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Home » Cookies-Bars

June 23, 2013 Cookies-Bars

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

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No Bake Granola Bars are always a big hit with my kids as a snack or in their school lunchbox!  My homemade recipe is so much better than the ones in the box and they are so much healthier as well!  They turn out soft and chewy every time and includes five different flavor options.

As a momma to six kiddos (Yes, I know.  They’re the cutest kids you’ve ever seen), I realize summer time is a delicate balancing act that can easily come crashing down around you if you lack any of the following necessities:

  1. Food…..and mountains of it! — Not only are you feeding your family but also the endless supply of friends and neighbors who know you keep mountains of food at your house.
  2. Entertainment — This comes in so many different forms depending on a child’s age and interests, but it all boils down to one critical point:  if your kids get bored, they come and find YOU!!!
  3. Work — Everyone home 24/7 = Everything a mess 24/7 if everyone doesn’t do their part to survive.
  4. Time — It can be 15 minutes or it can be a whole afternoon but those moments of time you spend together as a family is what your kids will remember when they reminisce about the Summer of 2013.
Chewy No Bake Granola Bars
Last week, as I battled to keep up with Necessity #1, my kids were begging me to whip up their favorite Chewy Granola Bars.  However, it was hot outside and there was no way I was turning on the oven. You see, I live in a beautiful 120 year old home here in Minnesota but it loses a bit of its beauty every summer due to the lack of central air.  We have window units but they are so hideously loud and ugly that we wait as long as we can to install them.
Chewy No Bake Granola Bars
My lack of A/C got my recipe brain churning and I played with my original recipe to create a no-bake version.  Success!  You get to stay in the attic in a few more weeks monstrous window A/C units.
The kids and I had so much fun creating all the different variations of this no bake granola bars base. I made one double batch of the base, but used these five different mix-ins to create all our favorites.  Actually, I created SIX varieties, because my oldest son only likes plain granola bars.  Have fun with this base and mix in all the great stuff your own family loves!  I’m sure you can come up with amazing variations for these no bake granola bars that will make mine seems as boring as my son’s plain ones 🙂
Need some more outstanding No-Bake recipes?  Here are a few of our favorites!

**I have received many questions about using coconut oil instead of butter, and agave instead of honey, so I created a revised recipe using those substitutions!  Just click here for the instructions and tell me what you think.  I can’t tell the difference! 

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Chewy No Bake Granola Bars

★★★★★ 4.8 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Carole Jones
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Total Time: 13 minutes
  • Yield: 15 bars 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
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Description

This recipe for chewy no bake granola bars is the best!  Easy and perfect for school lunch.  Pick your favorite mix ins.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups quick cooking oats (or pulse whole oats in a food processor a bit)
  • 1 C rice crispy cereal
  • 1/4 C shredded coconut
  • 1/4 C butter
  • 1/4 C honey or agave
  • 1/2 C brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1.  In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, cereal and coconut.  Set a small saucepan over medium high heat and melt the butter.  Add the honey, brown sugar and salt.  Stir together then leave it alone as it comes to a boil.  Once the boil has reached all the way around the edges of the pan, begin timing.  Allow this mixture to boil for 2 minutes and 15 seconds.  During this time, you may need to turn the heat down a bit so it doesn’t overflow, but be sure it keeps boiling.  If you have a candy thermometer, you want to bring the mixture to 235 degrees.
2.  Add the vanilla then pour the mixture over the oats, using a rubber spatula to get all the sugar mixture out of the pan.  Mix the ingredients together until the oats are completely coated.  Add in your desired mix-in then press very firmly into a lightly greased 9×13″ pan.  If you like your bars thicker, you can use a smaller pan or double the recipe and use the same 9×13 pan.  If you do not press firmly enough, the bars will fall apart when you eat them.  Place them in the fridge for 20 minutes then cut to size.


Notes

Chocolate Chip
Add 1/2 C of mini chocolate chips to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it cool just a bit or you will end up with melted chips.  Sprinkle on a few extra chips over the top after they are pressed into the pan.

White Chocolate Cranberry
Add 1/3 C of white chocolate chips and 1/3 C of Craisins to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it to cool just a bit first or you will end up with melted chips.

Candy Bar
Add 1/3 C of Heath bar pieces, 1/3 C of mini M&M’s and 1/3 C of chopped pretzels to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.

Peanut Butter
Add 2 Tb of peanut butter to the finished sugar mixture before pouring it over the oats.  Once mixed with the oats, add 1/2 C peanut butter chips before pressing into the pan.

Raisin Nut
Add 1/3 C of chopped raisins and 1/3 C of chopped pecans to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar
  • Calories: 192
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 80 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 8 mg

Keywords: No bake chewy granola bar recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thecarolejones on Instagram and hashtag it #mykitchenescapades

Categories: Cookies-Bars Tags: Coconut, Gluten Free, Oats

Filed Under: Cookies-Bars
178 Comments
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Momof5 says

    July 14, 2013 at 11:50 am

    Fabulous! Thanks! Love the printable version too.

    Reply
    • Jenn says

      August 18, 2021 at 12:06 pm

      How do you store them after you make them refrigerator or just cover on counter.
      ?

