No-Bake Granola Bar Recipe (makes 12 bars)

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup nut butter (peanut, almond or cashew)
  • 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup mix-ins: choose from chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, seeds, coconut flakes, chopped nuts
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  1. 1

    Toast the oats (optional but recommended)

    Spread oats on a baking tray and toast at 180°C for 8–10 minutes until lightly golden. This adds a nutty flavour and helps the bars hold together better.

  2. 2

    Warm nut butter and honey

    In a small saucepan, gently heat nut butter and honey together over low heat, stirring until combined and runny. Add vanilla and salt. Do not boil — just warm enough to mix easily.

  3. 3

    Combine everything

    Pour the warm nut butter mixture over the oats. Add your mix-ins. Stir thoroughly until everything is evenly coated. The mixture should hold together when you squeeze a handful.

  4. 4

    Press very firmly into a lined tin

    Line a 20cm square tin with baking paper. Transfer the mixture and press down extremely firmly with your hands or the back of a spoon. The harder you press, the better the bars hold together. Pressing is the most important step.

  5. 5

    Refrigerate for at least 2 hours

    Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight. Do not try to cut them before they are fully chilled — they will crumble.

  6. 6

    Cut and store

    Lift out using the baking paper and cut into 12 bars on a chopping board. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for 3 months.

Why your bars fall apartNot pressing firmly enough and not chilling long enough are the two main causes. Also check your honey-to-oat ratio — if the mixture seems dry before pressing, add another tablespoon of honey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — press into the tin and bake at 170°C for 20–25 minutes until the edges are golden. Baked bars are crispier and last longer at room temperature. Let cool completely in the tin before cutting — they firm up as they cool.
Generally yes — you control exactly what goes in. Shop-bought bars often contain high-fructose corn syrup, palm oil and more sugar than the label suggests. Homemade bars with natural nut butter, oats and honey are more nutritious and free of preservatives, though still calorie-dense.