With a house full of kids, it seems like someone is always eating. I can get granola bars pretty cheap with coupons, but they don’t seem to fill my kids up and there are only 8-10 in a box. I greatly prefer making my own from scratch. These no bake energy granola bars come together so quickly and make a whole pan. They also use whole foods ingredients and can be adjusted to your family’s needs.
No Bake Energy Granola Bars
These granola bars are flexible, which is one reason I like them. Swap the peanut butter for almond butter, swap the honey for maple syrup, or swap the chocolate chips for some other kind of mix-in.
I used rolled oats, creamy peanut butter, unsweetened coconut, honey, vanilla, flaxseed, and a mix of chocolate and butterscotch chips.
I find it easiest to put the non-sticky ingredients in the bowl first.
Stir to mix so that the chocolate chips are evenly distributed.
Add in your sticky ingredients and the vanilla.
Line a 9×13 pan with wax paper or parchment paper.
Spread the mixture into the pan, using your hands if you need to in order to make the mixture go all the way up to the sides. Then cover and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
After at least an hour, they should be much firmer (although they will still be chewy).
Lift the wax/parchment paper out of the pan to put the bars on the flat counter. Then use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut them into whatever size you want.
Then store them in a container so you can put them back in the fridge.
I used wax paper in between layers so they don’t stick together.
My kids eat these for breakfast as well as for an afternoon snack. I often grab one too when I’m feeling hungry!
This made about 20 bars when I cut them, with 2 bars being about a serving.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup flaxseed
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Directions
- Put the oats, coconut, flaxseed, and chocolate chips in a bowl and stir. Add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon.
- Line a 9×13 pan with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Spread the mixture into the pan, pushing it up against the sides (you might need to use your hands).
- Cover and place in the fridge to chill for at least an hour.
- Remove from the fridge and lift the bars out on top of the wax paper or parchment paper.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice them into bars. Place in another container with wax paper between the layers so they won’t stick together.