These no bake granola bars are jam-packed with goodness and couldn’t be easier to make. There’s a date base which keeps it all together and wholesome ingredients like chia seeds, almonds and oats. Totally portable, these homemade granola bars make for a delicious breakfast on busy mornings or afternoon snack.
Do you love granola bars as much as we do?
Well, forget store-bought and make your own scratch-made granola bars with some simple, wholesome ingredients.
Once you make your own, there’s no going back!
Plus, this granola bar recipe is easily customizable so you can use what you have on hand or enjoy. Sound good? Let’s get to it!
If you like these scratch-made granola bars, check out this homemade granola recipe!
How To Make Granola Bars
Full details on how to make these homemade granola bars are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- To processor, add dates, almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, salt and vanilla. Process. Mixture will be thick and paste-like.
- Stop processor, uncover and add oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, almonds and cranberries. Process until combined. Mixture will be moist, but loose.
- Line a baking dish with parchment paper, just enough to overhang over the sides (for easier removal later) and pour granola bar mixture into dish.
- PRESS DOWN HARD with your hands or use a measuring cup (or the like) to really compact the mixture.
- Freeze.
- After freezing, cut into bars.
Storing and Enjoying
Store these homemade granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a week.
Tips and Variations
- The key here is to press down the mixture into the parchment paper-lined pan. Like, really, pack that goodness into the pan. Just when you think you have it packed in enough, press again.
- Don’t have almond butter on hand? Use peanut butter!
- Have walnuts on hand and no almonds? Use those!
- Rather use chocolate chips instead of dried cranberries? Go for it!
These no bake granola bars are pretty versatile, which makes it easy to use what you have on hand.
If you make this homemade granola bar recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Easy No Bake Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups dates, pitted
- 3 tablespoons almond butter, or peanut butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 1 cup almonds, roughly chopped
- ¾ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
Instructions
- To a food processor, add dates, almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, salt and vanilla extract. Process until combined and dates broken down, about 2 minutes.
- To processor, add remainder of ingredients and process until combined, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- In a wax paper or parchment paper-lined freezer-safe dish (I used about a 8-inch x 11-inch dish), add mixture and FIRMLY press down until packed into pan and level. Freeze until firm, about 40 to 45 minutes.
- Remove from the freezer and cut into bars (I cut into 16 pieces, but you can do more or less, depending on the size you want). Store these homemade granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a week.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Elaine Williams
Hi, gosh these look delicious and so healthy. I’m curious about the texture, are they chewy or crispy? Thanks again for the awesome and video!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Elaine! They are chewy, but do have a lovely textural component from the almonds and chia seeds 🙂
Cindy
This is exactly what I need in my life right now. It is hot right now in SoCal and I would love to give my food processor a little workout and keep the heat out of the kitchen. Love the video, the pictures, and I am super inspired by this recipe.
Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Cindy 🙂
Justine | JustineCelina.com
Dawn, these look so yummy! I’m with you on recipes that are simple and approachable, so I totally appreciate the substitution suggestions you offered. I’m currently working on a loose granola recipe but totally love granola in bar form too. Great recipe!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Justine! Gotta have options, right? Have a wonderful week!
Amanda (Peppers & Pennies)
Dawn! The texture of these bars look A-MAY-ZING! I also looooove the ‘use what you’ve got’ mentality. It is a great way to save money, use up the bits and pieces from other baking projects and really get comfortable with adapting recipes to suit your needs. Keep it up!
Girl Heart Food
Yay!! Thank you Amanda!! Definitely love to use what ya got – waste not, want not, right? Have a wonderful week!
Marissa
Dawn! These look incredible. And the fact that you don’t even need to bake them!? I’m in. We love to hike and bike this time of year and this is just the kind of portable, delicious snack I want in my backpack!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Marissa!! These would be perfect for hiking 🙂
Janice http://www.kitchenhealssoul.com/ Lawandi
As somebody who isn’t very experienced with no-bake foods, the video is super helpful to visualize the textures and how long to blend in the food processor. I’ll definitely add this one to the list of recipes to try (it’ll be a nice way to get a sweet treat and balance out all the butter in my life, hah!)
Girl Heart Food
So happy to hear you say that, Janice! Glad it was helpful!! Hope you enjoy them and I definitely understand ya about the butter – love that stuff a little too much, lol.
Katie Crenshaw
These look brilliant Dawn. I love that you don’t have to bake them and they are easy. I am always looking for a healthy snack for my husband to bring to work. I will make him a big batch of these. xoxo
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Katie! I love to make a batch every week! Hope you guys love them as much as we do! xoxo
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
Where was this before I left on my backpacking trip a few weeks ago??? Lol. I make my own trail mix, but so far I haven’t tried making granola or granola bars.. I so should have made a bunch of these last month!
Girl Heart Food
You need to try ’em! I’m sure you’d [email protected] Maybe make for next time 😉 Thanks Sarah!
Colleen Milne
Love a healthy granola bar, perfect for a post workout snack. Thanks!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely 🙂 Thanks Colleen!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely good for that, Colleen! Thanks so much 🙂
[email protected]
I need to make my own granola bars ( my “bar” has been lowered to the point that I am giving my kids Fibre 1 bars) These look so healthy and easy!
Girl Heart Food
Haha! That’s so funny Terri! Give these a try – I’m sure you’d love ’em 😉
Jessica
I love making my own granola bars – pretty much one of the main reasons I got a heavy duty food processor, haha. I always make a pan every week (we go through them pretty quickly), so I have to try these and use up the dates that are hiding in the back of my fridge. Have a great Friday!
Girl Heart Food
I hear ya!! I usually make a pan every week too and just grab and go – so convenient! Have lovely week 🙂
Jolina
We love making our own granola bars too! So easy and so fun. We haven’t bought ready-made ones in a long time. Oh this week was craaaazy. It cannot be weekend soon enough. I am counting down the minutes as I type. I just plan to sleep this weekend I tell ya. Hope you have a lovely one! Hope it’s not Sunday too soon. PS: Love love love the video!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Jolina! Appreciate it!!
Gabrielle @ eyecandypopper
LOVE these granola bars and how it’s all good stuff for us, no weird additives or tons of sugar! Yay! Nicely done!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Gabrielle 🙂
Adina
Sound like you had a great Friday, I love this kind of evenings too. Wonderful granola bars, I haven’t had something similiar in a long time, I would love to try them.
Girl Heart Food
We did! Thanks Adina 🙂 Have a great week!!
Denise from UrbnSpice
I know of four little people who would love these granola bars and the big people would love them, too. I must make them! Thanks for the inspiration for this healthy snack for everyone.
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Denise 🙂 Hope you guys enjoy!!
Marie-Pierre Breton
I’m definitely going to try this out! It looks so easy breezy to do and super yummy! The perfect bite for a last minute morning also, when the alarm rang… and rang and you snooze and snooze until it’s way too late to have breakfast. Than just grab one of those granola beauties!
Girl Heart Food
Most definitely! Perfect for on the run 🙂 Thanks Marie!
Shashi at Savory Spin
Dawn, you and your hubs so rocked that second video! I missed the first one but heading there to check it out too. I’m with you on the whole time flying dealio – it goes by way way too fast – did you every watch Click with Adam Sandler and that remote that paused and stopped time? Somedays, I sure wish that remote existed for real – I’d be rewinding and slow-mo-ing time ALL the time! TBH, That remote would come in handy while munching on delicious no bake bars such as these – I’d eat one then rewind and relive the whole deliciously delightful sensory experience! YUM times infinity – with all that rewinding! 🙂
Happy Thursday, friend!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks Shashi! Appreciate that! Oh yeah, I remember that movie!! Imagine if we could do that in real life, huh? Happy Thursday to you too, my friend!
Miriam - londonkitchendiaries.com
No bake recipes are fantastic and I love how easy this recipe is, addicted to watching your videos too 🙂 Great healthy recipe for when you are on the go without all of those nasty additives! Love homemade pizza – should have made one on the weekend since I was home alone – husband was travelling for business and I have not found a good gluten-free recipe for homemade pizza yet so weekends like that are a great opportunity for me to indulge in pasta, pizza, bread etc…. Have not heard of love connection yet – watched Bloodline on the weekend which rather addictive! Have a wonderful weekend, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Miriam! Appreciate that! Have you tried a cauliflower crust for pizza? I haven’t tried yet, but may be a good gluten free option for you and your husband 🙂 So awesome when you find a show that you love like that, isn’t it? Have a wonderful weekend too!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
Good for you for making you second video! I loved it! That music was so much fun! Dude. Weekends are never long enough. Why does Monday to Friday go so slow and Saturday and Sunday disappear in the blink of an eye? That business needs to be reversed.
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Rach! So happy you loved it 🙂
heather (delicious not gorgeous)
i haven’t made no bake granola bars before! i really like how toasty and crunchy baked granola gets, but i (and my family) also really like the temperature of a house that doesn’t have the oven on during summer. so these might have to happen. also: homemade pizza is always a good idea. have you tried it grilled? soso good.
Girl Heart Food
So delicious and so easy! Yes! Grilled pizza is awesome!! Love that flavour the grill gives 🙂 Thanks Heather!
Jenny | The Baking Skillet
So much goodness in these little bars Dawn. You have a in a punch! Love to have such healthy energy bars in the pantry for quick snacking!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks very much Jenny!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
I adore homemade granola bars (no surprise there, right?!) and I love that these are no bake! Dates are magical little things and I love using them for energy balls so this recipe is definitely next up! It’ll be perfect for having on hand for summer snacking and sending to day camp with the kids! Pinned! XXOO
Girl Heart Food
Nope – no surprise at all 😉 Thanks so much, Kathryn! I hope you all love ’em! XOXO
Gaila
Oh my Dawn! These really look absolutely delicious. The “no bake” part is the best part, so easy. I love your video! Love it!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie
These really look delicious Dawn. I love how easy it is and a no bake….even better. Definitely much better than shop bought. Oh, and the video is absolutely beautiful. Love it!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Ashika!! Appreciate the kind words 🙂
[email protected]
First of all – love the video! LOVE IT! I can’t believe it’s only your second one! You’re a pro! Second of all – love the manicure! Your hands are very pretty! Third of all – I need these bars in my life! We did some traveling and celebrating this weekend so it’s back to reality! These will do the trick! Thank you for sharing this healthy and tasty recipe, sweets! Pinned and shared and all the stuff!! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
YAY!!! Thank you SO much, Annie!! You’re too too sweet, my friend! If we were neighbours, I’d be on your doorstep with a big batch of this right now (and a big pot of coffee). Appreciate the Pin and shares too! Hope you had a lovely celebratory weekend! XOXO
Mary
I’m a huge fan of making my own granola bars. I’ve only made them a few times and they were darn tasty, but I’ve never tried no-bake granola bar. These bad boys look scrumptious. I like all the ingredients, dates, chia seeds, almonds, oats, yummmmmmy. I love making homemade pizza its so easy and super delicious. Thank for the fun video, I love the music and your nails are adorable.
Girl Heart Food
Homemade is definitely the way to go. I pretty much make these every week and eat throughout the week – nice and filling…plus, can’t hurt a little snack in the afternoon, lol. Love doing my nails! Thanks for the sweet comment, Mary!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
Such a lovely video, Dawn! And the recipe is a keeper! I love these bars as my snack when some sweet craving hits. They are easy and fast to make, and so delicious! Pinned!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you very much Nicoletta!! Hope you love ’em as much as we do 🙂 Appreciate the Pin too! xo
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
Nom nom nom, I loveeee homemade granola bars! So good. And I feel like my food processor is always my BFF… I use that thing so much!
Girl Heart Food
Right? Homemade granola bars are the best! Thanks Nicole!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
Look at you with the second video!! I’m going to hire you to do my videos because I hate doing them. It takes me 4 days to do mine! lol!
