I really enjoy a good bar, but they are not only getting expensive to buy BUT are also full of surprising ingredients that I just couldn’t get behind. Why is there corn syrup and BLUE-2 in my child’s granola bars?! I knew that I needed to create a recipe that was picky eater friendly, affordable AND better for you. You are welcome.
These chewy alternative bars are made with simple ingredients and come together with 15 minutes of prep. My kids (and husband) have told me these taste better than storebought and prefer them even over rice crispy squares. Truth be told, I really enjoy them too. AND, no baking required.
What Is So Bad About Storebought Granola Bars?
Now firstly, let’s not look at certain foods and label it as “bad” for us. Not a good mindset. But what I do encourage with myself is thinking what can I work towards that would be better or a better option. This may come down to ingredients, price point, etc.
As for bars in general, here are just a few ingredients that you will find in them when purchasing from the store:
- Refined Oils: These oils are canola oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, safflower oil and corn oils. These oils are banned in certain countries because they do not promote a healthy body, especially when consumed daily. Such oils are also bleached to bring down the heavy gas smell since they are pressed using a gas. It can lead to huge gut problems which can trickle into causing acne, migraines, hormone imbalances, an inflamed body and more. Some health experts say these oils are the worst things your body can consume, and it is in over 95% of snacks, cereals, vegan foods and milks, bars, chips and more sold at your local store.
- Glucose/Corn Syrup: This is just straight up condensed sugar. Now, don’t get me wrong, I really like sugar but prefer using organic cane sugar or honey as they are less processed and more natural. Sugars such as a glucose or corn syrup can disrupt insulin levels, lead to huge gut health problems and that can affect everything else in the body. These types of sugars your body does not know what to do with and they create much harm and inflammation to your system.
- Artificial Colours: Food dyes/colours are man-made chemicals sourced from petroleum. Petroleum is a crude oil product known to make gasoline, diesel, asphalt and plastics. In many store sauces you may find under the ingredients BLUE-1, BLUE-2, RED-2, RED-3, RED-40, GREEN-3, ORANGE-B, YELLOW-5 and/or YELLOW-6. These are artificial dyes/colours. They work to disrupt the general working of the immune system, are harmful to the gut and have cancer causing agents.
- Artificial Flavours: Such flavours are made in a lab, containing dangerous chemicals and toxins for the body. They actually work to not just provide flavour but to trick your brain into having more and more and then even MORE. Plus, there are wide traces of heavy metals in them!
- Lack Of Nutrition: I am always shocked to see how storebought granola bars are no better than a candy bar nutritionally. I actually in some cases would rather give my kids a candy bar! There are even some granola bar brands that list “oats” as one of the last ingredients while corn syrup and oils are some of the first.
My chewy alternative granola bars are sweetened with honey an organic brown sugar, and are made primarily out of oats and organic rice cereal. We also add in some sea salt, flax and cinnamon! You are also not forced to make these into bars. Sometimes, I press the bar mixture into fun silicone molds and pop them out to enjoy when cooled.
No Bake Chewy Granola Bars Ingredients
- Salted Butter: If dairy free, you may use a butter alternative. I love a good salted butter because it in anti-inflammatory and gives such good flavour to these bars,
- Brown Sugar: I make my own brown sugar at home using organic cane sugar and molasses. Any brown sugar will do! It will add a great warmth and sweetness to these bars.
- Honey: I use liquid honey here for a lighter sweetness than if I was to use a creamed honey.
- Vanilla: Added because it smells amazing and adds a great baked good flavour to your bars.
- Quick Oats: I get my oats from our local mill, and yes, they are organic and so yummy. Quick oats will help create softer bars, like that classic chewy bar texture.
- Crispy Rice Cereal: Cereal can contain a lot of preservatives and unnecessary ingredients so if this bother you, find an organic crispy white rice cereal that is unsweetened. Natures Path is our favorite brand for these!
