These Homemade Granola Bars take 10 minutes to make, chill for an hour and guess what, there is no baking involved! These no-bake gluten free granola bars keep you full for hours. They are the perfect little treat for an afternoon or mid-morning snack, or even gluten free breakfast on the go. They are made with simple, wholesome ingredients, salty-sweet flavors and lots of chewy goodness. And of course, since I am celiac and eat gluten free, these bars are gluten free because they are made with oats.
These easy gluten free granola bars are perfect for lunchboxes and after school snacks just like my banana oatmeal bars and my 15-minute popcorn bars.
Why You’ll Love this Gluten free Recipe
- The best part about these DIY homemade vegan granola bars is that, unlike store-bought granola bars, you can control the ingredients!
- You can use whatever nuts, dried fruit, crunchy cereal or chocolate you have on hand!
- The best part about this recipe is that it is a one bowl recipe…which means only one bowl to make it and only one bowl to clean up! My ideal situation since I hate doing dishes. I lined my baking dish with parchment paper so I didn’t need to wash it after the bars were chilled.
- This Homemade Granola Bars recipe is allergy friendly. You can use gluten free oats like I did for gluten free granola bars. This is a naturally dairy free recipe.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Popcorn: Provides a light and airy texture.
Rolled Oats: Adds a hearty texture. I use certified gluten free oats.
Dried Cranberries: Contribute sweetness and a burst of tart flavor. They also add some natural sweetness and antioxidants.
Honey Roasted Peanuts: Bring a salty and nutty flavor! I love peanut avocado rolls and thus love honey roasted peanuts!!
Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds): Adds to the crunch factor!
Peanut Butter: Acts as the binding agent to the Homemade Granola Bars, holding all the ingredients together. It also adds a rich, creamy flavor. You can also use almond, sunflower or another nut/seed butter.
Honey: Provides sweetness and helps bind the ingredients. It also adds a touch of natural sweetness. To make homemade vegan granola bars, I just use vegan honey, maple syrup or agave.
Directions
Get your mix: In a big bowl, put the popcorn, oats, cranberries, peanuts, and pepitas. Mix them all together.
Combine and mix: Pour the peanut butter and honey over the stuff in the big bowl. Use a spoon or your hands to mix everything together until everything is coated.
Press it down: Get a baking pan and put some paper on it. Pour the mixture into the pan. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to push it down flat and hard.
Chill out: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours. This makes it hard.
Cut and enjoy! Once it’s hard, use a knife to cut the Homemade Granola Bars into squares or rectangles.
Expert Tips & Tricks
You can always use a different type of nut butter, such as almond butter or cashew butter in these gluten free granola bars. Whatever your flavor of choice is works great!
I love to switch it up and add some chopped dried apricots, figs, or raisins.
You can always melt the peanut butter in the microwave for easy mixing!
Storage and Meal Prepping
Store the Homemade Granola Bars in an airtight container for up to four days in the refrigerator.
Can I add in some chocolate?
The more the merrier! You can absolutely add chocolate into these Homemade Granola Bars! I love chocolate and chocolate would be a great addition. You can mix in some chopped dark chocolate chunks, chocolate chips, or even dairy free chocolate chips.
Can I add in some seasoning?
I love to add a pinch of pumpkin spice, cinnamon sugar, ginger, or even nutmeg to the dry ingredients to give the homemade vegan granola bars a seasoned flavor.
Can I freeze these homemade granola bars?
I would not recommend freezing these homemade granola bars as the oats will become a bit soggy once frozen and defrosted. I’d eat them fresh after making.
How do I make homemade vegan granola bars?
To make these gluten free granola bars vegan, just use maple syrup or agave instead of honey! Easy swap.
Looking for more gluten free recipes?
If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along!
Homemade Granola Bars (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 2 cups of Popcorn
- 2 cups of gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
- 1/2 cup pepitas or pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup peanut butter the thicker the better!
- 1/2 cup honey, vegan honey or agave
Instructions
- Prep the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, oats, cranberries, peanuts, and pepitas. Give it a good stir so everything is evenly distributed.
- Get sticky! Pour the peanut butter and honey mixture over the dry ingredients. You can always melt the peanut butter in the microwave for easy mixing! Use a spoon or your hands to mix everything together until all the dry ingredients are evenly coated.
- Press it down: Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the pan and use the back of a spoon or your hands to press it down firmly and evenly. You want to create a nice, flat surface.
- Chill out: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours. This will allow the bars to set and become firm.
- Slice and enjoy! Once the bars are chilled, use a sharp knife to cut them into squares or rectangles.
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