No Bake Granola Bars
No Bake Granola Bars are free from the top nine food allergens and a homemade alternative to costly allergy-friendly packaged granola bars. These make a great nut-free option for school lunch or snacks!
Granola bars!
It’s the go-to choice of families everywhere for a quick bite on the run, after-game treats, or addition to the school lunchbox.
But do you know how hard it is to find a nut-free granola bar? Especially one without cross contact risk for peanuts.
How about a granola bar free-from the top nine allergens that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?
These No Bake Granola Bars are my solution. My recipe makes a double-sized batch so you can freeze the extras for later. Much more cost efficient. And if you freeze them in individual servings, you can quickly grab an allergy-friendly option so your child won’t be left out when others on their team are eating the unsafe granola bars.
This recipe is also pretty versatile and is pretty easy to make substitutions. Some are listed below, but you can get creative with raisins or other dried fruit instead of chocolate chips or a combination of crushed graham crackers, mini chocolate chips, and marshmallows. The possibilities are endless! (Just don’t forget to check every label, every time for your known allergens and cross contact risk!)
How to freeze these No Bake Granola Bars:
There are two possible ways to freeze these granola bars. To freeze in bulk, place the sliced granola bars in a plastic or glass storage container with parchment paper between each level. I like to double bag whenever I freeze something, to reduce risk of frost bite. So I will place the plastic or glass storage container in a freezer plastic bag for extra measure.
The second way to freeze these granola bars is in individually-wrapped portions. You can wrap each bar in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then place in a freezer safe plastic bag. These individually wrapped granola bars will thaw in just a few short hours, which makes them great options for lunch boxes.
What are allergy-friendly substitutions for No Bake Granola Bars?
As written, this recipe is free-from the top 9 food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, soy, fin fish, shellfish, and sesame. However, it is important to check labels and cross contact for every ingredient in this recipe. For example:
Oats, crisped rice cereal, and oat flour may contain wheat or gluten or soy.
Sunflower seed butter may contain sesame.
Chocolate chips may contain milk or soy.
Can I substitute almond butter or cashew butter for the sunflower seed butter?
Yes! This recipes is pretty versatile. Here are some variations you can try:
Almond chocolate chip granola bars: use almond flour instead of oat flour and almond butter instead of sunflower seed butter
Cashew granola bars: use cashew butter instead of sunflower seed butter and crushed cashews instead of mini chocolate chips
Peanut chocolate chip granola bars: use peanut butter instead of sunflower seed butter, reduce mini chocolate chips to 1/2 cup, and add 1/2 cup crushed peanuts
Of course, using any of the above substitutions would mean the granola bars are no longer nut-free. What other variations would you like to try? Please share in the comments below!
How to make No Bake Granola Bars:
Ready to give this family-favorite recipe a try?
Step 1: Wash hands with soap and warm water. Gather ingredients an supplies.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, cereal, and oat flour.
Step 3: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, honey, oil, and salt over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Boil for one minute, or until sugar dissolves. Remove pan from heat and stir in sunflower seed butter and vanilla extract.
Step 4: Pour liquid mixture over oat mixture. Stir until well combined. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Step 5a: Place parchment paper over a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet. Pour granola bar mixture onto parchment paper and press with a sheet of wax paper until flat.
Step 5b: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top of mixture and press again, until evenly flat.
Step 6: Place baking sheet in refrigerator to cool. Then, slide parchment paper and granola bar sheet onto countertop. Use knife or pizza cutter to cut into bars.
No Bake Granola Bars
Lisa Woodruff, RDN | November 21, 2022
- Prep time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 20-25 minutes
No nuts | No eggs | No milk | No wheat | No soy | No fish | No sesame
Ingredients:
- 2⅔ cups old fashioned oats*
- 4 cups crisped rice cereal
- ⅔ cup oat flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup canola oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sunflower seed butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup milk-free mini chocolate chips, such as Enjoy Life
Instructions:
- Wash hands with soap and warm water. Gather ingredients and supplies.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, cereal, and oat flour.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, honey, oil, and salt over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Boil for one minute, or until sugar dissolves. Remove pan from heat and stir in sunflower seed butter and vanilla extract.
- Pour liquid mixture over oat mixture. Stir until well combined. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Place parchment paper over a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet. Pour granola bar mixture onto parchment paper and press with a sheet of wax paper until flat. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top of mixture and press again, until evenly flat.
Place baking sheet in refrigerator to cool. Then, slide parchment paper and granola bar sheet onto countertop. Use knife or pizza cutter to cut into bars.
Wash hands with soap and warm water. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place liners in muffin tins or use non-stick cooking spray. Gather remaining ingredients and supplies.
- Combine milk and vinegar. Stir and set aside.
