No-Bake Granola Energy Bars (Printable)

Nutritious granola bars with oats, nuts, and dried fruit, ready without heating and ideal for snacks or outings.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup crisp rice cereal
03 - 1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
04 - 1/2 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, or chopped apricots)
05 - 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
08 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional Add-Ins

10 - 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
11 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flaxseed meal

# How To Make:

01 - Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the edges for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, rice cereal, nuts, dried fruit, coconut, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
03 - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey and peanut butter. Stir constantly until melted and smooth, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Pour the warm honey-peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until all components are evenly coated.
05 - If using chocolate chips, allow the mixture to cool for 2 to 3 minutes before stirring them in to prevent melting.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Press firmly and evenly with a spatula or the back of a measuring cup, creating uniform density throughout.
07 - Sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top if desired, pressing them gently into the surface.
08 - Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until the mixture is completely set and firm to the touch.
09 - Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into 12 equal bars using a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 20 minutes with zero baking required, which means you can stress-free snacking any day of the week.
  • The texture is perfectly chewy with just enough crunch to keep things interesting, and you control exactly what goes inside.
  • They actually taste indulgent even though they're packed with wholesome stuff like oats, nuts, and dried fruit.
02 -
  • If you use quick oats instead of old-fashioned, your bars will turn into a dense brick, so this is not the place to improvise.
  • The longer you refrigerate them, the cleaner your cuts will be—patience here saves you from crumbly frustration.
  • Don't skip the parchment paper overhang or you will spend 10 minutes picking at the pan edges with a spatula and questioning your life choices.
03 -
  • If your honey or peanut butter feels too thick, warm the saucepan for just 30 seconds more—it'll flow way easier and mix in more evenly.
  • Cut your bars slightly thicker than you think you want them, because they firm up even more after a day in the fridge and become less crumbly.
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