This gluten-free and vegan no-bake granola bars recipe was developed exclusively for Nuts.com and our customers by Miryam Quinn Doblas, Registered Dietitian (RD). Miryam inspires others with her passion for creating healthy and delicious recipes on her website, Eat Good 4 Life.
Whip up a batch of these no-bake granola bars for a healthy breakfast or snack that’s always ready to go. Made with wholesome ingredients, this recipe contains none of the artificial flavors or refined sugar of store-bought granola varieties. Delicious and easy-to-make, these granola bars provide protein, fiber and healthy fats in every serving to keep you satisfied between meals.
Homemade granola bars are versatile so you can swap out any of the ingredients with your favorite nuts, seeds and dried fruits. To accommodate grain-free diets, I used gluten-free rolled oats, which are a plentiful source of fiber to support digestive health and help you stay full longer. Pistachios, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds lend a delicious crunch, and provide a great source of protein and monounsaturated fats.
I tossed dried tart cherries into the mix for a powerful boost of health benefits. Research suggests that the antioxidants found in tart cherries can lower inflammation levels associated with heart disease and diabetes. They also help reduce muscle inflammation and soreness after a workout, so these granola bars are a great snack to bring along to the gym. Tart cherries are a natural food source of melatonin, which controls the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Snacking on tart cherries during the day can help you sleep better at night.
For more heart-healthy nutrients, I added walnuts and flaxseed meal. Both of these foods are an excellent source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s have been shown to reduce harmful cholesterol levels and improve arterial function. I used ground flaxseed, but you can also use whole flaxseeds and grind them yourself prior to adding them to the mix. Ground flaxseed is easy for your body to digest and make use of the seed’s rich nutrients.
These bars are already a great source of protein, but you can add more using any protein powder of your choice. Just make sure you increase the applesauce by one tablespoon for each scoop of protein you use. My husband eats a lot of protein bars during theweek, and ever since I started making these homemade variations, he doesn’t want to go back to the store-bought kind. The combination of complex carbohydrates and protein in these no-bake granola bars makes them an ideal post-workout snack.
If you haven’t made your own granola bars before, I encourage you to give it a try. You can even double the batch and freeze half for later. They will last up to three months in the freezer if you individually wrap them. My family really enjoys homemade granola bars for breakfast, and they’re always a time-saver during busy mornings. I hope you enjoy my no-bake granola bars recipe as a healthy start to your day!
No Bake Granola Bars Recipe {Gluten-Free, Vegan}
Category: Recipes
Servings: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
- 1/2 cup pistachios
- 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/3 cup agave syrup, maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- Melted dark chocolate for drizzling, optional
Instructions
- Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with unbleached parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, or a stand mixer, add all the ingredients. Mix thoroughly until combined.
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared baking pan. Place in the fridge until the mixture sets, about 3-4 hours. Cut into bars and serve. Cover leftovers and store them in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Notes
If you’d like, drizzle 2 tablespoons of melted dark chocolate over the bars before you place them in the fridge.
https://blog.nuts.com/no-bake-granola-bars-recipe-gluten-free-vegan/
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This recipe was developed and photographed exclusively for Nuts.com by Miryam Quinn Doblas, RD, of Eat Good 4 Life.
44 Responses to “No Bake Granola Bars Recipe {Gluten-Free, Vegan}”
Ilona @ Ilona's PassionLooks so delicious! I will definitely make them, love oats and all ingredients that you used!
- Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
I actually love making no bake bars like these, but haven’t tried throwing applesauce into a no bake version – I’m intrigued! Love the flavor combo of tart cherries & pistachios, too!
- Meghan Remedios
Thanks, Alisa! Let us know how it goes 🙂
GailNever made granola before. Searching for an absolute brought me to this Gluten Free Raw Unbaked WONDER!! I am an Award Winning Culinary Specialist in my late 50’s.
For the person who has health concerns this may be a valuable method to powerful nutrition and joy…it’s fast easy and I can’t wait to try….but wait…where do I find tart cherries and the golden flaxseed and lower the SODA AND SUGAR LEVELS ??
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Gail – You can find the tart cherries and golden flaxseed on our website at Nuts.com.
Maria OliveiraGreat recipe. I have a questions. I’m diabetis type II and I don’t eat peanut butter because of sugar content. What can I use instead of penaut butter to make this bar?
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Maria – We recommend using all natural almond butter like this kind, since it is free of additives such as sugar or salt: https://nuts.com/nuts/almonds/almond-butter/
- Karen
Natural peanut butter, when the only ingredient is peanuts, has just 2g of sugar. This is the same as what’s in natural almond butter where almonds are the only ingredient. Thought I’d mention in case you would want to use peanut butter in the recipe.
LeslieWould almond butter work as a substitute for peanut butter?
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Leslie – Yes, almond butter would definitely work!
SharonWould peabutter work instead of peanut butter -for nut-free daycares and schools?
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Sharon – Sure, you could definitely try that!
LemiraThese look great, however since I don’t have a food scale, 98 g as a serving size is fuzzy. Is that 1 bar? Does it include the chocolate? I look at the amount of calories in my foods and it seems rather high. This looks like a meal replacement bar. Aside from all of that, these do look really good.
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Lemira – Yes, that is 1/8th of the recipe. It does not include the chocolate. You can cut the bars into smaller pieces if you’d like. Thanks for stopping by!
