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Best Chewy, No-Bake Homemade Granola Bars

Two chewy homemade granola bars packed with oats and dried fruit sitting on a white marble surface.
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Make simple, chewy granola bars at home using natural sweeteners. This no-bake recipe is easy to customize and great for make-ahead snacks.

Ingredients

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  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (or almond butter)
  • 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mix-ins (e.g., chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and crispy rice cereal.
  3. In a small saucepan over low heat, gently warm the peanut butter and honey (or maple syrup) until smooth and easily pourable. Do not boil.
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract until fully mixed.
  5. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir well until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Fold in your chosen mix-ins and the pinch of salt.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Press the mixture down firmly and evenly into the pan using the back of a spatula or another piece of parchment paper. Pressing firmly is key for chewy bars.
  8. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until completely set.
  9. Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into 12 or 16 bars.

Notes

  • For a firmer bar, reduce the applesauce slightly or add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to the wet ingredients before heating.
  • Store the finished bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
  • You can substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
  • If you prefer chocolate chip bars, use mini chocolate chips so they distribute better.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchnkudos.com/homemade-granola-bars-recipe-chewy-no-bake/