      Reply
      • Carole says

        August 23, 2021 at 8:40 am

        Either is just fine but fridge will help them stay softer longer

        Reply
  2. Jaedyn Smith says

    July 23, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    I am going to attempt to make these after we move next week! I’ve been looking for a yummy CHEWY recipe for awhile! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  3. Jaedyn Smith says

    July 23, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    I am going to attempt to make these after we move next week! I’ve been looking for a yummy CHEWY recipe for awhile! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  4. Crystal says

    July 25, 2013 at 12:39 am

    I like dried fruit/nuts in mine, any suggestions??

    Reply
  5. Carole says

    July 25, 2013 at 1:16 am

    Well Crystal, the obvious is the Raisin Nut recipe I already have listed :). Put in any of your favorite dried fruits or nuts. We love chopped dried apricots and craisins together.

    Reply
  6. Lynn says

    July 25, 2013 at 2:49 am

    I’m not a fan of coconut. Could I leave it out? Do I need to compensate with more dry ingredients?

    Reply
  7. kelly says

    July 25, 2013 at 6:42 am

    hi i can not have honey at all its a life and death thing what can i use in replace of this please? many thanks

    Reply
  8. Carole says

    July 25, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Kelly- you could try using corn syrup but I have never tried it with corn syrup. If you do, come back and let me know how they turned out. I would also add some additional vanilla since corn syrup has no flavor and honey has tons!

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      March 21, 2015 at 12:13 am

      She can also try maple syrup in place of the honey.

      Reply
      • Carole says

        March 21, 2015 at 7:45 am

        Thanks Lindsey

        Reply
  9. Carole says

    July 25, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    Lynn-yes, you can leave it out but try it in the bars first. It is more for the texture of the bars than flavor. I can’t taste the coconut directly but it does help give them a nice chew.

    Reply
  10. Amy Jents says

    July 27, 2013 at 6:49 pm

    These sound great especially for kids snack at school. What is the best way to store them and how long would you say they stay fresh. Thinking about making a couple batches at once.
    Thanks Amy

    Reply
  11. Carole says

    July 27, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    Amy- they stay well if you individually wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap. Be sure you really press down on them when making them so they will be firm enough to last without breaking once they are wrapped!

    Reply
  12. Cynthia says

    July 29, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    One of my sons is dairy free – do you think these would work if I subbed coconut oil for the butter?

    Reply
  13. Carole says

    July 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm

    Cynthia- I have no experience with coconut oil so if you try it, be sure to come back and share your results!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    July 29, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    These wouldn’t hold together very well for me, despite the fact that I pushed down as hard as I could to make the bars keep their shape. I’m thinking about adding more butter, sugar, honey next time to make it stickier. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  15. Carole says

    July 29, 2013 at 7:45 pm

    My guess would be to first cook your mixture longer by one minute. If the sugar mixture doesn’t come to the proper temperature as it boils, it won’t harden enough as it cools. Try that first!

    Reply
  16. frances says

    August 04, 2013 at 7:37 am

    im allergic to coconut mixed with preservities can you substitue any thing for it?ty

    Reply
  17. Carole says

    August 04, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    You can try freshly shredded coconut or leave it out.

    Reply
  18. Anonymous says

    August 05, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    thank you my family loves these. i have waited the few minutes for them to cool but my chocolate still melts. what ia a good time to wait without ruining them. also i forgot the coconut and they still turned out. that was good because my husband is not big on coconut.

    Reply
  19. Carole says

    August 05, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    Wait a couple more minutes or just sprinkle them on the top of bars once they are in the pan. Be sure you try the coconut next time! Gives a good chew without the taste of coconut so your hubby will never know 🙂

    Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    August 09, 2013 at 2:20 am

    Just made these. They are amazing. I added sunflower seeds before putting them in the pan. Also tried mini marshmallows and melted semi sweet chocolate over top(rock road style). Really sweet. Really yummy. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  21. Toni says

    August 10, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    You can substitute coconut oil for the butter. You can also use organic brown rice syrup instead of brown sugar. You could possibly use the brown rice syrup to replace the honey for those who are allergic. These types of granola bars are very forgiving…you can experiment and still get tasty results!!

    Reply
  22. e.gsabourin says

    August 12, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    Why did you decrease the amount of oats and increase the amount of rice krispies?

    Reply
  23. Carole says

    August 12, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    Are you talking about my original recipe? It was a basis that I began playing with it and thought they would stay together a bit better without being baked using less oats. You can certainly play with my version! That is what cooking and baking is all about!

    Reply
  24. Heather says

    August 16, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    These are GREAT!! Made my first batch today and used mini choc chips and mini M&Ms! The kids love them. I’d like to use them in school lunches. Do you have an idea of how long they will keep? Or how to store? I wrapped individual bars in plastic wrap and then put them all in a ziplock bag. I’m assuming room temp is okay?

    Reply
  25. Carole says

    August 16, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    Heather-so glad you loved them! If you wrap them individually, they will last around a couple weeks. They won’t spoil, just become more stale as time goes on.

    Reply
  26. Crystal Mincher says

    August 20, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Made these last night and so good! To make sure they were pressed down really firm I put a sheet of wax paper over the top then used a small loaf pan and pushed it down on top all the way around. Cleaner and quicker than using my hands.

