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    Home » Recipes

    5-Ingredient No-Bake Granola Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free)

    May 30, 2020 · Modified: Jul 15, 2021 by Rachel · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free!

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    I love an easy no-bake snack, like my simple bliss ball recipe or these stuffed peanut butter dates.

    Granola bars used to be my go-to snack growing up. They were quick, convenient, tasty and healthy! Right?

    You'd think, but boy was I wrong! My usual choice was the Quaker Chewy Granola Bars. I know, not the best choice in the first place. And I needed at least two to feel full. They were low calorie which back then meant healthy in my mind. What I didn't realize was that if I just ate more filling foods (yes that includes higher calories), I wouldn't have had to snack so much, which ultimately led me to more poor food choices.

    Those bars were (and still are) considered low fat and have only 1 or 2 grams of protein per bar. Not satiating at all. But they were tasty!

    So, I decided I needed to recreate a granola bar that is reminiscent of those granola bars, keeping the aspects I liked about them but improving upon them to make them more filling and a viable snacking option for someone low on time or on the go.

    I know you're wondering, "is that even possible?!"

    Introducing my 5-Ingredient No-Bake Granola Bars!

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    These bars are:

    • Filling - packing 9g of protein per bar!
    • Convenient - make ahead and grab when you need them
    • Quick - just 5 minutes to prep
    • Delicious - the perfect combination of salty and sweet
    • Healthy - no refined flours or sugar here
    • Chewy - they got the chewy texture that I love!

    How to make

    It is really so simple, you're going to be shocked. All you need is a large mixing bowl and a flat pan. No baking necessary!

    I start with heating up the maple syrup and peanut butter in the microwave so that it mixes together better and becomes more liquidity. This is necessary especially if you're using a natural nut butter that has to be refrigerated.

    Then I add in the cinnamon and salt to make sure they're evenly distributed before I add in the oats. After that I make sure everything is evenly mixed and then pour it in to my pan lined with parchment paper.

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    It needs about an hour in the refrigerator to firm up. Then I slice it into bars and grab one as I need. I just keep them stored in the refrigerator since I eat them within the week but you can individually wrap them in parchment paper and freeze for longer.

    Additional flavor variations and mix-in options

    • ¼ - ½ cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
    • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
    • ½ cup dried fruit
    • 2 - 4 tablespoons of chia or hemp seeds for a protein boost
    • ½ cup chopped nuts

    The possibilities are endless! These bars are a great base recipe to build upon. You can make them as sweet or as salty as you want. Make them crunchier with nuts or get a dose of those omega-3s with added seeds. They're so versatile.

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    I can tell they're going to be on my weekly rotation from now on because of how simple they are to make and how easy it is to modify them to a different flavor. If I get bored of one flavor I'll just add something new in next time to mix it up. Easy peasy!

    These bars are so hearty and delicious, full of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. No more snack time dilemmas — just make these! Problem solved.

    Need more healthy snack ideas? The Health My Lifestyle Meal Planner is full of them! You can easily narrow down exactly what you're looking for with the extensive filtering options, plan out your week in seconds or grab a pre-made plan, track your calories and goals, and more! Right now it's 40% off your first month! Check out the Meal Planner here.

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    If you enjoyed this recipe please leave a comment below and give it 5 stars! Or on Pinterest (don't forget to follow me!) you can now add pictures into reviews, too, and be sure to help me share on facebook!

    📖 Recipe

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack

    5 Ingredient No Bake Granola Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free)

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free!
    4.90 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    cuisine: American
    servings: 8
    prep time: 5 minutes mins
    Chilled: 1 hour hr
    total time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Author: Rachel

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup all-natural peanut butter, * or preferred all-natural nut butter
    • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, or agave syrup
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups rolled oats

    Instructions

    • Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl add the peanut butter and maple syrup. Microwave until heated through and then thoroughly mix them together. Alternatively use the stovetop to heat.
      ¾ cup all-natural peanut butter, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
    • Add in the cinnamon and salt and stir to combine. Then add the oats and mix well.
      ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 cups rolled oats
    • Pour the oat mixture into your prepared pan and press down evenly into place. Refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the bars to firm up.
    • When ready, remove from pan and slice into 8 bars.
    • Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for longer.

    Notes

    For portability you can wrap individual bars in parchment paper.
    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
    Make sure to use a natural nut butter as these tend to have a more liquid-y consistency which is best to ensure the mixture isn't too dry. If your nut butter drips off a spoon, it's perfect, if you scoop it and it stays in one place on the spoon, try thinning it with a little water.

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Calories: 255kcal Carbohydrates: 28g Protein: 9g Fat: 14g Saturated Fat: 3g Sodium: 186mg Potassium: 260mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 10g Calcium: 36mg Iron: 1mg
    Want to eat healthier but don't know where to start?Get a free customizable meal plan and stop the struggle!

