Granola Bars (No Bake, 5 Ingredients!) are quick, delicious and healthy with a classic honey nut flavor and chewy texture. Perfect snack!
These no-bake granola bars made from scratch are energizing, filling, and tasty and the simple honey and peanut flavor combo makes them great for a quick Breakfast or healthy Snack. For sweeter granola bar recipes, check out my Trail Mix Granola Bars and my Chocolate Chip Homemade Granola Bars.
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Granola Bars Recipe
Homemade Granola Bars are perfect for hiking, snacking in the afternoon, or grabbing on your way out the door. The mixture of oats, peanuts, and sugar offers a delicious burst of energy and nutrients to keep you going on a busy day.
Although you can easily buy a box of granola bars at the store, making your own is an excellent and easy option. It only takes a few minutes to prep homemade granola. Then, you have to leave it in the fridge to set for 1 hour. The homemade version tastes fresher, is customizable, and allows you to avoid artificial sweeteners.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: You’ll make a sugary syrup mixture to hold the Granola Bars together. Melt butter with the sweet ingredients to enhance the flavor and create a smoother texture. Remember to dice the butter into cubes to melt and mix into the sugar ingredients evenly.
- Brown Sugar: Your granola bar recipe calls for equal parts brown sugar and butter. The brown sugar gives the bars a rich, caramel-like flavor. The sugar cooks with the butter and breaks into a syrupy liquid.
- Honey: Add honey to the brown sugar and butter mixture for an enhanced sweet flavor and syrupy texture. Once you’ve made the syrup, stir it into the granola mix-ins. The sugar mixture will harden to hold the ingredients together into chewy and sweet bars.
- Rolled Oats: Oats are the base ingredient of this granola recipe. They add structure and chewy texture to the treats. Rolled oats are more sturdy and offer a better crunch than quick-cooking oats would.
- Salted Roasted Peanuts: Add roughly chopped peanuts to the mixture for extra texture and delicious salty flavor. Peanuts are a tasty option, but you can try many different mix-in options in homemade Granola Bars according to your taste.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- 8×8 Inch Baking Pan: Form the Granola Bar recipe using a square pan. I used 8×8 for thicker bars but if you use 9×9 baking , the bars will be just a bit thinner.
- Baking Spray: Spray your pan with nonstick cooking spray to keep the granola from sticking to the pan. You can also line it with parchment paper. Cut a piece of paper large enough to go up about an inch over the sides of the pan to lift the block out for easier cutting.
- Pot: You’ll need a small saucepan or pot to cook the butter and sugar syrup for your Granola Bars.
- Wooden spoon: Mix the sugar mixture with a wooden or heatproof silicone spoon.
- Knife: Wait for the granola to chill, then use a large chef’s knife to cut it into bars cleanly. The larger knife is better for slicing the bars without them cracking.
How to Make
Time needed: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Prep Work
Spray an 8×8 inch baking pan generously with baking spray or line with parchment paper.
- Prepare Sugar Mixture:
Add unsalted butter, brown sugar, and honey to a small pot and turn the stovetop to medium heat. Whisk as the butter melts, and continue to stir until bubbling. Then, keep cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
- Mix Dry Ingredients
Add the oats and peanuts to a large mixing bowl. Mix until it’s pretty evenly distributed.
- Add Syrup
Pour the prepared sugar and butter mixture over the top.
- Stir to Combine
Stir to coat the oats and nuts and combine the ingredients.
- Spread into Pan
Transfer the granola to the prepared pan, and use your hands to pack it down evenly.
- Chill and Slice
Cover the pan in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Once firm, slice into bars and serve.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter , cubed
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar , packed
- 2/3 cup honey
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup salted roasted peanuts , roughly chopped
Instructions
- Spray an 8×8" baking pan with baking spray very well. You can also line the pan with parchment paper.
- In a small pot over medium heat add the butter, brown sugar and honey and whisk on medium heat until bubbling then cook exactly for 2 minutes.
- In a large bowl add the oats and peanuts then pour the butter mixture in and whisk it together carefully to combine.
- Press into your pan gently packing it down slightly and let it solidify in the refrigerator before slicing for 2 hours.
Nutrition
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Can this be made ahead of time?
This recipe can be prepared ahead of time and enjoyed as a convenient breakfast or snack throughout the week. When kept covered or stored in an airtight container, Homemade Granola Bars can maintain their quality in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for up to two months. You can easily double up the recipe to enjoy one batch now and freeze the rest for later.
Nutritional Facts
Cooking Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Don’t let the sugar burn: While preparing the butter and sugar mixture, it’s important to keep an eye on the stove. Stir frequently to prevent the sugar from burning on the bottom of the pan.
- Allow to chill: Let the Granola Bars chill in the fridge for at least an hour before slicing them into rectangles. If you try to slice warm granola, it will stick to the knife and crumble. Allow ample time to set in the refrigerator to avoid uneven and sticky bars.
What to Pair With Granola Bars
Turn your Granola Bars into a breakfast by serving them with a creamy Strawberry Smoothie. Or, enjoy a crunchy bar with your morning coffee. Make delicious Cold Brew Coffee or a Caramel Macchiato for an invigorating snack and drink combo.
You can also serve your Granola Bar with a fresh fruit bowl, crumbled over Greek yogurt, or enjoyed like a piece of toast with a smear of Apple Butter.
How to Store
- Store: To keep your Granola Bar recipe fresh, wrap any leftover bars in parchment or wax paper to prevent them from sticking together. Then, place the Granola Bars in a zip-lock bag or an airtight container to keep them fresh in your fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze: Frozen Granola Bars can keep well for up to 2 months. Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer bag and freeze them for later.
- Serve: You can eat Granola Bars straight from the fridge or let them come back to room temperature. To enjoy frozen bars, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before eating them.
Ideas to Serve to Granola Bars
You can stack Granola Bars on a plate as an after-school snack or quick treat. Or, for an on-the-go option, wrap your homemade granola bars in plastic wrap and tie them closed. Then, you can grab one or two on your way out the door to snack on between meals.
Frequent Questions
You can still make this recipe while sticking to a vegan diet. Just swap out the butter for coconut oil and the honey for maple syrup or agave nectar.
It depends on the Granola Bar. Storebought bars can be packed with artificial flavors, corn syrup, and other unhealthy ingredients. This recipe has hearty oats and peanuts, which are great sources of vitamins and minerals. However, they also contain sugar and butter, so you should still eat them in moderation.
Variations
- Chocolate chips: Chocolate chips are a common ingredient in Granola bars, adding a sweet chocolate flavor to the oat blend. Mix ¼ cups of mini chocolate chips with the oats and nuts. Use semisweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips, depending on your flavor preference.
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars: Add ½ cup creamy peanut butter to the wet ingredients and oat mixture for rich, salty peanut butter flavor. You can also use other types of nut butter, such as almond butter or cashew butter.
- More mix-ins: The amazing thing about making your own Granola Bars is that you can customize them however you like. Get creative by adding your favorite ingredients like raisins, dried cranberries, M&M’s, coconut flakes, almonds, sunflower seeds, or hemp seeds.
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