- Ground Flax: This adds good flavour and health benefits! Add in more if desired.
- Cinnamon: Since these bars are sweet, cinnamon can help warm up the flavour of these bars making the sweetness very enjoyable.
- Sea Salt: For electrolyte replenishment and to compliment the sweetness of the honey and sugar.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: You can use any size chocolate chips, I just find the mini ones suite this bar best both proportionally and taste wise. We use dark chocolate chips for extra iron.
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Add any other extras to your mix such as nuts, raisins or dried cranberries. Or, substitute the chocolate chips for coconut flakes, chopped nuts or even drizzle melted chocolate on top!
How To Make No Bake Chewy Granola Bars From Scratch
These are easy to whip up in under 20 minutes and then simply let them cool in the fridge. You don’t need anything fancy beyond your favorite pot, mixing spoon and a mold for your bars.
STEP 1: MELT AND BOIL
In a pot, melt down your butter and incorporate the sugars and vanilla. Let this mixture come to a boil, over a medium high heat.
STEP 2: MIX
Turn off the heat and add in your remaining ingredients, minus the chocolate chips. Stir this very well so as to not have any chunks or misplaced flavours.
STEP 3: PRESS AND MOLD
Place your granola mixture into your molds and press down well to ensure your bars will be firm and not crumble during cutting or removal. Sprinkle your mini chocolate chips on top and press them in gently to encourage they stick to the bar tops!
STEP 4: COOL
Once they are in their molds, pop them into the fridge to cool, for about an hour. After cooling, remove from the fridge. Slice into bar shapes and enjoy immediately.
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How To Store
Store in an airtight container in the fridge or in a cool place. If stacking, place a piece of parchment paper in between the layers. Feel free to also wrap each bar individually using cling wrap or parchment strips. Keeps for 7-10 days.
If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to share and tag me @sarahthereseco on Instagram and come back here to rate and leave a comment!
No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- ⅓ Cup Salted Butter
- ⅓ Cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ Cup Honey
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla
- 1½ Cups Quick Oats
- 2½ Cups Crispy Rice Cereal
- 1 Tablespoon Ground Flax
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- In a medium sized pot, add in your butter on a medium/low heat. Let it melt slowly and incorporate your sugar, honey and vanilla. Stir constantly and bring up the heat to a medium/high. We want the mixture to start bubbling.
- Once the mixture is bubbly and foaming, turn the heat off and stir until the bubbles settle. Add in your remaining ingredients, minus the chocolate chips, and stir in between each ingredient incorporation.
- Once everything is well combined and still warm, grab your rectangular or square form of choice to press your granola bars into. I like using two 5×10 bread loaf pans, lining them with parchment paper.
- Split your granola bar mixture between the two pans and using a buttered or greased back spoon, work to firmly press the mixture down. We want it quite compacted so these bars stay together once they are cut.
- Grab your mini chocolate chips and sprinkle them on top of the granola mixture and push them in gently.
- Cover the bars and set them in the fridge for an hour to harden.
- Remove from the fridge and take the granola mixture from the containers. Use a sharp knife to cut them into bar shapes. I usually get about 14 bars from one batch!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or a cool place. If stacking, place a piece of parchment in between layers to prevent sticking. Keeps for 7-10 days.
My whole family loves these! We dipped our in coconut chocolate! So tasty
That sounds so delicious Hannah!
These sound delicious! Do you know if they freeze well? I’m prepping some snacks for postpartum with my second babe and would love to add these bars into my snack stash 🙂
Such a good question and way to go for prepping your post partum snacks! Yes, they do freeze well, but I recommend wrapping each individually in parchment or wrap before freezing. I found they got rather stuck to each other in the freezer and once they thawed in the fridge, they were a little wild to separate. So yes, make these bars, wrap them and freeze. When ready to enjoy, thaw them in the fridge!
