No-bake breakfast bars make the perfect on-the-go balanced meal for kids and adults! These easy homemade granola bars take little time to make and are made with wholesome oats, almond butter and no refined sugars. An addictive gluten free treat you will want to nibble on to energize all day long!
These homemade no-bake breakfast bars taste just like those well adored CLIF Kid bars and now you can enjoy them from your own kitchen! They are so simple to make and the kids love them for breakfast and school snacks!
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Easy & Healthy No-Bake Breakfast Bars
Do you stroll through the grocery store aisles and all your kids want to eat are the granola bars like these strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars lined up beautifully stack by stack? That is just what kids love, mine too.
The funny thing is (ok not so funny when they holla for another oat bar), but they want one bar after another bar, after another one, after another one until you notice you just spent $5.99 on a box of granola bars that your one child just devoured as a snack.
That has happened one too many times to the point I just make my own no bake breakfast bars that the kids (and now your family) can enjoy without the parent guilt of the price tag or consuming a whole box of processed goodness. Really, how do the manufactures get those granola bars to last for months on end?
We love no bake everything including these famous no bake protein energy balls. No-bake snacks just make life easier, right? Just as much as the famous "CLIF Kid" bars that my kids just adore.
Here is a secret I will share with you... these homemade no bake breakfast bars taste ultra chewy, sweet, and pleasantly comforting. Make sure to heat treat the flour first to prevent the risk of food born illness from raw flour.
I re-took photos and updated this post recently and as soon as I made them again my husband asked, "Why don't you make these granola bars more, they are my favorite!!!!"
What makes these no-bake breakfast bars chewy?
Short answer, almond butter. Long answer, nut butter. Almond butter, or any nut butter just makes these bars fantastic! Almond butter is thick and creamy and when mixed with maple syrup or honey gives these bars a mouthwatering sugary chewy consistency that soothes a sweet tooth. Soak that sweetness in oats and you have an even creamier consistency made of wholesome fiber-rich ingredients!
Promise you will want to eat the whole pan as soon as they are ready. These homemade breakfast granola bars taste like cookie dough! They are a natural energizer to refuel kids before a sports game, in the morning or served as a dessert treat after dinner!
On busy school mornings this is what we grab-to-go for breakfast. These no bake breakfast bars are also a great way to add healthy carbs, plant-based protein, omegas, fiber and and B-vitamins into the start of your morning!
More delicious easy healthy recipes
- How To Heat Treat Flour
- N0-Bake Protein Balls
- Matcha Energy Balls
- No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Treats
- No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
- Chewy Almond Butter Bars
- Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
- Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
- Chia Date Bars
- Cranberry Bars loaded with chocolate chunks
- Strawberry Crumble Bars
📖 Recipe
Healthy No-Bake Breakfast Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick cook oats gluten-free
- ½ cup gluten-free flour How To Heat Treat Flour first
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (or honey)
- ½ cup almond butter
- 1-2 tablespoons apple juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ cup chocolate chips (vegan or milk chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Place almond butter and maple syrup in a bowl. Microwave if needed for 30 seconds to soften. Whisk together until smooth.
- Add the oats, gluten-free flour, 1 tablespoon apple juice, cinnamon, vanilla, chia seeds, and a dash of salt. Mix well to coat everything. Add the chocolate chips. May need to knead with your hands until oats are fully absorbed with all ingredients (add 1 or more tablespoons of apple juice if needed).
- On a flat surface, place parchment paper down and then place your "dough" on the paper. Add another sheet of parchment paper on top. Roll out dough into a square shape until about ½ inch thick.
- Place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes or more or in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Remove pan from refrigerator and slice into about 6 horizontal strips, then half each of those strips. Store in parchment paper placed in an airtight container in a glass container and stored in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 days.
Kristin says
Do these bars cope ok outside the fridge? I’ve had a few ‘no bake’ ones fail the school test due to not coping outside the fridge.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Yes, these should be fine outside the fridge. I have packed them in my kids lunches and taken them with us throughout the day. The get slightly soft but still hold shape.
Dana says
I thought it was bad to eat raw flour, high risk of food poisoning, no?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Thank you so much for your comment on the flour. I have updated the post with this content for heating the flour first. I have never gotten food born illness from not heat treating the flour, but it can happen so heat treat it first - here is the link on how to heat treat flour first.
Scott says
Why the Apple Juice? It's just something I don't keep around my home and I'm wondering if there's an alternative?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
It just needs a liquid and the sugar, acid, and flavor of apple juice is tasty in these bars. You can substitute the apple juice equally with water.
Makayla Drake says
Do you have to eat them within three days ?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
No, but gluten-free goods tend to dry faster than wheat ones. If stored correctly in an airtight container or sealed baggie they will last 5-7 days. If in a cake cake dish for grabs they last 3 days.
KC says
Hi - what kind of gluten free flour would you recommend? Or, can i use regular flour? Or... almond flour...? What would you recommend? Thanks!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
I recommend Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Flour, or Cup4Cup (that one has dairy). You can also use regular or whole wheat flour if gluten is not an issue :-).
Shelly says
Just a heads up, I don't see the chia seeds in the instructions... I assume I just mix them in. Loving your recipes, thank you! So far everything has been really delicious 😋
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Shelly! Thank you so much for your time in letting me know- I just added it in. I am so happy you are enjoying my recipes! Please rate them anytime:-)! Have a great rest of your day! -Danielle
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble says
I totally need to try these for my kids. I love how you can control the sugar because all those granola bars and cereal bars have way too much. Thanks for sharing!
Danielle @ Delightful Mom Food says
Kathleen, hope you enjoyed!