Healthy Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars

Quick and Easy No-Bake Healthy Chewy Granola Bars (Photo Credit: Joanne/Blair @TheDragonsPicnic.com)

The versatility of a recipe is a high priority for me when cooking or baking and I tend to gravitate towards dishes that can withstand a degree of creativity and tolerate substitutions to whatever might be at hand. These chewy granola bars fit this bill.

I have always preferred chewy granola bars compared with their crunchy counterparts and marvelled at their gooey consistency. The chewy texture always seemed a bit magical considering they were usually loaded with crunchy nuts and seeds. When I first made this recipe, even though the mystery of the chewiness was revealed, I am pleased to say they still taste just as good!

The main dry ingredients include:

• 1½ cups (150g) rolled oats
• ¾ cup (25g) rice crisp cereal

Mix and Match Ingredients:

Use about 1½ cups in total of any of the following combinations:

• ¼ cup white sesame seeds
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax meal
• ⅓ cup dried fruit (options include cranberries, raisins, sultanas, dried cherries, dried blueberries)
• ⅓ cup nuts (options include pecans, peanuts, slivered almonds, hazelnuts)
• ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips (dairy free)
• 2 tbs (12g) unsweetened shredded coconut

Mix the above with the following wet ingredients:

• ½ cup (125 ml) brown rice syrup (no substitutes as this is necessary to bind the ingredients)
• ¼ cup (63 g) unsweetened sunflower seed butter
• 1 tbs (15 ml) pure maple syrup
• ½ tbs (7.5 ml) melted coconut oil

Spices, Flavouring, Seasoning to taste:

• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt

For these particular bars, the Mix and Match ingredients I used were sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, slivered almonds and chocolate chips with about ⅛ cup ground flax meal. (Photo Credit: Joanne/Blair @TheDragonsPicnic.com)

This no-bake recipe is easy to throw together. Before adding to the dry, the wet ingredients need to be stirred over low heat for a few minutes until they form a runny consistency. Once everything has been thoroughly stirred, press the mixture into an 8” x 8” baking pan lined with parchment paper and then leave it uncovered in the freezer for 10-15 mins to set before cutting into about 12 slices.

The bars will store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 4 to 6 weeks.  They are packed with healthy goodness and since they are so versatile in ingredient content, the bars are also flexible in their use. They can be enjoyed simply as a sweet treat or, because they are easy to pack and carry, their appeal can range from adding to your children’s lunch box, picnic food for a hike, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or sustenance on a long ride.

The original recipe came from Angela Liddon, founder of Oh She Glows and she created them because of the benefits of oats, flax, sesame, and coconut for nursing mothers. However, adapt these to suit your preferences and enjoy!

Check out the Oh She Glows website and more links on the Resources page.