Truly amazing! The most delicious granola bar that actually holds its shape. In the past I’ve tried granola bar recipes and they would fall apart or it just wouldn’t taste good. These are simple and yet so perfect. I have them all cut up and wrapped up in plastic wrap for school lunches this week. Thanks Sarah!!
Thank you Christine! I am about to make a batch here for snacks for the week!
Very delicious! I will definitely be making these again!
Cheers Sarah!
My friend made these the other day. Hers tasted just like rice crispy treats (but better). So naturally, I had to make some for my family. By the time I realized the bars called for crispy rice cereal, it was too late. I didn’t have any on hand… BUT I added extra oats and some chia seeds and wow. What a lovely recipe.
Way to go Chela, working with what you have! We love that!!
Made these a few days ago. Will definitely make again!
Thanks Elle! My kids are asking me to make another batch already!
Wow! I’ve always been scared to make granola bars at home, because I never thought they would be good. And this recipe just blew me away! I added some peanuts on the inside, drizzled chocolate on top, and they taste 10 times better than store bought!!
Thank you Emma!
Would everything still go well if I use maple syrup instead of honey? (I’m not a fan of honey.) Also, I never have ground flax around the house, so do you have any suggestions for common substitutes? Or is it okay if I omit it completely? Thanks!
You can omit the flax or replace it with hemp or even chia seeds if you like! As for the maple syrup, I have not tried that substitution. It is time to experiment! The honey is much more sticky, creating a stickier bar, but maple syrup may do the trick too!
Thank you very much for your reply!
I’ve made these with maple syrup and they work well! Fabulous recipe, I’m about to make another batch tonight for my little ones school lunchboxes (and for me, lets be real)
So cool, thanks!!
My 3yr old helped me make these last night – They are a total hit! Thank you thank you!
Awh amazing, thanks Julia!
Yum!! Made these with puffed brown rice instead of the rice crispies. Didn’t have ground flax but added some puffed quinoa too. Delicious! Child and husband approved. This will become a new staple of ours I think. Thank you Sarah!
Thank YOU Ashley!
Does your youngest eat them? Struggling to find good snack for my 1 year old and I try to eat do the mini method where he eats what we eat.
Yes, but I usually cut smaller bars for him and he is nearing 2!
Loved these granola bars! Only did 1 1/2 of crispy rice cereal and they turned out so well! Thanks for the recipe!
Making these today! I only have rolled oats, not quick oats… do you think that would still work? Excited for a new, fun snack this week for our homeschool lessons!
I followed the recipe exactly and they are very nice. Though I do feel the could benefit from the additions you recommend futher up the post so I will be adding some of those next time. for a bit of additional texture and flavour.
Made these tonight and if my toddler doesn’t eat them all I will! I love how much the recipe makes and being able to freeze some is so nice. Thank you!
The best granola bars we’ve ever had! I make them constantly and my picky toddler is even obsessed.
Wow this recipe is simply amazing! I can’t eat oats so I subbed puffed rice and puffed millet, plus the rice cereal, nuts, seeds, added goji berries, and swapped butter for coconut oil and brown sugar for coconut sugar. Worked so great! Thank you for putting together these lovely recipes.
These are my go-to, favorite granola bars!
These are great! I subbed brown sugar for coconut sugar and it was a great swap, I added a spoonful of peanut butter to a batch too and both were great!
My family loves these! I added about 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut right before pressing the mixture into the mold.
Great recipe! Since I used plant based protein powder, I added just a little extra of each wet ingredient (because I’ve heard that plant protein sucks up more water) in recipes. Turned out perfectly! So delicious and moist and chocolatey!
I was running low on store bought granola bars, so I decided to make my own and use this recipe! My husband and I liked how these turned out! I wonder though if I can swap out the honey for maple syrup next time?
These are a staple in our home now! So quick, tasty, and easily customizable. I use puffed brown rice for the rice cereal and a flax/chia/hemp seed blend – such a rich flavor!
These are perfection! Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
These are fantastic and will be a new staple for our family! Thank you!