    I plan to make some with almonds next time.

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    August 21, 2013 at 11:44 am

    can you please tell me how you have to ‘press’ them? i mean how do you do it and what exactly is the technique what’s the exact type of equipment needed? I’m really confused but i want to try your recipe really bad. the pictures you included were really motivating- that they would turn out delicious. So please help 🙂

    Reply
  28. Carole says

    August 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    Special equipment needed: your hands :). I use lightly damp hands to press the bars quite firmly into the pan. Some have used plastic wrap over the top and then their hands or another pan to press down.

    Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:08 am

    Ohh, i see. what do i do after pressing it? should i cover it with something like plastic wrap before putting it in the fridge or just put it in as it is.( not covered and in the square pan)….one more thing- you see, in the place i live, that kind of rice cereal is pretty hard to find and i’m having difficulties with other recipes that include even more varieties of different ingredients. it’s all so confusing. is it possible you substitute anything for it? something easier? or if not can you tell me some other good rice cereal names that go GOOD with the recipe? thanks!

    Reply
  30. Rebecca MacNeill says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    Thank you so much. Going to make these for back-to-school snacks. Do you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut? Love coconut! Thx.

    Reply
  31. Carole says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Rebecca-sweetened but unsweetened woul work just fine because there is plenty of sugar.

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    August 23, 2013 at 3:03 am

    These are yummy! But I thought they were a bit too sweet. I don’t know how to go about cutting down the sugar though, since it’s used as the liquid to hold it together. Thoughts?

    Reply
  33. Carole says

    August 23, 2013 at 10:32 am

    You can try subbing agave for the honey. The honey is definitely sweeter and has a stronger flavor but agave will yield similar results.

    Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    August 23, 2013 at 7:11 pm

    What is the goal temperature to bring the syrup to? We have an elevation of 5000 feet and it takes a while for things to boil.

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    August 23, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    What’s the best way to store these? In the fridge or in the pantry?

    Reply
  36. Carole says

    August 23, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Pantry

    Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    August 25, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    When do you add the vanilla in your directions?

    Reply
  38. Carole says

    August 25, 2013 at 7:25 pm

    Thanks for the question. After the sugar mixture has finished boiling.

    Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    August 26, 2013 at 3:15 am

    I made these tonight & saw the ingredient for vanilla but didn’t see any directions calling for it & completely forgot all about it, however these are still delicious and my kids are raving about them. We made white chocolate/craisin & chocolate chip and they both turned out great!!!!

    Reply
  40. Anonymous says

    August 26, 2013 at 6:16 am

    Do you think jelly/jam would work in these? Hubby said a PBJ one would be good but not sure that it would harden.

    Reply
  41. Anonymous says

    September 05, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! Mine are in the fridge right now. Since I’m in fall mode, I made them with pumpkin seeds, cinnamon chips and cranberries. I can’t wait to try them!

    Reply
  42. Sharyn says

    September 06, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    Yum! Can’t wait to make these with GF rice cereal and oatmeal! My son can’t have gluten and I was planning to spend all weekend making snacks for him to bring to school. Since packaged GF granola bars are SO expensive these will be a great alternative! Thanks!

    Reply
  43. DianeMargaret says

    September 11, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    Just to let you know…..
    Macadamia Nuts, White Chocolate, and Dried Cherries were DELICIOUS!!!

    Reply
  44. Anonymous says

    September 20, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    Mine didn’t go so well…… added the sugar mixture and it just clumped up 🙁 had to quickly make a little more sugar mixture and still did the same. eventually just mashed together and then pressed into pan….. Was very frustrating!!

    Reply
  45. DrKroeze says

    September 23, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    These are so good! I just made my third batch. I can’t keep them in the house! Even my pickiest water loves them. Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to see what flavors I can come up with…. I will never buy store bought again!

    Reply
  46. Anonymous says

    September 29, 2013 at 12:47 am

    Hi There!

    I just made these bars. I am really excited to try them. I used a 9×13 pan as the recipe called for. These seem very thin though. I followed the recipe. Is this how they are supposed to be. How many bars does it yield?
    Thanks!!1

    Reply
  47. Samantha Daniel says

    October 19, 2013 at 9:16 pm

    Are these freezer friendly? I was hoping to make a bunch and just pull out a few a week, defrost and eat. Has anyone tried this?

    Reply
  48. Heather says

    October 20, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Yes freezing works great! I just tried it last week. I wrap each bar in plastic wrap then put in a freezer ziploc bag. Took them out the night before and you’d never know they had been in the freezer.

    Reply
  49. AtomSoft says

    November 14, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    My wife loves these! Thanks.

    Reply
  50. Anonymous says

    November 25, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    On my first attempt to make them I decided to add the 2TB peanut butter to sugar mixture after the boiling step. I’m wondering if anyone else had the sugar mixture harden quickly when trying to mix into oats/cereal mixture? Almost turned to toffee as I was stirring. Couldn’t get a lot of the oats mixed in. I planned to add mini chocolate chips too but decided to add to the top instead. Evenly poured on top then warmed in oven a couple minutes so I could spread chocolate over the top. They taste great but what did I do wrong?? A lot of oats fall off as you bite into bars since the mixture didn’t “mix” well…

    Thank you!! A great alternative to the cardboard tasting bars from store! 🙂

    Reply
  51. Carole says

    November 25, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    Sounds like you boiled the sugar mixture too long. Try again and reduce your boiling time by a minute or so. Good luck!