    Pin this for later:

    Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip these up. These bars are so easy to make, you'll never buy store-bought granola bars again. They are very filling, boasting 9g of protein using only whole food ingredients, and are vegan and gluten free! #granolabar #vegansnack #easysnack #vegan #glutenfree #healthysnack
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen G

      June 05, 2023 at 5:36 pm

      Hi, I'm not a huge fan of coconut. Have you tried any other ingredient in its place? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Rachel

        June 06, 2023 at 2:33 pm

        You can simply omit the coconut! It is just an additional flavor option but the base recipe in the recipe card doesn't require it 🙂

        Reply
    2. denise

      February 27, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      I thought this sounded like something I've tried before, but I figured since it got good reviews maybe my proportions were just off. Nope. All I got after the fridge was a tray of crumbly, maple peanut butter coated oats.

      Reply
      • Rachel

        February 27, 2022 at 2:35 pm

        Hi Denise, I'm sorry to hear that! What type of peanut butter did you use? I like all natural because it is more liquid-y which helps hold everything together. I should have made that clearer in the instructions.

        Reply
    3. Bree

      June 23, 2021 at 10:54 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious and easy!! Made these during my lunch break and enjoyed after work. New fav sweet treat.

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        June 24, 2021 at 7:03 pm

        Yay, I'm so glad!! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jennifer

      June 23, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      Oh so good and easy to make.

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        June 23, 2021 at 2:05 pm

        Thank you, Jennifer! I'm so happy to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    5. Andrea

      December 03, 2020 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      So easy to make and a great snack! I added chopped cashews, pumpkin seeds and some ground flax.
      They really held together, no more buying granola bars! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        December 03, 2020 at 7:19 pm

        Love the additions you added! So glad you enjoyed them 🙂

        Reply
      • Bev

        January 17, 2022 at 11:20 am

        Hi Andrea
        How much flax meal did you add?

        Thanks
        Beverly

        Reply
    6. Renée

      October 12, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      Hi. What could I substitute the peanut butter with to make it nut free? Would coconut oil work? Do you have any other suggestions?

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        October 12, 2020 at 9:46 pm

        Hi Renée, I would try sunflower seed butter instead as it will provide the closest consistency to peanut butter 🙂

        Reply
    7. Maryanne Barra

      September 06, 2020 at 4:31 am

      How would I make these with lower carbs and sugar free

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        September 07, 2020 at 10:24 am

        You can use any liquid sweetener so you could try something like Stevia for sugar-free. That will reduce some of the carbs but oats are a main ingredient which contain healthy complex carbs with fiber and many nutrients so it'd be hard to replace them with something else.

        Reply
    8. Gigi

      August 29, 2020 at 6:54 pm

      don't the oats neex to be cooked before eating them?

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        August 29, 2020 at 7:30 pm

        Nope, oats don't need to be cooked, but soaking them like this softens them so they're more palatable and have similar texture to cooked 🙂

        Reply
    9. Pammy

      June 09, 2020 at 10:30 am

      5 stars
      Hi, just wondered if the nutrition was per bar?

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        June 09, 2020 at 12:13 pm

        Yes, nutrition is per bar 🙂

        Reply
    10. Tawnie Kroll

      May 31, 2020 at 9:09 am

      5 stars
      Wow these were incredible! So easy and I love the minimal ingredients. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        May 31, 2020 at 10:04 am

        Thanks, Tawnie! So glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    11. Jen

      May 31, 2020 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      Easy and better than store bought bars that go stale. Love to take these on long hikes.

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        May 31, 2020 at 10:03 am

        Perfect fuel for a hike! Thanks, Jen!

        Reply
    12. Rhonda Albom

      May 30, 2020 at 10:12 pm

      5 stars
      I can't believe how fast these can be made. I'm going to give them a try. Chocolate chips will be in my batch.

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        May 31, 2020 at 10:01 am

        Yes, crazy fast! And chocolate chips would be so tasty 🙂 Enjoy!

        Reply
    13. Kushigalu

      May 30, 2020 at 8:40 pm

      5 stars
      Love these 5 Ingredient bars. They are so so delicious.

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        May 31, 2020 at 10:00 am

        Thank you so glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    14. cyndy

      May 30, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      You are right - these are easy peasy and taste so much like the store-bought bars that have hardly any nutrition in them. I love them - we added mini chocolate chips to them and the kids liked them even better! Thanks for this recipe - love it!!

      Reply
      • Health My Lifestyle

        May 30, 2020 at 5:25 pm

        I'm so glad! Mini chocolate chips sound like an excellent addition! Thanks, Cyndy!

        Reply

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