Do you wish you could give your kids a healthy version of those chocolate chip granola bars?
I’m not gonna lie – I eat Costco chocolate chip granola bars on the regular because they are easy and delicious. But I know I could be making a bar I feel better about with less weird ingredients and less plastic wrapping.
So here’s an easy granola bar recipe that you can make when you’re feeling extra ambitious. I guarantee that you and your kids will love this one (anything with chocolate chips right?).
I adapted this recipe from my favourite cookbook – Oh She Glows – so you know it’s going to be good!
And if you’re looking for more back-to-school healthy snacks, you’ll definitely want to try my dark chocolate protein balls recipe! Omit the protein powder to make it kid friendly 🙂 Or my no-bake lactation balls (kids love them too haha!).
Hope you enjoy.
Easy No-Bake Back-to-School Granola Bars
Prep time: 10 minutes Freeze time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Yields: 12 bars
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups oats (use gluten free if needed)
- 1 1/4 cups rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
- 1/4 hemp heart seeds
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground sea salt
- 1/4 cup honey or brown rice syrup*
- 1/4 cup almond butter or Sunbutter**
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
Directions:
- Mix all dry ingredients except chocolate chips in a large bowl
- In a small sauce pan on medium heat, add honey, almond butter, coconut oil and vanilla. Cook until melted and mixed well
- Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and mix well (making sure to scrape every last bit of the wet mixture out of pot)
- Add chocolate chips and stir until combined
- Line a square cake pan with parchment paper and spread granola mixture into pan
- Flatten well using wet hands and/or rolling pin. Make sure to evenly press down to flatten well as this is what will keep the bars together.
- Place in freezer for 20 minutes. Remove from freezer and lift parchment paper to easily cut bars into 12 even pieces.
- Wrap bars individually or keep in air tight container. Store bars in freezer for up to 1 month.
Notes:
*Do not use maple syrup as this will not hold the bars together when frozen. If you have trouble keeping bars from crumbling, try adding more honey or brown rice syrup, keep bars frozen until ready to eat and make sure to press mixture down firmly before freezing.
**Use Sunbutter/sunflower seed butter or tahini if your kids are bringing them to school