    Reply
  52. Anonymous says

    December 04, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    can I substitute the rice cereal with more oats?

    Reply
  53. Carole says

    December 04, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    You could, but your result will be denser and possibly more dry. If you do, I would reduce the amount of oats compared to the rice cereal. Let me know how it goes!

    Reply
  54. Anonymous says

    December 08, 2013 at 1:54 am

    If I eliminate the coconut, do I need to add extra dry ingredients?

    Reply
    • Alyssa says

      July 10, 2015 at 8:17 am

      I’m going to try ground flax seed instead of coconut. Mostly because I do not have coconut on hand, but my family does not like it.

      Reply
      • Carole says

        July 10, 2015 at 8:23 am

        Hi Alyssa! That should work fine. You should try it once with the coconut because it really adds a nice chewiness without tasting like coconut. Your family would never know 🙂

        Reply
  55. Carole says

    December 08, 2013 at 2:45 am

    No, you don’t but I really do recommend you try it once with the coconut. It adds a great texture to the bar without the flavor of coconut. Try it once before you eliminate it! Good luck.

    Reply
  56. Anonymous says

    December 10, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    these turned out excellent! chewy like them but yummier then those synthetic shop ones. id recommend toasting the oats 5 mins to get rid of the floury taste. and i used cornflakes instead of rice crispies, which i didn’t have. 3 mins boiling time. pressed down hard using a plastic bag over my hand to pack it in. a smaller pan would work 9 by 9 inch max for a 0.5-1 cm thick 12 bars.

    Reply
  57. StudioDTQ says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:12 am

    I featured this recipe on my blog…

    Reply
  58. Jennifer Storm says

    December 15, 2013 at 4:16 am

    My bars didn’t turn out that well. They ended up rock hard. Not sure what I did wrong….any idea?

    Reply
  59. Carole says

    December 15, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    Jennifer- it sounds like you cooked the sugar mixture either too long or too hot. Try again and reduce your cooking time of the sugar mixture by at least a minute. Good luck!

    Reply
  60. Sarah says

    January 12, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    My entire family loved these. I used sugar in the raw instead of brown sugar and ground up flax seed instead of the crispy rice cereal. They were delicious!

    Reply
    • stephanie @ stephanies Az Kitchen says

      April 04, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Very good to know. I was hoping someone would post a comment like yours. I don’t give my kids cereal like rice crispier unless there’s no other alternative like on vacation or at someone’s house and I am not there. Yay flax seed is super healthy:)

      Reply
  61. Rhianna Garber says

    January 13, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    How do you store these? How long is their “shelf” life?

    Reply
  62. Carole says

    January 13, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    I store them in an airtight container and they are good for about 5 days. You can individually wrap each bar in plastic wrap and they will last longer.

    Reply
  63. truth_teller says

    January 19, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    Can this be made with agave nectar and fructose as I am intolerant of sugar and honey?

    Reply
  64. Carole says

    January 19, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Definitely, agave can be substituted for the honey, but I have no experience with fructose so I can’t say for sure. Come back and let me know how it works!

    Reply
  65. Anonymous says

    January 21, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Found this recipe and your blog via Pinterest. I made these yesterday and substituted coconut oil for the butter to make a dairy free version for a friend. Also added wheat germ, flaxseed meal, and sunflower seeds instead of rice cereal, since i didnt have any. Turned out scrumptious!

    Reply
    • stephanie @ stephanies Az Kitchen says

      April 04, 2015 at 10:40 pm

      Found this on Pinterest too. Looking forward to trying your version!

      Reply
      • Carole says

        April 08, 2015 at 12:55 pm

        Thanks Stephanie! -Carole

        Reply
  66. nayknits says

    January 22, 2014 at 1:07 am

    I just discovered this via Pinterest and I must thank you! I am so happy I’ll be able to make the kids a snack in the summer that does NOT involve oven use as well. I live in NE Wyoming and while it’s terribly cold all winter, the summers are scorching hot and we also do not have anything other than a noisy A/C unit.
    LOVE LOVE LOVE these 🙂

    Reply
  67. Rachel says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    How long do these keep and how do you store them?

    Reply
  68. Carole says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    I store them in an airtight container and they are good for about 5 days. You can individually wrap each bar in plastic wrap and they will last longer.

    Reply
  69. Christine Phillips says

    January 23, 2014 at 1:09 am

    I tried these today, and I LOVED them! My pickiest eater couldn’t get enough of them. The only thing I have to do next time is cut them before I put them in the fridge to set. Thank you!

    Reply
  70. Kerianna says

    January 24, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    Between this recipe and the granola bars that you bake, which would you say are better? Thanks!

    Reply
  71. Carole says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    Kerianna- hmmmm, that is a really close call. I do lean a bit more towards the baked ones but just a bit. I make them both a lot.

    Reply
  72. Kerianna says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    Then I’ll try the baked ones first. Thanks.

