These chewy no-bake granola bars are really easy to make and so delicious that every time I make some, half the pan is gone before I can put them away! I started doubling the recipe so I would have enough to set aside for snacks for the week! The great thing about this recipe is that you probably have the basic ingredients in your pantry already AND you can literally put these together in under 5 minutes! Plus they have no preservatives!
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This time I made white chocolate coconut cranberry bars but you can top them with whatever you like – mini chocolate chips, sliced almonds, chopped dried fruit, pecans, butterscotch chips, mini marshmallows, seeds…whatever! I’ve been making these for years but the recipe originally came from Lauren’s Lately (and she adapted it from Rachel Ray).
No-Bake Granola Bars
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups quick cooking oats (not rolled oats)
1 cup rice crispy cereal
1/4 cup butter (real butter)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup shredded coconut (optional)
Toppings of your choice (mine are craisins and white chocolate chips)
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, stir oats, rice cereal and shredded coconut (optional) together. Set this aside
2. In a small pot – melt butter, brown sugar and honey over medium high heat. Stir and let it start to bubble.
3. Once it it starts boiling, reduce the heat and cook for 2 minutes stirring. remove from heat
4. Add the vanilla and stir
5. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well until everything is completely coated.
6. At this point you can add in your mix-in items if you like your bars that way (I put mine on top). Just be sure that the mixture is a bit on the cool side if adding chocolate chips otherwise they will melt.
7. Pour into a well greased 13×9 baking dish (if you like thicker bars you can double the recipe or use a smaller pan). Spread out your mixture to fit the pan and sprinkle on any toppings (I like mine on top instead of mixed in)
8. Press very firmly. I wet my hands with cold water and press down hard all around the pan. If you do not press firmly your bars will not hold together.
9. Place the pan into the fridge for 20-25 minutes then cut into whatever size bars you like.
Wrap individually and store at room temperature. I put mine in plastic snack bags so they are easy to grab for a snack. They don’t last more than a week in my house!
*You could use gluten free oats and gluten free rice crispy cereal
I’d love hear what you think of them if you make them!
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Doreen@househoneys says
I love granola bars, providing they’re not filled with chemicals, and these sound perfect. These would be great to stuff in your bag to ward off the munchies. 🙂
Brenda Kula says
No preservatives sounds great to me!
Brenda
momstheword says
This looks yummy and yes, I would totally make it gluten-free. Back on 12/1 you did a post about painting your living room. I asked you about the fabric covered books you had on there and you posted a link on how you did it.
Thank you so much for that! For some strange reason my comment came up as “anonymous,” and I was never able to leave you a “thank you” follow up comment after your reply. Then it dawned on me that you probably don’t allow comments on old posts and that this is why I couldn’t respond, lol!
Anyway, I’m excited to try the fabric/paper wrapped books idea, so thank you so much for the reply and link! 🙂
Gentle Joy says
These look really tasty…. Thank you. 🙂
Michele says
This is great! I’m just about to make some other bars and this would be a great addition. I’m looking for snacks for myself and my grandson that are healthier. Thanks!
Jennie @ Little Girl Designs says
I’m always on the lookout for easy granola bar recipes–we love them! These sound delicious. Thanks for the note about really pressing firmly. Mine tend to come apart in chunks. I bet that’s the problem. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
Sharon Rowe says
Thank you for sharing at How To Get Organized At Home, I am so making these this weekend they look fantastic. Thanks again for sharing:)
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire says
ive never made a no bake granola bar like this before and I don’t know why not it’s so easy! Have to try your recipe asap. Thanks for sharing at the Sunday recipe wrap up
Nicole Neverman says
Thank you so much for attending week 16 of #PureBlogLove and linking your fantastic blog post, I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our next party, Thursday 8 PM EST- Sundays at midnight. Your post has been added to the #PureBlogLove Pinterest board for all to see 🙂 Have a great day!
Nicole