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Hi Bold Bakers!
It’s back to school time which might brighten some people’s days more than others (you know who I’m talking about). This week, I’m going to bring a little sunshine to everyone with my No-Bake Granola Bars recipe. They’re perfect for lunch boxes and snacks so you can take them to school or eat them anytime of day.
I’m showing you how to make one master granola bar recipe, and then how you can turn that recipe into multiple flavors. Did I mention they are No Bake, so anyone can make this recipe!
1. Nut & Raisin Granola Bars
A Nut & Raisin Granola Bar is normally what you buy down aisle 6 next to the cereal but no more. Homemade gives you better fuel for your family and your wallet.
2. Peanut Butter & Jelly Granola Bars
This PB&J is the bar you want for that fix of salty and sweet. It is a double whammy of protein and carbs and the perfect pick me up during the day.
3. Double Chocolate Granola Bars
Don’t be fooled by the Chocolate, this bar is not without its benefits. Cocoa powder can lower high blood pressure, boost cognitive performance and provide essential minerals such as calcium and potassium. I have prescribed myself one a day and I already feel better.
These bars keep for a week after they are made. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter.
Can’t find Brown Sugar where you live? Learn How to Make Brown Sugar here.
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Watch The Recipe Video!
No-Bake Granola Bars (Nut & Raisin, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Double Chocolate)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (3oz/85g) oats (quick cooking or rolled oats)
- 1 cup (11/2oz/43g) rice crispy cereal
- ¼ cup (2oz/ 57g) butter
- ¼ cup (2 ½oz/71g) honey ( agave, rice or maple syrup)
- ½ cup (3oz /85g) brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
No-Bake Raisin Nut Granola bars
- ¼ cup (3/4oz/21g) shredded coconut
- ⅓ cup (1½oz/43g) raisins, chopped
- ⅓ cup (1½oz/43g) almonds, toasted and chopped
No-Bake Peanut Butter & Jelly Granola bars
- ⅓ cup (21/2oz/71g) peanut butter
- ⅓ cup (1½oz/43g) chopped peanuts
- 6 tablespoons Jam (strawberry, grape, raspberry)
No-Bake Double Chocolate Granola bars
- 1/4 cup (1oz/28g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 1 cup (6oz/170g) mini semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats and cereal.
- In a medium microwavable bowl add in butter, honey and brown sugar. Microwave this mixture for 2 minutes. It will bubble up so make sure your bowl is big enough so it doesn’t overflow. You can also do this step in a saucepan if you don’t have a microwave.
- Into the caramel, whisk in the vanilla and salt.
- Pour the mixture over the oats and thoroughly stir using a rubber spatula. Mix the ingredients together until the oats are completely coated.
- Add in your desired mix-in (look below). Then press very firmly into a small tray lined with parchment. (9″x 9” or smaller). If you like your bars thicker, you can use a smaller pan. If you do not press firmly enough, the bars will fall apart when you eat them. Place them in the fridge for 2-3 hours then cut to size.
- These bars keep for up to a week after they are made. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter.
No-Bake Nut & Raisin Granola bars
- Stir the nuts, coconuts and raisins into the granola mix coating them well in the caramel. Press into the tray firmly so the bars hold together.
No-Bake Peanut Butter & Jelly Granola bars
- Mix the peanut butter into the caramel when it comes out of the microwave. Stir the caramel and the toasted nuts into the dry ingredients. Press half of the granola bar mix into a tray.
- Spread on the jam and then press the reserved granola mix on top. Press into the tray firmly so the bars hold together.
No-Bake Double Chocolate Granola bars
- Mix the cocoa powder into the caramel mix. Stir into the oats and rice along with the chocolate chips. Press into the tray firmly so the bars hold together.
Recipe Notes
Hi, could you list the calories, carb, sugars, etc somewhere in your recipes? That would help a lot!
Great bars I just switched I did 1/2 cup syrup (I used vitafiber ) and 1/4 brown sugar.I felt it holds better the bar and it makes it more chewy like store bought.
And coconut oil instead butter. Came out great!
Hi Ma’am, can I omit rice crisps? As it is a bit hard hard to find it in country.thanks
Love love love these bars! I have a 14 and 9 year old and they adore them. I’ve made them a handful of times, each with different “add ins”. Everything from cherry & choco, to apricot & cashew. They disappear quickly. I love knowing what my kids are eating and now they don’t like store bought in the least. 😉
Thank you!
Good luck with the new wee’n!
Help tried first recipe no bake granola bar but just breaks into pieces
Gemma,I just copied down your no-bake granola bars recipe,I am going to make the raisin nut granola bars and the double chocolate granola bars recipes at home soon.I watched your video on how to make the granola bars and then I copied down the recipes.I will let you know how much my family and I love and enjoy eating them.
Kim
Hi Gemma lovely granola bars! I plan to wrap and gift these for Christmas and wanted to know if I can bake them after pressing into the bake pans and allowing it to cool down and then cut into bars – would that be feasible? If yes at what temperature and for how long should I bake these? Many thanks ????
Can these be frozen?
I just found this recipe a few days ago and made them yesterday. I made the double chocolate and the peanut butter and jelly flavors, and they were so easy to throw together! And they turned out to be delicious! My husband and I tested them after I cut them, and we almost didn’t want to share with the kids! This will be a fun recipe to customize with different nuts and flavors. My kids are looking forward to taking them for snack at school!
Hi Gemma, Thanks for the perfect Granola bar recipe. I tried double chocolate and peanut butter jam. The taste was amazing though I used turbinado sugar and I made half the recipe each time. I noticed when I use honey, the mixture binds better, than if I use pure maple syrup. Moreover, my mixture is usually more dry than yours. I use instant oats (1 minute oats). The bars are still hold their shape but sometimes turn out brittle. I am wondering if the molasses in the brown sugar play a role and if a whole sugar (such as sucanat… Read more »