These homemade Healthy Granola Bars are so easy to make with only 4 ingredients and are so delicious you wont believe they're healthy! Made using whole foods and a no-bake method great for a quick snack anytime.
These homemade Granola Bars taste that good you won't believe they're healthy! I've always loved granola bars and used to take them to school and work. Unfortunately though, so many store-bought bars are full of sugar, oils and preservatives, making them more like candy bars. It wasn't until I was in my 20’s where I started reading labels properly and couldn't believe what was in them, so I stopped buying them completely. Here my granola bar recipe is delicious and nutritious with a balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
They're made with only 4 ingredients with an easy no-bake method. I've used wholesome whole foods including rolled oats, honey for sweetness, nut butter and chopped nuts. If you love my viral breakfast cookies and healthy granola clusters you will absolutely love these too! The options are endless and you can customize them with different flavors, nuts, dried fruits or even add chocolate chips.
Back in Australia, they are known as "muesli bars" and they were in every kid's lunchbox growing up. You all know I'm all about putting healthy twists on my favorite recipes, so these granola bars are so nostalgic, but nutritious too. They're chewy with a little crunch from the nuts to make the perfect quick snack, breakfast or on the go pick me up. Some other healthy twists I've shared are my tuna melt, protein bagels and even banana bread.
Table of Contents
What makes this recipe special
- Quick & Easy: They take 15 minutes to prepare with easy steps so anyone can follow
- Healthy & Nutritious: Using wholefoods with a balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats
- Simple Ingredients: Using 4 staple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry
- Customizable: Add different mix-ins so you can change it up every time with what you have handy
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Rolled oats are the base that gives the bars their chewy texture. For best results, use traditional oats because steel cut and quick oats don’t work well. You can substitute with gluten-free oats as needed
- Mixed nuts and seeds, I’ve used a combination of almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds. Some other options are pecans, pistachios, cashews, sunflower seeds, flax seeds or chia seeds
- Peanut butter, I always recommend buying natural peanut butter for my recipes that only has 100% peanuts as the ingredient without any added oils. Preferably creamy runny peanut butter is best for easy mixing. You can swap for almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter or even tahini to be nut-free
- Pure Honey adds natural sweetness and binds the bars together. If you want to try a vegan version, you can use agave, maple syrup or brown rice syrup, but I haven't tested this myself
- Melted dark chocolate for an optional drizzle for extra indulgence. Mini chocolate chips can be added into the mixture instead too
Other Variations and Mix-Ins
Get creative and add all kinds of different mix-ins. Here are some ideas:
- Different nuts such as cashew, pecans, pistachios
- Almond butter or cashew butter
- Shredded coconut or coconut flakes
- Vanilla extract
- Mini milk, dark or white chocolate chips
- Dried fruits
- Cranberries, raisins / sultanas
- Cinnamon, nutmeg or other spices
How to make Healthy Granola Bars
These healthy homemade granola bars come together fast with 4 simple wholesome ingredients and are so delicious. Follow my easy steps below (note quantities are listed in the recipe card below)
Step 1: Roughly chop the nuts and spread them on a baking sheet with the rolled oats then toast in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes
Step 2: In a large bowl, stir together the honey and peanut butter. If the mixture is too thick (especially in colder months), microwave for 20–40 seconds until smooth and runny
Step 3: Add the toasted oats and nuts to the bowl with a pinch of salt. Stir well, making sure there are no dry spots at the bottom
Step 4: Line a container or baking dish (~9.5 x 8 inches / 24 x 20 cm) with parchment paper. Pour in the mixture and flatten evenly with the back of a spoon, pressing into the corners
Step 5: Place a second sheet of parchment on top and press firmly with a cup to make the surface flat and compact
Step 6: Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight for best results
Step 7: Slice the set slab into 12 rectangles or 16 smaller squares
Step 8: For the chocolate drizzle, melt the chocolate in the microwave or over a double boiler, drizzle over the bars, and chill again to set. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Toasting the dry ingredients (oats and nuts) in the oven adds more flavor and texture before mixing
- If the wet ingredients seem thick, like peanut butter and/or honey (especially in the colder months), then microwave for 20-40 seconds. Alternatively, you can heat in a small saucepan over the stove top
- Line your baking dish with parchment paper for easy clean up and so they don't get stuck to the dish
- Press the mixture firmly into the dish pan in one even layer without any gaps to help the bars stick together
- Chill in the fridge or freezer until fully set, so you get cleaner cuts when slicing. I find shorter rectangle sizes hold together best, you can even slice into smaller squares for kids
Storage Instructions
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week
- Alternatively freeze for 2 months, if you're meal planning. Allow them to thaw at room temperature before eating
FAQs
This depends on the brand and the ingredients used. Unfortunately most store-bought granola bars are high in sugars, oils and preservatives, so making your own granola bars using wholesome ingredients is the healthier option
In my recipe, honey and natural peanut butter act as the binding ingredients. For best results, use runny products or heat until the mixture is a runny consistency
Yes you can try an alternative nut butter such as cashew butter or almond butter, or try nut-free alternatives such as sunflower seed butter or also tahini
More No-Bake Healthy Sweets
More Granola Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Healthy Granola Bars (4 Ingredients, No Bake)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups traditional rolled oats
- 1 cup mixed nuts and seeds - I've used almonds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup smooth natural peanut butter (preferably runny)
- ½ cup pure honey (or agave if vegan)
- Pinch of salt
- *Optional 1oz / 30g dark chocolate for a chocolate drizzle
Instructions
- Roughly chop up the nuts and add them to a baking sheet with the rolled oats. *Optional - bake the oats and nuts in the oven at 400℉ / 200℃ for 5 minutes to lightly toast them. This is optional for extra flavor, or you can skip to the next step
- In the meantime add the honey and peanut butter to a large bowl and stir together. *If the mixture seems thick especially in the colder months, microwave for 20-40 seconds so you have a smooth and runny consistency
- Add the toasted oats and nuts to the bowl along with a good pinch of salt. Stir until everything is well combined and ensure there are no dry parts left at the bottom
- Line a container or baking dish with parchment paper - my dish is 9.5 x 8 inches / 24 x 20 cm in size, or it can be slightly larger for thinner bars.Pour in the mixture using the back of a spoon and flatten to an even layer, making sure to also get all the corners
- Place a new piece of parchment paper on top and using a cup, press down and smooth out the top, making it flat and compact without any gaps Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for a few hours to set or even better overnight
- Once it has been set to a large slab, using a sharp knife slice into 12 even bars. You can also slice into 16 smaller squares if you prefer
- If adding the chocolate drizzle, melt the chocolate in the microwave or using a double boiler method. Drizzle over the tops of the granola bars and place back in the fridge to setStore in the fridge or freezer and enjoy your Healthy Homemade Granola Bars!
Alicia Baptista says
Me encantan las recetas de Ayeh porque son sanas y sencillas y a mi familia les encantan
Ayeh Manfre says
¡Me alegro mucho de escuchar eso 🙂
ro says
What can i put in place of the oatmeal? Gluten free and Oat Free.
Thanks!
Ayeh Manfre says
You can try and substitute with puffed rice, gf cereal, quinoa flakes, and even increase the nuts - I haven't tested this though but would love to know how they turn out 🙂
Brushjl says
Can i use amaranth or millet here? I've got some I'd like to use up.
Ayeh Manfre says
I haven't tested with those grains myself, but its worth a shot 🙂 You can maybe use a mix of those and the rolled oats
Jacqui says
The title says no bake. The instructions say to bake! Which is it.
Ayeh Manfre says
There's no need to bake the granola bars, they set in the fridge 🙂 The step to toast the oats for 5 mins is for extra flavor and totally optional. Sorry for the confusion Jacqui:)
Gerry says
I made these Granola Bars this morning and they are delicious! So easy to make and only 4 ingredients; I'll definitely be making them again. ❤
Ayeh Manfre says
So happy you loved them Gerry!