As a dietitian (and adult), however, I know that most of the commercial bars out there are loaded with artificial preservatives, ingredients, and candy bits.
I’m sorry, but if I want a chocolate dipped bar, I’m going straight for a Snickers, otherwise, I’ll stick to a home made granola bar where I get to pick and choose the quality of the ingredients.
No Bake Granola Bars 101
In my house-made crispy chewy no make granola bars, I throw in lots of peanuts and peanut butter for protein, fibre and healthy fats, flax seeds for omega 3s, fibre and protein, oats for fibre and protein and dried apricots for sweetness. My version is completely gluten free but if that’s not a concern for you, try this with a higher fibre cereal (like Fibre One) and regular rolled oats.
You can also free style with your favourite dried fruit and cereal and make your own signature no bake granola bars. I love the combo of the crispy puffed brown rice with the chewy oats, but whatever you have on hand will probably work out just fine.
If you’re looking for some more great snacking ideas like these no bake granola bars, check out the PeanutBuruea.ca website for delicious nutty goodness here!
Do you have a recipe for no bake granola bars you love?
Leave me a comment below about what you’re go-to school or work snacks are!
Gluten Free No Bake Granola Bars with Peanut Butter & Apricot
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts divided
- 2 cups dried apricots
- 2 cups gluten free rolled oats
- 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups puffed brown rice cereal
Instructions
- Add 1/2 cup of peanuts and apricots to the food processor and pulse until they break into small pieces.
- Add everything else except for the remaining 1/4 cup of peanuts and the brown rice cereal and process until smooth and sticky.
- Roughly chop the remaining 1/4 cup of peanuts and add to the mixture along with the rice cereal.
- Line a 13x8” rectangle pan with wax or parchment paper and press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.
- Transfer the pan to the freezer for 1 hour. Cut into 20 bars and wrap each individually in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The preceding recipe was developed in paid-partnership with Peanut Bureau, however, as always all opinions are genuine.
Updated on October 23rd, 2020
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Chrissy @ Snacking in Sneakers says
So smart to add the brown rice cereal to these! It’s awesome to help bulk up the bars a bit – I make energy bars a lot but never thought to add cereal.
Abbey Sharp says
Yeah, works so well! Thanks Chrissy 🙂
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
i am so with you on homemade granola bars. i tried a ‘snack protein bar’ and it was like eating a candy bar but with a protein after taste 🙁
Abbey Sharp says
haha yeah totally. Thank you 🙂
GiGi Eats says
My husband is constantly looking for ON THE GO bars that he can take with him golfing but every time he asked me to check out a bar I say… NOPE this one does not work – it’s not good for you – ha! So I think I just need to make bars instead! Yours will be added to the recipe list!
Abbey Sharp says
hahah amazing! Happy to help with your snack game 🙂
Sara says
Love this!!
Linda says
Hey Abby,
How would you recommend making this pEanut free? I know i could use almond butter, but what should i replace the peanuts with?
Thanks!
Abbey Sharp says
any kind of nut- almonds would be amazing too!
Serena Ball says
Gotta, gotta make these. Love the addition of peanuts and crisp rice cereal. And yup. Agree – no chocolate + granola bar. Either, or please. (: