NO BAKE Granola Bars

Sapna D'Mello
Nov 21, 2018
2 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2018

Easily customizable to your liking! You'll never buy store bought bars again. Packed with protein, seeds, nuts, dates, omegas, fibre and oats. All ages approved! Gluten-free and vegan options available.

Perfect on the go snack OR mash up and add to your favorite yogurt for breakfast.

How did I come across this? I was annoyed with my husband eating boxes of store bought granola bars on the regular. I don't know about you, but I believe boxed granola bars and chocolate bars have no difference. Tons of sugar, salt and full of preservatives.

My father-in-law goes to Goa every year and brings us back heaps of raw cashews. I wanted to incorporate the cashews into our diet regularly before they went stale. So I came across this recipe, it is not my own. I have been following this recipes for years. With Baby L in our life, I prefer to have more healthy options available for him to eat. I usually make two batches of this recipe. One for hubby and one for Baby L and I (without chocolate). Our pup enjoys the crumbs Baby L leaves behind as well.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups oats (rolled or quick, your choice) (gluten-free for GF eaters)

1/2 cup raw cashews, almond, and/or walnuts (chop to bite size)

1 cup dates (pitted)

2 Tbsp chia seeds

2 Tbsp sunflower seeds (unsalted, roasted or raw)

2 Tbsp flax seeds (ground or whole)

2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds (unsalted, roasted or raw)

1/4 cup maple syrup (agave or honey, if not vegan)

1/4 cup peanut butter or almond butter (I usually buy no salt, no sugar from Kraft (babe and pup friendly)

For chocolate covered options:

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 Tbsp coconut oil

Optional Add-ins:

Chocolate chips

shredded coconut

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and toast oats and nuts for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Soak dates in hot water while oats and nuts are toasting. It'll help them soften up and will process in the chopper easily. Food process dates until they are itty bitty.
In a large bowl mix oats, nuts, dates and add seeds.
In a small saucepan warm up syrup and nut butter on LOW HEAT. Careful not to boil and burn (I do this often).
Add syrup and nut butter over oat mixture and breakup the dates using your hands or a spoon.
Line a 8x8 dish with parchment paper (make it double so you can cover the dish) Add the mixture and push down so the mix is super tight or it will crumble.
Chocolate covered option (or skip to next bullet): Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwavable bowl and microwave until melted OR melt in a bowl placed over boiling water. Pour over mixture.
Chill in the fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden. If making chocolate covered option, freeze for 45 mins.
Remove bars from the dish, place on cutting board and chop into bars or squares. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days or freeze.