Nut Free Granola Bars
Nut free granola bars are packed with whole ingredients, sweetened with dates, and maple syrup, soft, chewy, and delicious.
I have always said muffins were one of the easiest breakfasts, and while they are still at the top…I have been turning more towards bars lately.
They are perfect for being on the go, much healthier than the store bought versions, and can be customized in so many different ways.
Last month I made nut free protein bars that turned out amazing, along with protein granola.
So I decided it was time to turn those into a homemade nut free granola bar.
These are also perfect to send to school without having to worry about allergies and sensitivities.
Did you know toddlers (ages 1-3) only need 13 grams of protein per day and 4-8-year-olds need 19 grams of protein per day?
You can read more about that in this article. There is no need to add protein powder to their snack bars!
Ingredients Needed:
- rolled oats – not steel cut or instant.
- Pepitas – also known as pumpkin seeds.
- egg whites – adds protein and acts as a binder.
- maple syrup – could also use honey.
- sunflower seed butter – this adds creaminess and flavor without having to use nut butter.
- Vanilla extract
- ground flax seeds – ground flax meal offers more nutrition and is digestible compared to whole flax seeds.
- chia seeds – another favorite to use in bars.
- medjool dates – remove the pits before starting.
- kosher salt
- chocolate chips and melted butter – for the topping.
How to Make Homemade Nut Free Granola Bars
Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Add ¾ cup of oats to a high speed blender or food processor with the pepitas and blend until finely ground. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Add the egg whites, seed butter, syrup, melted butter, and vanilla to the processor. Blend until combined.
Then add the chia, flax, salt, and chopped dates. Pulse once more until incorporated.
Fold in the remaining oats using a rubber spatula.
Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow the granola bars to cool in the pan.
In the meantime, melt the chocolate chips with a teaspoon of butter in a microwave safe bowl in 15 second increments. Stir in between each cycle.
Drizzle over top of the granola bars and sprinkle with sea salt.
Freeze for 20 minutes or until they are set then slice and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Coconut would also be a great addition.
Dried fruit – raisins or cranberries would pair nicely with the other ingredients.
How to Store
Keep leftover no bake granola bars in an airtight container for up to 7 days. You can store these on the counter or in the fridge. However, I would let them come to room temperature before eating after being in the refrigerator so they won’t be too hard.
More Delicious Bar Recipes:
- Cookies and Cream Protein Bars (Vegan)
- Snickerdoodle Bars
- Oatmeal Date Bars (No Sugar Added, Dairy Free, Gluten Free)
- Sweet Potato Bars
- Banana Breakfast Bars (Vegan + GF)
Nut Free Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup pepitas
- 3 tbsp egg whites
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter
- 1 tbsp butter melted
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoons chia seeds
- ⅓ cup medjool dates roughly chopped and pits removed
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 tsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and place to the side.
- In a blender or food processor, add ¾ cup oats and the pepitas and blend until finely ground and place in a large bowl.
- Add the egg whites, maple syrup, sunflower seed butter, melted butter, and vanilla extract to the mixture and blend until combined.
- Next, add chia seeds, ground flax seeds, kosher salt and chopped dates and combine until completely mixed together.
- Lastly, fold in the remaining ½ cup oats.
- Pour into the lined loaf pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- While the granola bars cool, melt the chocolate chips with 1 tsp butter in the microwave for 15 second increments, stirring between.
- Drizzle on top of the cooled bars and finish with sea salt.
- Place in the freezer to set for 20 minutes, slice into 10 bars and enjoy.