Why do people buy granola bars when they can make healthy, yummy ones like this? I’m making these to have for breakfast throughout the week and to take on our next camping trip. Or you could make them and mail them to me. Oh never mind, you are probably busy shooting your third video 😉 #overachiever 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Haha! Thanks girl! The videos definitely are time consuming! These would be perfect for your camping trip 🙂 Hope you love ’em as much as we do! XO
Jamie Bevia
Love these! I like how you put them in the food processor, so there are no big chunks. That is great for the kiddos =)
Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much Jamie 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
Perfect bars for summer Dawn. No bakes are always a winner when the temps start rising. You guys are killing it with the videos too! Well done! Love the new profile pic too. Pinning and can’t wait to try these yummy bars!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Mary Ann! Appreciate that very much – you’re too kind! XO
Milena | craftbeering.com
Love me some sticky dates:) and all the other ingredients stuck to them. Definitely a snack bar to have around when hunger strikes. You are getting so good at the videos:) Love your nail polish in this one (even though this is not related to the yumminess). So summer is arriving up there… maybe soon you’ll post some more pics of the gorgeous coast line… I mean now that you have bars to take with you if you went on a short hike:)
Milena | craftbeering.com
OMG – Chris just had me taste a raspberry saison that is fermenting (even though it is not even 9:00 am here) and I ‘m thinking it will be so perfect for these bars when it is ready. I wonder if I can find dried raspberries to add to the mix or if we’ll need to figure out this one ourselves, haha, the dehydrator again. There is always the sun I guess…
Girl Heart Food
OMG – that sounds so good! Dried raspberries would be so yummy here, Milena 🙂 Have an awesome week, my friend!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you SO much, Milena!! Haha…I always like to have my nails painted 😉 And I definitely do have to go on a hike now with these bars – great idea!!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Homemade pizza! I’m so on a homemade pizza kick lately. You seriously had my perfect weekend :). These bars look soooo heavenly. I’m a huge fan of granola bars, especially when they’re homemade. And these have all my favorite things in them! Have a great week, my friend!
Girl Heart Food
It was a pretty fun (and delicious weekend) for sure! Thank you for the bar love, Kelsie! Have a great week too 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Well, you already know what my weekend involved, so I can’t just skip writing it here. 😉 I love that we are no bake twinning today! These bars look just fabulous, Dawn! I’m a huge fan of granola bars, but the store bought ones have way too much unnecessary ingredients, so I’m ALL for a little DIY! Especially when it looks this good! I just loooove that date base! And HOORAY for another awesome video, Dawn!!!! You rock, girlfriend! Cheers!
Girl Heart Food
Yes, I do 😉 Thanks Cheyanne! Appreciate the sweet comment, my friend! Hope you have an awesome week! xo
David @ Spiced
Haha! We totally had a homemade pizza night last Friday, too. 🙂 And it was the best night ever! Also, Love Connection. Holy cow is that a throwback! I used to catch episodes of this one on rerun, and they were hilarious! Love that you guys spent Friday night watching this one. Haha! These granola bars sound amazing, too, Dawn. I mean they come together in a pinch, and they’re packed with all kinds of good stuff! I wonder if Robbie would be willing to try something like this…he’s been giving us trouble with picky eating lately, so I’m on the hunt for new ideas! Thanks for sharing this one, my friend!
Girl Heart Food
Haha! Pizza twinning 😉 Such a great show, isn’t it?? I would love it if Robbie enjoyed these! That would be awesome; let me know if you try 🙂 Thanks so much and happy Monday to ya!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
These look amazing! I love using my food processor. It just makes life so much easier. I need to give these homemade bars a try. So much better than anything you can buy in the store! Loving the video!!! 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Kathy!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Yay for pizza on Fridays! That’s my favorite tradition too, though I need to make the homemade kind more often. And I’ve heard that Love Connection is making a comeback, but have yet to see it! No bake treats are a favorite of mine, especially in the summer when it’s too hot to turn on the oven. I love the texture of these bars! And I love the sunflower seeds and cranberries in here, too. What a perfect breakfast or snack! Pinned. Hope your week is off to a great start!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Gayle! Hope you get to try ’em out! They’re a favourite around here 🙂 Have a lovely week!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I’m all for no bake and I love to have granola bars around, for a quick snack. So I’m loving these 🙂 And great job on the videos!!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you very much, Jennifer! Appreciate that 🙂