These accidentally vegan No Bake Granola Bars are perfect if you have a sweet tooth, but want a slightly more nutritious option. You can have these ready in under half an hour and you’ll have delicious snacks ready for the week!
Introducing my delicious (but healthy) Granola Bars! All you’ll need is some peanut butter, a little maple syrup, vanilla extract, rolled oats, and whatever you choose to throw in there.
Who says ‘healthy’ has to be bland and boring?
How to Make My No Bake Granola Bars
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll realise that I’m a sucker for anything ‘no bake’. If I can have something delicious whipped up without turning my oven on, you can bet I’m going to do it.
For this granola bar recipe, you’ll only require a handful of ingredients, and you can customise them however you’d like (I’ve given some suggestions below though!).
Let’s get started!
To begin with…
Grab a bowl, then combine the nut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt – mix well!
Then, stir in the oats, ground almonds, and seeds (and any other desired add-ins) until fully incorporated
Next, transfer the mixture to a lined loaf tin and press it down FIRMLY
Then, melt your chocolate with the coconut oil in a bain marie (video below!) or microwave. If you opt for the microwave, heat in 30 second intervals and stir until smooth.
By the way, the coconut oil is optional but will give the chocolate topping a softer more pleasant texture.
We keep going! Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the top of the pressed mixture in the loaf tin, spreading it evenly.
Place the loaf tin in the freezer and allow it to set completely (until the chocolate topping has solidified).
Once the chocolate has hardened, take the tin out of the freezer, remove the loaf from the tin and slice it into bars.
TOP TIP: You can cut them into squares too! This is probably, structurally, a little more ‘solid’
I’ll explain how to store them later in the article!
How to Set Up a Bain Marie
A ‘Bain Marie’, also known as a ‘Double Boiler’, is a method of melting ‘delicate’ ingredients like chocolates, custards, and sauces.
Below is a great video on how to set up a Bain Marie with regular kitchen utensils.
It only takes a minute or two to set up, and you literally just need a heat-proof bowl and a pan of boiling water!
Want to Customise Your Granola Bars? Here’s Some Ideas You Can Mix In…
Firstly, you can use ANY nut butter you fancy! Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew… take your pick!
Secondly, you can play around with your ‘add-ins’. I went for sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds for some added crunch and nutrients, but you can use Cacao Nibs, Dried Fruits (e.g. Raisins, Cranberries, Apricots), or Coconut Flakes!
Ultimately you can customise these bars as much as you like – in fact, I actively encourage it! Experiement and have fun!
If you’re wondering what chocolate I recommend, it’s ALWAYS Firetree Vegan Chocolate. It’s by far my favourite dairy free chocolate at the moment! There are plenty of other great options though!
How to Line a Loaf Tin
You’ll need to line a load tin for this recipe – so here’s a great video on EXACTLY how to do this in the most efficient way! No more wasted baking paper – you’re welcome!
Ingredients You’ll Need…
If you’re going to make these no bake granola bars, you’ll need the following:
Peanut Butter: The peanut butter provides a lovely rich, nutty flavour that serves as the ‘base’ for the granola bars. Peanut butter is also a great source of plant-based protein and healthy fats!
Maple Syrup: I mean, what else is there to say? Maple syrup is the best. For these no bake granola bars, maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and that distinctive warm, slightly caramelised flavour. It also helps to bind the bars together.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds a depth and complexity to the flavour.
Rolled Oats: You’ll one the ‘old fashioned’ kind of oats – not steel cut. This allows for a more ‘chewy’ texture. Oats are also a great source of soluble fibre which helps with digestion!
Ground Almonds: Almonds add a lovely additional nutty flavour to the bars. They’re also a good source of healthy fats, fibre, vitamin E, and Magnesium
Pumpkin Seeds: I LOVE Pumpkin seeds – and they add a lovely earthy flavour to these bars (as well as a crunchy texture). Nutritionally, they are rich in plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and fibre.
Sunflower Seeds: Again, these provide a nice slightly nutty flavour with a little crunch. They’re also, again, a wonderful source of plant-based protein and healthy fats
As I said, and I’ll continue to say – this recipe is so versatile! There’s so much you can add in! So play around – experiment – have fun! But here a few options:
- Medjool Dates
- Flax Seeds & Chia Seeds
- Walnuts & Pecans
- Dried Cranberries, Banana & Raisins
No Bake Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup smooth nut butter I use peanut butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.25 cups rolled oats
- 1/4 cup ground almonds
- 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds or another add in of choice
- 3 tbsp sunflower seeds or another add in of choice
- Pinch salt
Chocolate Topping
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or a bar broken up!)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil optional
Instructions
- Mix the nut butter with the maple syrup, vanilla extract and pinch salt.
- Add the oats, ground almonds and seeds (or other add ins of choice!)
- Press into a lined loaf tin.
- Melt the chocolate with the coconut oil in a Bain Marie/double boiler or in the microwave in 30 second bursts – you can leave out the coconut oil if you don't have it, it just gives the chocolate topping a softer texture.
- Pour this over and spread out. Place in the freezer to set. Once the chocolate has set, remove and slice into bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
How to Store These No Bake Granola Bars
To store your beautiful, tasty and nutritious granola bars, you’ll want to put them in an airtight container in your fridge (refrigerator).
How long do they last? Well, if you do put them in an airtight container, they will usually last for up to a week in the fridge! So they’re perfect for ‘meal prep’.
Oh, and make sure you don’t stack them on top of each other – otherwise they may stick together! I’ve made this mistake – don’t you make it too.
Love These Granola Bars? Why Not Try These?
No Bake Granola Bars are amazing, but a little variety is a wonderful thing – am I right? So here’s a few other No Bake options to consider in the future!