    Reply
  73. Anonymous says

    January 31, 2014 at 11:46 pm

    Delish! Thanks for posting!! 🙂

    Reply
  74. Becky says

    February 01, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    These are wonderful! I’ve made 3 batches today. : ) My husband says they are “perfect”, and all 8 kids keep begging for more. I don’t know they’ll make it into tomorrow! Thank you!

    Reply
  75. Bradrick Robinson says

    February 03, 2014 at 10:38 am

    Hi, my picky kids wouldn’t eat these since they saw the oatmeal lol but my husband loves these as snacks for work. I was wondering though if you know about how long they last and the best way to store them? I wrapped them individually in saran wrap and then in a freezer bag. They are currently on the counter but wasn’t sure if they should stay like that or not. Thanks

    Reply
  76. Mindy says

    February 07, 2014 at 12:37 am

    Mine were not chewy (they tasted greasy, just crunchy) What do you think I did wrong?

    Reply
  77. Mindy says

    February 07, 2014 at 12:39 am

    Tasted great! (Sorry for that autocorrect)

    Reply
  78. Carole says

    February 07, 2014 at 12:45 am

    Sounds like you cooked the sugar mixture too long Mindy. Cut the cook time down a chunk. I made them today and once it comes to a boil, two minutes 15 seconds works perfectly for me but you might need less time.

    Reply
  79. Anonymous says

    February 08, 2014 at 12:29 am

    Very simple and tasty; a real kid pleaser! I have not tried them with honey yet, but used the corn syrup I had on hand. I have also modified them a little as I found them to be a bit too hard. I reduced the boiling time to 1 minute 30 seconds from the time the syrup mixture begins a full boil. I also added about 1 tbsp more of both the brown sugar and corn syrup because the first time I made them the mixture was a little dry. This seems to have done the trick for me. I wonder if using honey changes the chewiness so once I actually buy some, I plan on trying your original recipe as is. So much healthier and cheaper than buying store bought granola bars!!

    Reply
  80. Laurie says

    February 11, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    I never leave comments but these were so delicious I just had to! So chewy and tasty and simple! I don’t use quick oats and I didn’t even grind the whole oats and they tasted delicious! I will double the revipe for a 9×13 pan I like them thick. Thanks for posting this, I’ll be making these a LOT

    Reply
  81. Carole says

    February 11, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    Thanks so much Laurie! I make them all the time and also double the recipe 🙂

    Reply
  82. Anonymous says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Could you use coconut oil instead of butter?

    Reply
  83. Carole says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    Having never tried that substitution, I honestly don’t know but have been tempted to try it. I use agave instead of honey and actually prefer that substitution because agave has a much milder flavor. Let me know if you give the coconut oil a try!

    Reply
  84. Becky says

    February 25, 2014 at 11:14 pm

    Any idea on what the nutritional info is? I’m sure it changes once you add the additional toppings. Any info would be great. Thanks much for sharing.

    Reply
  85. theactuarialchef says

    February 26, 2014 at 1:42 am

    Re the question about nutritional information — try myfitnesspal.com or calorie-count.com. You input the brand-specific ingredients that you use, and get a customized-to-you nutritional analysis of the recipe! Good luck!

    Reply
  86. Anonymous says

    February 28, 2014 at 1:28 am

    I just made these and my picky 3yr old LOVES them! Thank you!!

    Reply
  87. Megan @ Ordinarily Obsessed says

    March 01, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    Does anyone know the weightwatchers points for one serving?

    Reply
  88. Renee says

    March 29, 2014 at 6:49 pm

    These are amazing! I’ve been wanting to make this since I saw the recipe but never got around to it. The kids and I made these today and they are AMAZING! I didn’t have coconut (which is odd, since I always use it in baked goods) so we left it out…. I also added peanut butter plus some semi sweet chocolate chips, raisins, slivered almonds and some whole peanuts (next time, the peanuts will need to be smashed) and they turned out fantastic. The whole peanuts kept the granola bars from staying together when I smushed it all down… but that’s the only issue… that was all my fault. Totally making these again! Thank you for sharing a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  89. Tiff says

    April 02, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    I see the question has been asked, but I didn’t see a response to it…

    What is the goal temperature?? I also live in a very high elevation so knowing the target temp would be helpful.

    Reply
  90. Carole says

    April 02, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    Tiff – since I have never used a candy thermometer to make these, I can’t give you a temperature for sure. However, I would guess in the soft-ball stage (235-240) since that is the texture for the binding syrup.

    Reply
  91. Anonymous says

    April 17, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    These were awesome and easy to make!

    Reply
  92. Anonymous says

    April 27, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    This recipe and/or the directions were horrible. As it was boiling I noticed it start to burn and immediately took it off the heat but it was too late. It smells awful and tastes worse and I obviously threw the batch away and was going to attempt another try but noticed where a drop spilled on my floor so I went to wipe that up and now I am left with a nice yellow STAIN on my kitchen floor that will not come out.

    Reply
  93. Carole says

    April 27, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    I’m sorry you struggled with the recipe. It sounds like you cooked the syrup on too high of a temperature and that stain is actually a burn from the boiling hot syrup. I hope you give it another try and turn your heat down some so the sugar doesn’t burn. They are worth another try!

    Reply
  94. Anonymous says

    April 28, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Oh my goodness these are so so so good! I made them with the coconut oil and they are a delight and easy! The key is to not use. High heat at all I start at 5 as my stove top goes to ten than once the bubble are just around the edges start time and reduce to a 3.5 and stir so as not to burn it! Hope this helps those who have had problems!

