don’t fall apart. Customize them with favorite mix-ins like coconut, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, etc. If you’re looking for an even healthier option, try Granola Bites, or Protein Bars.
How to make No Bake Granola Bars:
Combine Dry Ingredients: Pour oats, Rice Krispies cereal, and flaxseed into a large mixing bowl. Place parchment paper inside an 8 or 9 inch pan, leaving some overhang to pull them out.
Make Syrup: In an extra-large microwave safe bowl add butter, brown sugar, and honey. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Microwave again for 1 ½ minutes then remove and stir in vanilla.
Combine: Drizzle syrup over the oat/cereal mixture, gently stirring to coat. Stir in chocolate chips, then pour mixture into prepared pan, spreading into an even layer.
Press: Place another piece of parchment paper on top and press down with our palms, to press the mixture firmly into the pan. Press extra mini chocolate chips on top if you’d like, then refrigerate bars for 1-2 hours before cutting.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: Bars will keep in an air-tight container for up to 7 days. Store in the fridge for firmer bars, or at room temp for softer bars.
To Freeze: Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil (or wrap individual bars in parchment paper and store in a freezer safe bag) and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
Healthy Snack Recipes:
- Chia Pudding
- Applesauce Muffins
- Healthy Banana Muffins
- Healthy Granola
- Instant Pot Yogurt
- Vanilla Protein Shake
- Chocolate Protein Shake
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Recipe
No Bake Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups quick oats
- 1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
- 2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 6 Tablespoons butter*
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips , or other favorite add-in’s
Instructions
- Line 8 or 9’’ square pan with parchment paper, with some paper overhang.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl stir together oats, rice krispies cereal, and flaxseed.
- Microwave Wet ingredients: Add butter, brown sugar and honey to a large microwave safe bowl and cook for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir mixture until butter has melted. Return to microwave for 1 ½ minutes. Carefully remove from microwave and stir in vanilla.
- Combine: Drizzle mixture over dry ingredients, stirring gently until coated evenly. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour mixture into prepared pan, spreading into an even layer.
- Press into pan: Place a small piece of parchment over the mixture (or use lightly greased hands) and press mixture firmly into the pan. This is important so they don't crumble when you cut them. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top and press them gently onto the tops of the bars.
- Refrigerate for about 1-2 hours before pulling up on the parchment paper to remove them from the pan and cut them.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for firmer bars or at room temperature for softer bars.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe in May 2015. Updated May 2018 and August 2024.
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Love these! We added peanut butter chips and cut the sugar down to .25 cups and they were great!
My daughter has made these 3x now and all my little kids love them! I stopped buying granola bars a long time ago with all the seed oils and she was craving them. Well she’s fixed this problem! Thank you! Everyone grabs one to take to school.
Definitely a sweet granola bar, but it’s toddler and husband approved! Will make again with less sugar in the future. Thank you for sharing this tasty recipe!
These are easy to make and taste great! Next time, I think I’ll cut back on the brown sugar and maybe add some salted pistachios (I added chopped almonds this time).
This is a great recipe, but as others have said, it’s way to sweet. I substituted brown sugar with coconut sugar and only used half of what it called for. It is still to sweet!
Not sure how else to adjust it without messing with the consistency to much.
This recipe is very similar to a Martha Stewart recipe that is no longer on her website, but the difference is this one is way too sweet. I should’ve read the other reviews before making them and reduced the sugar.
I gave this recipe a rating, but it doesn’t seem to appear by my review. I guess anything less than 4 stars gets deleted…
Yes, we publish all reviews. Are you sure you pressed the star icon before publishing?
Is there a way to coat this in chocolate? My kiddos love granola bars but only if they have the chocolate on the outside.
Incredibly easy! Winner with everyone.
Thank you so very much !
Absolutely love these granola bars. ❤️
Love how well they turned out, in terms of texture and how they stayed together so beautifully. Buuttt they were so incredibly sweet! No one in my family could have more than a few bites (and that’s saying something for my 8 and 4 year old)!
I am hoping there is a way to make these way less sweet but still have them stick together?
Chia seeds?
No peanuts!
Thanks
You totally can! They were too sweet for us too. Just cut the brown sugar down to 1/4 cup or altogether. The honey is plenty 🙂
Fantastic! My sons have a peanut allergy so I was glad to find a granola bar recipe without peanut butter. This is sweet so I would probably serve this as a dessert. Oh so good!!!