No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars (Just 5 Real Ingredients)
Chewy Granola Bars are easy to make, no-bake, and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes with just FIVE real ingredients including wholesome oats, your favorite type of nut butter, superfood coconut oil, and honey as a natural sweetener!
1cupnut buttersuch as peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or your favorite; crunchy or creamy
½cuphoney
½cupcoconut oilNOT liquid coconut oil
2 ½cupsrolled oats
1cupshredded coconut
¼cupmini chocolate chipsoptional
Instructions
In a medium-large pot set over medium-low heat, melt together nut butter, honey, and coconut oil, stirring until smooth. Remove from stove and stir in oats and coconut.
Pour mixture into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Spread into an even layer, sprinkle with mini chocolate chips (if using), and gently press down with the back of a spatula or clean hands.
Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Slice into squares or bars (I like to cut 3 rows of 4 bars each) and remove from pan. Store granola bars in the refrigerator, either in an airtight container with wax paper separating the layers, or individually wrapped in plastic wrap.
Video
Notes
Nut butter: I prefer using a natural, unsweetened, creamy peanut butter in this chewy granola bar recipe. If your nut butter has added sugar, you may need to slightly reduce the honey.
Coconut oil: Be sure to use the kind of coconut oil that solidifies when cool...no substitutes! The type of coconut oil that stays in liquid form will not work in this recipe. I prefer using cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil.
Honey: Maple syrup or agave syrup may be substituted.
Rolled oats: Use rolled oats for the best texture. I find quick oats to be too fine for chewy granola bars. However, if quick oats are all you have on hand, you will need to decrease their amount by a bit since they absorb more liquid than regular rolled oats...and you don't want to end up with dry granola bars.
Coconut: I prefer using unsweetened shredded coconut, but sweetened will also work. You may substitute chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and/or additional oats for some or all of the coconut.
Add-ins: You can also opt to stir an additional handful of seeds/nuts/dried fruit into this recipe for extra texture.
Chocolate: For a chocolate-flavored granola bar, you may stir mini chocolate chips into the warm oat mixture, which will cause them to melt.