    Reply
  95. ju says

    May 17, 2014 at 7:47 am

    Thanks Carole for sharing! I am working out in the gym recently and looking for some kind of healthy snack or post gym snack to eat during office hour! I think this is it! I can refuse buying those high sugar protein bars!Definitly will try my own version and add in more nuts for healthy fat. Carole, can u pls create more yummy yet low fat and sugar snacks to satisfied our craving!
    Keep up the good work!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      May 22, 2014 at 10:43 am

      Thanks for your comment Judy! I will definitely work on your request and thanks again for stopping by!

      Reply
  96. Jessica says

    May 27, 2014 at 11:29 am

    My family doesn’t like coconut, do you have to put that in or is it simply for flavor and therefore can be optional?

    Reply
    • Carole says

      May 27, 2014 at 12:41 pm

      Hey Jessica! It is there for a nice chewy texture. I am not a fan of coconut myself and I use it when I make these bars. They don’t taste like coconut but it adds such a nice chewy texture. I think you should try it once before ruling it out 🙂

      Reply
  97. JML says

    June 03, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    we made these today. left out the coconut. made a double batch. taste GREAT! I used a 9×13 pan, put a sheet of wax paper over it and used the bottom of my measuring cup to press it all down well.
    will be trying nuts and dried fruit tomorrow

    Reply
    • Carole says

      June 03, 2014 at 8:55 pm

      So glad they turned out so well and that you will be experimenting with different mix ins! Thanks for letting me know how they went – Carole

      Reply
  98. Amanda P says

    June 15, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    Made these today. Mine were a little crumbly and the chocolate chips melted. But the flavor and texture were good. I had to make a few substitutions because I missing things. But I will be making these again!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      June 15, 2014 at 8:52 pm

      Thanks for your comment Amanda! If they were crumbly, I would reduce your time boiling the sugar mixture a little bit. For the melted chocolate chips, allow the mixture to cool a bit before adding the chips, or use mini m&m’s. Mine melt a little bit too but mainly because I am too impatient to allow the mixture to cool 🙂

      Reply
  99. Colleen says

    June 17, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    So going to make these our family loves granola bars and I hate buying them and this is a much healthier way. Thanks so much for the recipes

    Reply
    • Carole says

      June 17, 2014 at 3:33 pm

      Glad to hear it Colleen! Come back and let me know how they turn out for you! Carole

      Reply
  100. Sherry says

    July 05, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    Carole, I must tell you that our family LOVES these granola bars. We are gluten free and dairy free so we can’t buy granola bars. I also like knowing what is in my granola bars. Every batch is different, i just throw in what I have in the cupboard. Sometimes I increase the coconut, add sunflower seeds, add chia, sometimes I use maple syrup instead of honey, they always taste fantastic. I have passed your recipe on to many friends who are now making these every week too. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      July 05, 2014 at 10:55 pm

      Oh yea Sherry!! I am so glad you love them as much as I do 🙂 thanks for coming back and letting me know ❤️Carole

      Reply
  101. Nicole says

    July 15, 2014 at 3:20 pm

    Oh my goodness! We made these last night using coconut oil instead of butter and I was a bit leery about the outcome. These are perfect! They are chewy and just all around amazing!
    We added sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and non-dairy chocolate.
    Thank you so much for sharing!!!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      July 16, 2014 at 4:37 pm

      Yippee!!! So glad you loved them with the coconut oil. I was scared to make them without butter the first time as well 🙂 – Carole

      Reply
  102. Jennifer says

    August 13, 2014 at 11:51 pm

    I loved these. I left out the coconut because my family doesn’t like it, and instead used a cup or so of granola. Then drizzled melted chocolate over the top. It was very good!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      August 14, 2014 at 7:25 pm

      Great variation Jennifer! Thanks for sharing – Carole

      Reply
  103. kim says

    September 08, 2014 at 11:49 am

    can these be made without rice krispies? if so how can I adapt or modify it? trying to leave it out the processed cereal part.. thanks.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 08, 2014 at 11:52 am

      Kim- yes, you could make them with all oats but the result will be denser and drier. Maybe instead of doing a straight substitution, reduce the amount of oats you are subbing in for the cereal by a little bit.

      Reply
  104. Becky says

    September 18, 2014 at 11:34 am

    These are spectacular. My go-to recipe. I put little sprinkles in mine along with mini chocolate chips–coloured to match the season we’re in.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 18, 2014 at 11:39 am

      Becky- love the seasonal sprinkles idea!

      Reply
  105. Samantha says

    September 25, 2014 at 12:30 am

    Hey, I just made these and they are cooling in the fridge. They look yummy !! But I don’t think they are going to stay together. I just tried cutting into them because they have been cooling for 30 minutes and they starting crumbling. I’ve read the comments and so I should leave the boiling mixture to boil for an extra minute?

