chewy no bake granola bars
Hands down, the most CHEWY and delicious granola bar you’ll ever make which requires NO baking! Vegan, gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free, they are perfectly customisable- A great grab and go snack or breakfast!
Having to be on the go consiistently, I rely on snack bars to keep me going between working/studying/procrastination. Yes. Even procrastination takes a SUBSTANTIAL amount of energy. I decided to try and create a bar which would be full of healthy fats, natural sugars and whole grains.
I chucked a few dry ingredients in a bowl which I had on hand, and tested out a few liquid sweeteners to find one which would bind the bars well. I lucked out and and found a perfect ratio!
These bars being no bake, are so chewy, dense and flavourful. You will not miss the addition of sugar as the raisins, medjool dates and brown rice syrup provides more enough sweetness and the nuts add the much desired crunch we all love in a bar. The coconut butter was a random (much appreciated) addition.
Chewy No Bake Granola Bars
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 120 grams 1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
- 1 cup of raisins
- 1 cup roasted almonds chopped roughly
- 2 medjool dates chopped roughly
- 2 tablespoon dried berries of choice
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- Dash of sea salt
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
Wet ingredients
- 2/3 cup brown rice syrup*
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted (can substitute for any light flavoured oil)
- 1 tablespoon coconut butter
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix up the rolled oats, raisins, almonds, dates and dried berries. Add in the sesame seeds, sea salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a microwave proof bowl, mix the brown rice syrup and coconut oil until well combined. Drop the coconut oil in it and break apart as much as possible.
- Heat in the microwave until melted (time depending on your microwave- for me it was 1.5 minutes)
- Remove from microwave and pour the liquid over the dry mixture and ensure it is very well combined
- Grease a cake tin/baking tray or line with parchment paper. Press the mixture into it and refrigerate immediately. Allow granola bars to set before cutting bars into 6 pieces.
Notes
* These bars may be difficult to firm up at times- Try increasing the sticky syrup and/or coconut oil.
Are you fan of pre packaged bars or homemade ones?
Have you had a recent random recipe success?
Nothing beats a homemade granola bar!
Right? Thanks !
is there anything else you can add instead of coconut butter that is something I just don’t have in my cupboard? I was thinking PB?
Of course! Definitely use peanut butter! Hope you enjoy Rosie! 🙂
Love these bars. Sharing them on IG in a few. They look so good! I wish I could have a couple right about now.
Thanks SO much for that Miryam- It meant a tonne! 🙂
These are fantastic! Easy & fun to do with my son! We added flax seeds & chia seeds to the mix too. And organic gluten free choc chips. Mind you…I was too late cause I had already dumped the choc chips in the dry mixture….BUT will make sure to put in chips after the microwaved wet mixture next time! Still came out ok…just a bit more chocolatey throughout!?
Wendy! thank you so much for your kind comment! Um… I think that was a delicious mistake…swirls of chocolate throughout? I’m a fan! Flax and chia would have been such a great fiber boosting idea- I’ll try it out tomorrow when I make these! 🙂
Ive looked and looked at the recipe. I just dont know when to add the coconut butter? I made these once before and just added the butter to the brown rice and coconut mix. Still turned out wonderful. Loved the granola bars. Still confused though when to add the coconut butter. Im going to make these again right now. Thanks Cathy
P.S. I also used carob chips instead of chocolate. I have a chocolate sensitivity.
Hi Cathy Jo! Apologies for that oversight- You included in at the perfect moment 🙂 I’m so glad it worked out for you and how delicious are carob chips!! I just found a brand which do carob chunks and they are so delicious!
These look delicious….how long will they last? Thinking of making them for Christmas gifts, so don’t want to make them too early.
Do these need to be kept refrigerated? I’m looking for something to pack when I go on trips. With ask my food allergies it’s difficult to eat on the road if I don’t pack food.
Hi Heather! If you don’t make them too sticky, they are perfect wrapped in foil/glad wrap and packed- That’s how I do it 🙂
When I’ve tried to make granola bars using coconut oil they’ve become soft and fallen apart at room temperature.
I’m sorry to hear that, Kirby- You could try replacing it with a nut butter? I’m not sure why it’s not working for you as that is the key for it to firm up! 🙂
I made these and they taste delicious! Any idea on how to make them stick together better though? Because when I cut them up, it loosened all of the packed granola. Thanks!
Hi Julia! I’d definitely recommend adding an extra tablespoon of syrup or increasing the coconut oil by a tad 🙂