Homemade Granola Bars without Nuts
Looking for an easy-to-make snack that everyone can enjoy? These homemade granola bars without nuts are just what you need! This recipe is prepared with only 5 ingredients that result in chewy, delicious granola bars!
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Homemade granola bars are a fantastic alternative to store-bought options. Recently my kids discovered a love of granola bars. A sweet friend of mine made a postpartum snack kit for me and it included a variety of different granola bars for middle-of-the-night nursing sessions or something easy to grab throughout the day. It was such a blessing to have! My kids discovered the stash of granola bars and were sold. I set out to find a simple and delicious granola bar recipe without nuts or nut butter.
Granola bars can become expensive for how quickly my kids go through them. Making them homemade has helped to save money. I also enjoy knowing all the ingredients going into them. Most recipes require some form of peanut butter, almond butter, etc. There is not a single nut butter out there that someone in my family isn’t allergic too. I am thankful to have this simple nut free granola bar recipe on hand now.
Ingredients
- Old Fashioned Oats: These are briefly toasted to add flavor and texture and serve as the base of the granola bar.
- Honey, Salted Butter, Brown Sugar: These are melted together on the stovetop and allow the bars to stick together.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Adds wonderful flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: Mixed into the bars and some sprinkled on top.
- Optional Mix-in’s: Dried Fruit (cranberries, raisins, apricots), sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- I recommend adding 1/3 cup of the optional mix-in’s.
How to make granola bars without nuts
Start with preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spread out the old-fashioned oats onto the baking sheet. No need to grease the pan. Bake for 10 minutes to slightly toast the oats.
In a small saucepan, melt butter, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla together.
Combine oats and melted butter mixture in a large bowl. Stir until well combined.
Pour into a 8”x8” pan and press down firmly into the pan so the granola bars do not fall apart.
Allow to cool at room temperature for at least 4 hours.
Slice and enjoy!
Equipment Needed
Storage
Store on the countertop for up to 1 week. Store in an airtight container.
Homemade Granola Bars Without Nuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
- Optional Mix-in's: chia seeds, dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, apricots), sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spread oats out on a baking sheet (no need to grease it).3 cups old fashioned oats
- Toast the oats in the oven for 10 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, combine butter, honey, vanilla, and brown sugar.4 tablespoons salted butter, ⅓ cup honey, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Heat on low until the sugar is dissolved.
- In a large mixing bowl, pour in toasted oats and pour melted butter mixture on top. Stir until combined.
- Pour in half of the chocolate chips and stir together. If you are planning to add in other optional ingredients such as chia seeds or pumpkin seeds you can mix those in now.
- Line a 8'' x 8'' baking pan with parchment paper. I like to have excess parchment paper stick up the sides.*
- Pour in mixture and spread out evenly. Top with remaining chocolate chips. Firmly press down so bars will be compact while they cool and not fall apart when sliced.
- Cool at room temperature at least 4 hours. You can place in the refrigerator to speed up the process.
- Remove from pan, place on cutting board and slice. Enjoy!
These were soooo good!