Nut Free Granola Bars

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5 from 85 votes
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These nut free granola bars are made with just 4 ingredients and require NO baking. No dairy, no butter, and no nuts needed, they make a filling and healthy snack! 

nut free granola bars

Nut Free Granola Bars

When it comes to nut free snacks, my favorite recipes to make are flapjacks, chocolate muffins, and these nut free granola bars. 

It’s no secret that I’m a serial snacker and when I recently had to cut out nuts from my diet to do some allergy testing, my snack game remained strong. This is due to countless batches of insanely delicious nut free bars! 

Why these nut free granola bars will be your favorite nut free recipe-

  • 4 ingredients. For such a easy and delicious snack, you’ll love that it’s made with just four ingredients- oats, tahini, honey, and dried fruit! 
  • Easily customizable. Not a fan of dried fruit? Swap it out for some seeds, coconut flakes, or vegan chocolate chips. 
  • No baking required. Keep those ovens turned off because these require zero baking. 
  • Back to school friendly. With most schools now adopting a nut free environment, you can keep your kids satisfied between classes with these homemade granola bars. 

I’ve been meaning to share a nut free granola bar recipe for quite some time. They’ve been one of my favorite office snacks to share with my colleagues because many of them have peanut allergies and I’d rather not use ANY nuts! 

No nuts, no butter, and no oil are needed, but you’d never tell. The texture is soft and chewy, yet stable at room temperature. They are pleasantly sweet with bits of dried fruit throughout, and you won’t taste the tahini at all. 

With many of us in situations like schools or workplaces that are peanut free and have actual bans on any nut products, these homemade granola bars are your snacking answer, nut allergy or not!

How do you make nut free granola bars?

The Ingredients

  • Quick oats– Quick cooking or instant oats. If you’d like these granola bars to be gluten free, use certified gluten free oats. 
  • Salt– Just a pinch to bring out the sweet flavors. 
  • Tahini– Smooth and drippy tahini or sunflower seed butter (sunbutter). 
  • Honey– Raw honey, but you can also use brown rice syrup or golden syrup. If you use the latter two, your granola bars will be much darker. 
  • Dried fruit– I used a mix of dried apricots, cranberries, and blueberries. 

The Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add the oats and salt and set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, combine your tahini and honey and microwave in 15-second spurts until the honey is warm and the tahini has softened. Whisk together until combined. Next, add the wet ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix together until combined.

Now, transfer into a lined square pan and press the mixture into the pan and smooth out the top. Refrigerate the bars for at least an hour to firm up.

no bake nut free granola bars

Tips to make the best recipe

  • For an even chewier texture, you can sub out half the quick cooking oats with rolled oats. 
  • If you don’t follow a nut free diet, peanut butter or almond butter can be used instead of the tahini. 
  • If you use sunflower seed butter, don’t be alarmed if your bars turn a slight tinge of green- It’s a common occurrence with all sorts of recipes using it. 
  • Feel free to add other nut-free mix ins, like vegan chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or seeds. 

Storing and freezing no bake nut free bars

  • To store: Granola bars are best stored in the refrigerator, covered. They will keep well for up 2 weeks. 
  • To freeze: Place leftover bars in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

nut free bars

More no bake snack recipes to try

Nut Free Granola Bars

Nut Free Granola Bars (4 Ingredients!)

5 from 85 votes
These nut free granola bars are soft, chewy, and made with 4 ingredients! No baking required, these bars are a healthy and wholesome snack!
Servings: 12 servings
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 2 minutes
Total: 4 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup tahini or sunflower seed butter
  • 1/4 cup honey or brown rice syrup
  • 1/3 cup dried fruit apricots, blueberries, and cranberries

Instructions 

  • Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add your oats in salt and mix well. In a microwave safe bowl, add the tahini and honey and microwave in 20-second spurts until the honey is warm. Whisk the honey and tahini together until smooth. Transfer the melted mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold through the dried fruit at the end.
  • Transfer the mixture into the lined pan and press down until smooth on top. Refrigerate the bars for at least an hour to firm up.
  • Remove the pan from the refrigerator and slice into bars.

Notes

TO STORE: Granola bars are best stored in the refrigerator, covered. They will keep well for up 2 weeks. 
TO FREEZE: Place leftover bars in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 121kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 2gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 13g
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. PG 13…Sassy Sunday Sexcapades or just PG Say Anything Sunday.

    Man that kid can dance. I could learn a thing or two. I may need to bring his moves to my kitchen dance parties.

    1. Next time I EVER complain I have no time to do a cardio workout- I’m copying his dance moves. Seriously. That puts body pump and step classes to shame.

  2. 5 stars
    Seriously?! That little guys got some MOVES! Dang! Haha! And I think, yeah, pretty sure that I’m the only person who never used MSN. I was into some chat rooms and stuff when I was a teenager, but my computer time was limited…like I was only able to “sneak” and use it when my parents weren’t around and that wasn’t often enough! Ha!

    Hmm, as far as the link up goes, I think if you’re wanting to go with the whole “S” thing, it should definitely be on a Saturday…plus I think since not a lot of bloggers post on Saturdays (including myself) it would be something fun without making anyone start to feel obligated to link up? Maybe… Shout it out Saturday? Say MORE Saturday?

    1. I know right- Its my new go- to HIIT workout lol!

      You and me both- My mum went to such extremes like taking the modem with her whenever I had a day off school lol!

      Thanks for the link up ideas- I think a Sunday one is it- now for the name….I personally wanted something PG13 but I’m afraid it’ll be a 3 person party with us and Meghan.

  3. Spill It Saturday/Sunday. Friday Free Fallings. Talkative Tuesdays. Tell It Tuesday. Monday Mumbles. Thursday Thoughts. Ahhhh… Fried brain over here. I’ve got nothing else. I’ve used up all of my smart words for the reports I’m writing.

    Alright. Not really as I only have 2 paragraphs done.

    I never used MSN, but I did use AOL/AIM. And I can completely relate to all of those. Did MSN have little robot messengers? My friends and I used to harass “Cupid” all of the time and we’d get the most hilarious auto responses back.

    1. We had those moving motion things of dinasours and watermelon ladies (?) haha- that sounds so wrong!

      I definitely like the ‘T’ suggestions- Most people are keen for a Thursday link up so I’ll have to brainstorm T words!

      2 paragraphs is still an achievement….I would take breaks after every damn sentence when essay writing…oops.

  4. 5 stars
    I am useless with creative stuff so will leave for others – fun for the rest of the post! 🙂 Too funny on the mustache & dancing & well,m so much! Great recipe!

    1. The moustache is NOT a great look on me- It actually looks fake haha! I’m going to do that dance next time I want to do HIIT.

  5. 5 stars
    I did AIM, but not MSN! I don’t know if it’s a timing thing or a country thing or what. How about “Saturdays/ Sundays are for Sharing,” “Saturday/ Sunday Selfie: Blog-Style,” “Thursday Thoughts” …. OK that’s all I’ve got. 🙂 Excited to learn more about the bloggers, though!

    1. Thanks for the suggestions Megan- I think the consensus is for a Thursday or incorporating thoughts is one to consider 😉

      I do think Aim is an American thing and MSN elsewhere! Definitely excited to roll this out!

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