Quick & Easy: No Bake Granola Bars Recipe

Dark Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bars

Jump to Recipe

It's Sunday afternoon, and you've just finished your favorite baking show. Lunch has been consumed and dinner is still hours away - your mouth has been drooling over the scrumptious desserts you only wish you could reach through the screen to grab and taste for yourself. What to do?

Here's a fast and forgiving treat you can whip together with staples you most likely keep in your pantry. No need to bake, freeze or refrigerate before consuming - although they hold together better when cold. And the flavor combinations are endless!

My favorite base is 3 staple ingredients:

1. Oats

2. Peanut Butter

3. Honey

With these 3 items alone, you'll have a fairly tasty treat - but add in some chocolate chips and dried fruit and you've upped the ante. Want to make it feel 'healthy-er": mix in some ground flax, chia seeds, and some protein powder of choice; maybe some chopped walnuts for more crunch. Top it off with a dash of cinnamon and vanilla. This is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and tide you over for dinner.

The key here is making sure you add the right amount of honey and peanut butter to the dry mixture so that it holds together well. Measurements may need to be adjusted based on the humidity in your home. I usually roll mine into bite sized balls, but felt lazy this time and simply pressed the mixture into my brownie pan.

When to indulge?

• Early morning breakfast with tea

• Mid-morning snack

• Late afternoon snack

• Dessert after dinner

• After a tiring workout to fuel your body

• Late night snack

Basically - any time, day or night.

Rolled into balls, they pack nicely for a road trip. However, just make sure they don't get too hot or you'll come away with sticky fingers.

How to store?

• Place the balls or bars in an airtight container; separate layers with wax or parchment paper if desired.

• Store in the freezer (especially if you don't want to overindulge). It's hard to eat just one so freezing makes you wait for them to thaw before biting into - you don't want to break a tooth here. Freezing also makes for better transportation to work for you mid-morning snack. Give them at least 10-15 minutes to thaw. Save those teeth!

• Store in the refrigerator - if you don't want to wait the 10-15 minutes to thaw, go ahead and place in the fridge to keep chilled. You can pop it in your mouth straight away!

Now for my recipe...

Look at that yummy texture of chopped cherries and chocolate

---

Dark Chocolate Cherry No-Bake Granola Bars (pictured above)

Remember, these are approximations:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (natural with no added salt or sugar, preferred)

• 1/4 to 1/3 cup honey

• 1 cup of oats, Gluten Free

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• Dash of Pure vanilla extract, optional

• 1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped cherries (dried in toaster oven at 325 degrees for about 5-10 minutes; cooled in fridge for at least 5 minutes)

• 1 Tablespoon chia seeds

• 1/3 to 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (Dark chocolate, smaller size are better)

Suggested Add-ins:

• ground flax seed

• protein powder of choice

• dried fruits: craisins, cherries, blueberries, dates, mango

• cocoa powder

• almond butter or other nut butter of choice

• butterscotch chips, or favorite chips of choice

• Chopped nuts: walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamia

Notes:

If not adding fruit, add another 1/3 C of oats if too sticky

---

Step 1: Soften Peanut Butter (optional)

Add peanut butter and honey to a microwave safe container. I use my 4 Cup Glass pyrex. Microwave for 10-20 seconds to help the peanut butter mix better.

Step 2: Add remaining ingredients and mix

Mix everything together in the 4 Cup Pyrex container, or transfer to a mixing bowl. Make sure all the ingredients are blended well. Don't be afraid to use your hands.

If too dry, add a bit of honey and possibly peanut butter.

If too sticky, add a tiny bit of oats at a time till it feels right

Step 3: Form into balls or bars

If forming into balls: roll desired amount (1 1/2 tsp to 1 Tbsp) into balls with your hands. Place into a freezer safe container. If your hands get too sticky, you may want a bit more oats.

If making bars: Press mixture into your favorite brownie pan into an even layer. Refrigerate to solidify before chopping into rectangles.

Step 4: Store in Fridge or Freezer

As noted above, these need to be kept chilled. They can be frozen or refrigerated according to preference. Just remember to sit out 10-15 minutes if frozen, before chomping down on it.

---

Quick and Easy

Hope you give this recipe a shot next time you are craving a quick treat! And remember, it's forgiving so even if it doesn't hold together well - just grab a glob and pop it in your mouth! No judging here.

I'd love to hear your favorite combinations as well. Please leave a comment below.