These No Bake Almond Butter Granola Bars provide a nutritious and tasty treat that can be prepared in just 15 minutes with everyday pantry staples! Ideal for hectic mornings, a healthy snack or your child’s lunchbox!
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If you are in search of a nutritious and quick to prepare snack that is naturally sweetened and requires no baking, these No Bake Almond Butter Granola Bars will soon be essential in your kitchen! Perfect for busy mornings, lunchboxes, recovery after workouts, or as a healthy afternoon treat, this recipe can be whipped up in just 15 minutes with basic pantry ingredients. No baking necessary, no complicated procedures—just chewy, nutty bars that are slightly sweet and indulgently satisfying while being nutritious.
Why You’ll Enjoy These
- Wholesome – these bars are crafted with hearty rolled oats and are naturally sweetened without any refined sugars. Much healthier than store-bought granola bars!
- No baking needed – these nutritious granola bars can be made in merely 15 minutes without any baking, making them a perfect snack for those on the move.
- Customizable – feel free to tailor these homemade granola bars to your taste by incorporating various mix-ins or swapping almond butter for peanut butter!
- Kids will adore these – these bars are a fun project to make with your children, made from wholesome ingredients, giving you peace of mind when adding them to their lunchbox.
Ingredients You Will Need
- rolled oats – wholesome whole grain old-fashioned oats (I opted for gluten-free oats) add delightful chewiness! You can use quick-cooking oats in a pinch, but they will lack that wonderful chewy texture.
- puffed rice cereal – I used puffed brown rice cereal without added sugar (not Rice Krispies), which adds a nice crunch to these bars.
- almond butter – creamy, rich, and loaded with healthy fats and protein. You can substitute it with peanut butter or another nut butter if desired.
- coconut oil – helps bind these bars together with the honey.
- honey – needed for natural sweetness and to help bind the mixture together, but you may use maple syrup or other natural sweeteners instead.
- vanilla extract – for an extra flavor boost.
- mini chocolate chips – you can also opt for chopped chocolate or other mix-ins like sliced almonds, shredded coconut, chia seeds, or dried fruit.
- sea salt – to enhance all the flavors!
Steps to Create Almond Butter Granola Bars
- Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, blend rolled oats and puffed rice cereal together. Set this aside.
- Heat wet ingredients. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together the almond butter, honey, and coconut oil until it begins to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low while constantly whisking, allowing the mixture to simmer for about 2 minutes on low heat. Remove from heat and mix in the vanilla extract.
- Merge the oat mixture. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry oat mix and gently fold until everything is evenly coated. Incorporate one tablespoon of chocolate chips and transfer the mixture to a prepared 9×13-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper.
- Press into the pan. Firmly press the granola mixture into the prepared dish. I utilized extra parchment paper to press down without it sticking to my fingers. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top, slightly pressing them into the mixture, and finish with a dash of sea salt.
- Chill. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. Once set and firm, lift the parchment paper to easily remove the bars from the dish and cut them into 18 pieces.
Tips for Creating the Best Granola Bars
- Select the right nut butter – almond butter serves as both flavor and adhesive, so choose a smooth, well-mixed almond butter (or another nut butter) for optimal texture.
- Measure oats accurately – using too many oats may lead to dry, crumbly bars, while too few can make them too soft. Gently spoon oats into your measuring cup and level them off without packing.
- Simmer the mixture for 2 minutes – this is vital for ensuring the bars stick together. Be sure to whisk constantly to avoid burning the almond butter at the bottom.
- Press firmly into the pan – this is a crucial step for ensuring that your bars hold together. I prefer using parchment paper to evenly press down and help prevent the mixture from sticking to my hands.
- Don’t skip the salt – adding a sprinkle of sea salt at the end is essential! It enhances sweetness and balances flavors, preventing a flat taste.
- Chill long enough to set – bars should chill for at least 2 hours in the fridge; you can chill longer if needed. Cutting them too soon may lead to crumbling.
Variations and Alternatives
- Make them nut-free – simply swap the almond butter for a seed-based alternative such as sunflower seed butter or pumpkin seed butter.
- Make them dairy-free – ensure you use dairy-free chocolate chips or cacao nibs for the chocolate component.
- Make them vegan – replace the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar and opt for dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Flavor variations – enhance the flavor profile by incorporating cinnamon, shredded coconut, cocoa powder, pumpkin spice, or dried fruit.
- For chewier bars – if you prefer a chewier texture, you can add additional almond butter, honey, or brown sugar.
- For crunchier bars – include chopped nuts or sunflower seeds to add extra crunch.
- For thicker bars – these bars are on the thinner side to imitate classic chewy granola bars, but for thicker versions that hold together better, use a 9×9-inch square pan and cut into approximately 12 bars.
- Extra protein – you can also add 2 to 3 tablespoons of your preferred protein powder or some flax seeds, hemp seeds, or chia seeds for a protein boost.
Preparation and Storage
- To Store: These chewy almond butter granola bars can be kept in a sealed, airtight container for up to 7 days in the fridge. I like to insert a piece of parchment paper between layers when stacking to avoid sticking.
- To Freeze: These bars can be frozen for up to 3 months, making them ideal for meal prepping! Take out individual bars to thaw whenever you’re craving something sweet.
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Hope you all love these Almond Butter Granola Bars! If you appreciate this recipe as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I enjoy seeing all your delicious creations!
In a large bowl, combine rolled oats and puffed rice cereal; set aside.
In a small saucepan on medium-high heat, whisk together almond butter, coconut oil and honey and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low, continually whisking, and allow mixture to simmer for about 2 minutes. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Pour mixture over the dry oat mixture and fold together so everything is evenly coated. Stir in one tablespoon of chocolate chips and transfer to a prepared 9×13-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper.
Press granola mixture firmly into the baking dish (I used extra parchment paper to press down to avoid granola from sticking to my fingers) and sprinkle remaining chocolate chips over top along with a pinch of sea salt. Cover and refrigerate for two hours.
Remove from refrigerator and lift the parchment paper so the bars are easily removed from the baking dish. Cut into 18 bars and store at room temp individually wrapped in plastic wrap or freeze for later.
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.2g | Protein: 2.8g | Fat: 10.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Sodium: 86.8mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 9.8g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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