Jeri-Lynn CrossFor those schools and people with allergies, why not try sunflower butter.
- Meghan Remedios
That’s a great suggestion, Jeri-Lynn!
Becky EasleyCan these be vegan if you use dark chocolate? Vegans don’t consume dairy products, and chocolate contains dairy.
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Becky – You can choose vegan dark chocolate products, which are dairy-free.
DianePlease tell me how many bars you cut in the 8×8 pan to equal the nutritional info chart. Thank you!
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Diane – Miryam Quinn Doblas, the Registered Dietitian who created the recipe, divided the recipe into 8 servings to get the nutritional info, but you are free to cut them into smaller pieces.
DevonThank you for this recipe! I’ve been wanting to start making something like this, but I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. This recipe contains all of the ingredients I would have wanted to add (well, except maybe for a few mini chocolate chips). 🙂
MinI would love to try but I see the cherries have sugar in the ingredients. Do you ever dry the cherries without adding sugar? It is tough to find dry fruit without sugar added. This is why I found nuts.com and now order all my nuts and fruit from here. You guys are a lifesaver for someone like me with a really strict diet.
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Min – Yes, we carry unsweetened organic sour cherries: https://nuts.com/driedfruit/cherries/organic-unsweetened.html Thanks for the great comment! We hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
BeverlyWhat can be used as a substitute for oats for a grain-free version of this great recipes. Any suggestions.
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Beverly – Our gluten-free rolled oats work perfectly for this recipe: https://nuts.com/cookingbaking/grains/oats/rolled-gluten-free.html
- yaelibex
I use sprouted, dehydrated buckwheat instead of oats.
Crunchy, healthy, and most important does not taste like buckwheat!
It sounds harder to make than it really is. Soak buckwheat overnight. Rinse. Let sprout. Rinse. Dry in dehydrator or in the oven on the lowest settiing. They keep well in the cupboard or fridge or freezer. I leave mine in an airtight jar in the cupboard up to 3 months and have never had a problem.
RhondaAny substitute for flaxseed meal
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Rhonda – You may use chia seeds or hemp seeds as a substitute for the flaxseed meal. Thanks for checking!
JimWhat could be taken out or modified to reduce the sat fat ?
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Jim – You can use almond butter in place of peanut butter to reduce the saturated fat content.
RamoI have ordered the ingredients from nuts.com and have tried the recipe. I LOVE IT!!! I made 1/2 the portion and cut it in 8 pieces (about 200 calories). I am going to make another batch right now. This recipe is not only very tasty, but healthy and filling and satisfying. I carry one piece with me all the time for those times when I’m on the go and get hungry or I need a healthy snack. I like eating one before a long walk, they keep you full for a long time.
I think I’ll have enough ingredients to make it over and over again. What I like about this recipe is that it has a variety of nuts and fruits and it’s very quick to make. I covered mine with a thin layer of orange dark chocolate and I really, really love the flavors all together… Thank you for the recipe.
KayI’d been looking for a recipe for granola bars and tried this today. I left out the pumpkin seeds, not sure if I’d like those or not, and used a nut mix with pistachios, peanuts, cashews and almonds. I love these! Mine were a bit soft and sticky – the picture doesn’t look as though they should be. Maybe I needed a bit more flax seed meal or oats? But I love the taste – will be making these again. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
JennyHelp!! These look delicious.. but I cannot have apples 🙁 recently found out I have a slight allergy to them (which is depressing since I’d eat an apple a day!) What can I sub for the Apple sauce?
Thank you!!!! Love you nuts!!
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Jenny – Thanks for stopping by! You may substitute the applesauce with coconut oil. We hope that helps!
KirstenHi this looks great! I want to bring them camping this weekend…but I am concerned because it says to keep them refrigerated. Would they be okay in a backpack for a day hike? Thanks
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Kirsten – The granola bars are best stored in the fridge, so they may not hold up well throughout the day. This recipe for baked granola bars may be better for taking on a day hike. We hope that helps!
MollyWhy so much agave/honey? I have been trying to decrease sugar in my diet. Why not just use more apple sauce or split between applesauce and something less intense sugar carbs? Could I use less honey without increasing another ingredient?
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Molly! Yes, you can certainly modify the sweetener amount without adding another ingredient. Thanks for checking.
Suzanne VanDusenI would like to not use agave, honey or syrup. Would stevia work ok and if so how much? Can I omit some of the sees if I don’t have them and change up the dried fruit to another dried fruit? Thanks for the great recipe.
- Meghan Remedios
Hi Suzanne, yes you could certainly use stevia in place of another sweetener. The amount you use will depend on the level of sweetness you prefer. Feel free to use any dried fruit you like 🙂
Dean MeesterSo I took a loose approach with this recipe, adding and subtacting to suit my own taste and what I had on hand. While I like them generally they are a little loose, even when refrigerated. What ingredient constitutes the binder, that I i may need to add more of to ensure a good bond? Or are they just a little loose by design?
- Allie Hartman
Hi Dean,
The nut butter and agave play the role of the binding agent here. If made to the same ratio as indicated in the ingredient list, you should have a very well combined bar.
Hope this helps!
Allie
Nathan HutchisonWill these work well with protein powder added into the mix or does the consistency get thrown off? They are about 16% protein as the recipe is written.
- Stephanie Hart
Hi Nathan! You can certainly add a teaspoon or two of protein powder to this mix. 🙂
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