These no-bake granola bars are so easy to make and are a family favorite for us. I promise you, it literally takes minutes to whip these guys up and the family will thank you. For us, things like oats, nuts, peanut butter and chocolate are always on hand which is where the inspiration for this particular recipe came from. It all happened on a beautiful, chilly, rainy afternoon which always means time in the kitchen. Especially in Arizona because those kinds of cool weather days are few and far between. However, experimenting in the kitchen is a favorite past time for both of us here at GTK any day of the week.
We are also firm believers in the “homemade” method. That’s not to say that everything has to be homemade, it’s just that when you make things yourself, you get to be in control of what goes into the recipe. There are no weird or scary additives or preservatives going on in these granola bars.
The no-bake recipe is also the way to go. Some homemade granola bar recipes require you to cook the mixture but not these guys! You simply add the first six ingredients into a bowl, heat up the peanut butter to make it really smooth and thin, then pour it over the ingredients in the bowl. Add the honey and the vanilla and give it a stir. Once it’s all nicely combined, spread it evenly on a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper then top it off with the delicious chocolate chunks and toss it into the fridge to set. Allow the bars to set for at least two hours then remove from fridge and cut into squares. You can store the bars in the fridge or freezer. Be sure to line the layers with parchment or wax paper to prevent them from sticking together. These are a perfect, on the go homemade snack.
- 2 C gluten free rolled oats
- ½ C lightly chopped cashews
- 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ C unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 C peanut butter (we used Skippy Natural)
- ¼ C raw honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- kosher salt to taste
- ¼ C dark chocolate chunks
- In a large bowl mix the first 6 ingredients together. Add peanut butter to a small microwave safe bowl, microwave about 20 seconds until runny. Add peanut butter, honey and vanilla to the oat mixture. Mix together with a spatula, add kosher salt to taste.
- Line the base of a 6X12 inch jellyroll pan with wax paper. Press mixture into the pan firmly with your hands until packed down and even. Sprinkle the chocolate chunks over the top, pressing them firmly into the mixture.
- Allow to set in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Cut into equal pieces. Store in the freezer in a large tupperware container with wax paper lined between the layers.
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