    Thanks !!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 25, 2014 at 8:09 am

      Samantha – I would be very cautious about boiling the mixture for another whole minute. You might end up with rock hard bars 🙂 First, be sure you are pushing down very firmly on them when you put them into the pan. If that doesn’t solve your problem, then try adding 20 seconds to your boiling time. -Carole

      Reply
  106. Rose says

    October 05, 2014 at 10:38 pm

    What can I replace the 1/4 cup of coconut with? I am allergic!!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      October 06, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Rose – you could just leave it out

      Reply
  107. Megan says

    October 13, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    Cooling my bars right now! Thanks, they smell delicious and I can’t wait to share them:)

    Reply
    • Carole says

      October 13, 2014 at 5:56 pm

      So glad you gave them a try Megan! I make them at least once a week for my kids lunches -Carole

      Reply
  108. Bérangère says

    January 03, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    I made these to day and they are so yummy! Just a bit too sweet for my taste ; next time I will use unsweetened coconut.
    How can I prevent the chocolate chips to melt?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Carole says

      January 04, 2015 at 3:31 pm

      My suggestion for the chocolate chips is to let the mixture cool longer before you add them. It is the hot sugar mixture that is melting them, but be careful you don’t wait too long or they won’t hold their shape -Carole

      Reply
  109. Stephanie Shelton says

    March 07, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    Im going to be trying these this week…the only thing i can think to make them “better” for my sweet tooth is dipping them in chocolate for a thin layer on the bottom. I am not a fan of coconut but i read some of the comments.and you said you couldnt taste it and it gives it more the chewy texture sooo ill try it…lol im pretty excited 😉 thanks much.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      March 07, 2015 at 5:09 pm

      Ooooo Stephanie….I think I might just need to try that idea of dipping the bottoms in chocolate. -Carole

      Reply
  110. lauren says

    March 30, 2015 at 9:16 am

    Your recipe has burnt on me twice, help?

    Reply
    • Carole says

      March 30, 2015 at 9:32 am

      That is a bummer Lauren! I would reduce your heat level quite a bit and make sure you start timing from the moment the bubbles are around the sides of the pan. You might need to reduce your cooking time a bit as well.

      Reply
      • Linda says

        February 05, 2017 at 8:28 am

        These are fantastic. My grown son loves them, too. Maple syrup instead of the honey is so good. I would also use a heavy pan, like an Al Clad pan to help prevent the burning.

        Reply
        • Carole says

          February 06, 2017 at 1:32 pm

          Thanks Linda!

          Reply
  111. Sarah says

    April 16, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    I made the raisin variety and they were delicious. However, I’m having trouble with parts of them “shattering” when I cut them. They seem to have hardened so much that when I try to cut the bars, the whole recipe begins to crackmore than I want, like glass.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      April 16, 2015 at 9:39 pm

      Sarah – it sounds like you cooked them on too high of a temperature or for too long, or maybe even both 🙂 Try reducing your heat quite a bit after it comes to a boil. You want it to continue to bubble gently but if the heat is too high, the syrup becomes a hard candy instead of a soft, chewy syrup. Good luck! -Carole

      Reply
  112. Tina says

    May 19, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    I’ve made these several times now. The whole family loves them. I omit the coconut (highly allergic) and in one batch I replaced the honey with maple syrup and added extra maple extract, pecans and walnuts covered the tops with thin layer of chocolate for a breakfast bar, hubby loved these. My kids like both with the honey and with the syrup. Next batch we are going to try giving them a yogurt covering.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      May 19, 2015 at 6:26 pm

      I really love those personalizations Tina!

      Reply
  113. Melissa says

    September 06, 2015 at 11:35 am

    I’ve been making these granola bars for about a year now – they are SO much better than the store-bought type. They turn out chewy and sweet every single time. My family loves them and I always end up making a double batch and freezing them after I’ve cut them into bars. I’ve been adding 1/4 cup chia seeds or hemp seeds to add some extra protein, and I’ll often add 2 tbsp of Sunbutter (instead of peanut butter) so that they are school lunch box friendly. Thanks so much for this life-changing recipe! I’m always raving about it to everyone who is looking for a good granola bar recipe!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 06, 2015 at 12:01 pm

      Thanks so much Melissa! I love your additions as well. These are still a staple for our lunch boxes as well

      Reply
  114. Jenna says

    September 21, 2015 at 10:40 am

    I can’t wait to try this recipe! I’ve been looking for a no-peanut butter recipe for my kids for school (though they love peanut butter). For pressing granola mixture into pans for bars, we use our meat tenderizer; it’s shaped like a knuckle punch band! It works great!

    Thanks for the great variations!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 21, 2015 at 10:50 am

      Jenna, I love the idea of the of using a meat tenderizer and I’m glad you found a recipe to work for the lunch boxes!

      Reply
  115. Laci says

    September 25, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I tried another granola bar recipe but it didn’t turn out so well. This was perfect! I only had half of 1/4 cup of honey so i combined it with maple syrup. I also put cheerios,chopped almonds, raisins, and dried cranberries in mine! It came out perf! I’ve started to eat clean and needed a granola bar for my post workouts 🙂 This recipe is PERFECT <3

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 26, 2015 at 2:46 pm

      Awesome Laci! I make these every week for my kiddos

      Reply
  116. Katie says

    April 21, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    What size saucepan do you use? I used a small one and the ingredients never boiled to the top and I ended up burning my batch waiting for it to bubble to the top 🙁

    Reply
    • Carole says

      April 21, 2016 at 1:08 pm

      Bummer Katie! I hope you give it a try again. If you look at the directions again, it doesn’t say to wait until it bubbles get to the top of the pan. It says to start the timing as soon as the bubbles on the surface of the liquid are all around the pan. Good luck

      Reply
  117. Ashley says

    September 26, 2016 at 7:50 am

    Oh my word these are amazing! Thanks so much, I’ve been looking for a great bar recipe for the kid’s lunchboxes for a while and none have come out as well as these! Do you know if I’d be able to substitute the sugar for sweetener or will that not work as the “glue” for holding them together?

    Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Carole says

      September 26, 2016 at 11:38 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed them Ashley! Unfortunately, that substitution won’t work.

      Reply
  118. Brandy says

    October 26, 2016 at 5:52 am

    I tried these with Butter as indicated in the recipe and they turned out very tasty, but fell apart. I tried to make it again, this time with coconut oil as a previous comment suggested it could substitute for butter. Big mistake! The coconut oil and sugar burnt and now my house smells terrible! I will try again with butter and maybe double the recommendation and see if it stays together better. Just a warning though….coconut oil didn’t work for me.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      October 26, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      That is a bummer Brandy! Don’t give up on the coconut oil option if you really want the healthier version. Just lower your heat quite a bit. Each stove and pot can result in very different results so you have to keep an eye on the syrup mixture. To get your butter version to not fall apart, let the syrup boil about 30-45 seconds longer and be sure you press the mixture very firmly into the pan. Good luck!

      Reply
  119. Laura says

    March 29, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    Just made these with my son. He loved being able to pick what mix-ins to go in to the bars. We picked peanut butter chips comma pretzels, and peanut butter. They turned out great! What a fun way to cook with kids and make it your own.

    Reply
    • Carole says

      March 29, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      I love that you and your son not only loved the recipe but had so much fun making them together!

      Reply
  120. Kim says

    June 08, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    how do you store yours? I find when i take the chocolate chip ones out of the frig, the chocolate begins to soften and get sticky.. Thanks for any advice. Kim

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carole says

      June 12, 2018 at 10:54 am

      Hi Kim! I keep mine in an airtight container and haven’t had trouble with them sticking. Maybe next time add 30 seconds to your boil time of the sugar mixture and see if that helps.

      Reply
  121. JenP says

    January 29, 2019 at 10:20 am

    It’s a great recipe, but could be improved by giving instructions to make it using a candy thermometer. That would give much more consistent results, especially as stoves vary and altitude makes a difference.
    Essentially, all chewy granola bars are a cousin of rice krispie treats, and rice krispie treats are made from marshmallows, and the key to marshmallows is cooking a sugar syrup to the soft-ball stage. (Melting store-bought marshmallows is just a short-cut or a workaround, as the cooking to a precise temperature part was already done at the factory.)So, for chewy granola bars, you want to cook sugar syrup to the soft-ball stage. That’s a very precise measurement, and it won’t reliably work hen you give instructions in terms of time at the simmer or time at a certain flame height or what-not. Put the instructions in terms of a candy thermometer, and you won’t get all the omments complaining that the bars came out too hard likenut ttle, or that they never set up and stayed gooey.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Carole says

      February 01, 2019 at 6:17 pm

      Thanks Jen for your feedback! I agree that a specific temperature would be perfect, but I also know my audience and know that most of them will not have a candy thermometer in their kitchen equipment. I try to write my recipes in a way that works for everyone. For anyone who does have a candy thermometer, soft ball stage is at 235 degrees.

      Reply
  122. Golden Dina says

    October 12, 2020 at 5:34 am

    One important note: it is very important to press these into the baking dish very well- as much as you can. I used my Lodge Cast-Iron Grill Press to make sure it was sufficiently pressed, but you can also just use your hands. Just cover the top of the granola bars with parchment paper and press away! A no-bake, easy chewy granola bar recipe that comes out perfect every time with coconut oil and no refined sugar! Add any nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and spices you want. A perfect back to school snack!

    Reply
    • Carole says

      October 12, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      Thank you so much for coming back and sharing your review! yes, they definitely need to be pressed well as the recipe states. Glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  123. CARRIE Coleman says

    January 03, 2021 at 8:53 pm

    This was the best-quickest and by far the tastiest!! Thank you for sharing! I tweaked my recipe-subbed honey nut cheerios for krispies, subbed sunflower kernels for coconut, added 2 Tbsp of flax seed and used the agave option. A-MAZE-ING!! Thank you again-recipe for life❤

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carole says

      January 06, 2021 at 11:43 am

      I’m so glad you loved it Carrie and you made it yours!

      Reply
      • Carrie says

        January 16, 2021 at 8:54 pm

        These are a weekly recipe now! Your recipe is amazing. Thank you and bless you & your family!

        Reply
        • Carole says

          January 22, 2021 at 8:51 am

          I’m so glad you love them Carrie!

          Reply
  124. Sarah R. says

    August 07, 2022 at 9:31 am

    My toddlers love these! I made them after searching for breakfast goods that they would actually eat. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carole says

      August 08, 2022 at 8:15 am

      I’m so happy to hear it Sarah! Thanks for coming back and leaving your review 🙂

      Reply

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