Easy No-Bake Granola Bars | simple granola bars with oats, almonds and coconut with a delicious chocolate & Nutella drizzle on top. Easy & gluten-free!
I’ve been married to my main squeeze for 11 years now. Isn’t that nuts? I feel like I’m still 18!
I was just thinking today about when my husband and I were newlyweds. We had my oldest son, Justin who was only one year old at the time. We lived in this cute but tiny little apartment.
I was trying to figure out just how the whole wife thing worked and boy, did I go overboard. It was like Martha Stewart on steroids.
I remember going all out for every meal. I mean, ALL OUT. Like one night I made an entire pot roast, huge pot of mashed potatoes and tons of gravy, homemade rolls, chopped green salad, fruit salad and an ENITRE frosted chocolate cake for dessert.
I mentioned there were only two adults and a toddler, right?! And that it was on a Tuesday??
Yeah. Totally overboard.
Now, my boys are lucky to get a homemade lunch when they head off to school! I throw a lunchable at them and call it good.
Okay, not really. Truthfully I do try to get them to take a homemade sandwich but they prefer those Lunchables or Uncrustable sandwiches…but that’s another story for another day.
But I have changed. I still love to make huge meals, when the time is right. I’m just getting better at simplifying.
Like, take these bars for example. Easy. You toast up the oats, coconut and almonds. Melt some brown sugar, coconut oil, agave, vanilla and salt then mix them together. Super duper simple and wowza do they taste great.
I won’t lie that I made these THREE times before getting the measurements and baking time right. Let’s just say the first batch wasn’t a no-bake and the whole pan had to be soaked in water for hours to be able to get the bars out (whoops!).
But it was worth the effort because these babies are the yummiest little snack. They’re better for you than other granola bars and are addictingly delicious! You can’t stop at just one bite!
Easy No-Bake Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup agave
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- dark chocolate chips
- Nutella
Instructions
- Spray an 8x8" dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 325º F.
- On a baking sheet, spread out oats, coconut and almonds. Place in the oven and toast for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown (not burned!).
- In the meantime, combine the brown sugar, agave, coconut oil, vanilla and salt in a medium sized saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.
- Pour toasted oat mixture into saucepan with brown sugar mixture and stir together until every morsel is coated and combined.
- Pour into prepared baking dish and press down so it's even on top and push down to make it stay together. Let cool completely.
- When cooled, cut into bars. Melt some dark chocolate chip in a small bowl. Stir and then add in some Nutella (I eyeballed the measurements). Lightly drizzle over granola bars and enjoy!
Oh these look delicious!! I have been looking for an easy granola bar recipe, I hate buying them, there’s so much added junk! Can’t wait to try these!
I’ve been working on making more homemade snacks for my kids lately, and I will have to try these! I love the simple ingredient list and that Nutella drizzle just takes these to another level. Thanks for doing the recipe testing work for us!
Um, do you want to come make that Tuesday dinner for me?? I’ll take it! 🙂 Why is it that kids prefer lunchables … I don’t get it! I’d much rather have these granola bars! I love homemade bars – but I can never stop eating them. The coconut and nutella make these extra special!
These look amazing Jen! Can´t wait to try them! Could I use organic honey as a substitute for agave?
Absolutely, Viviana!! Feel free to use honey. I’ve never used it before but I’m sure they would turn out just as yummy! Thanks for stopping by!
I love these! Granola bars are a perfect on the go snack! Did you know you also made them free of the Top 8 Food Allergens?! Thanks so much for a great recipe!
Yay! I didn’t mean to, but I’m glad I did, Laura!! Woohoo!! They are really delicious. Thanks for sharing on Google+ too! Hope you’re having a great week!
These look so delicious! I bet my family would love them. I adore all your recipes!
You are seriously the sweetest!! Thank you so much Marie!! I hope you’re having a great week!
This granola bar combination sounds so perfect with the coconut, oats, and Nutella! Third time was the charm, right? Pinning to try. 🙂
Simplifying is good! And necessary when there are kids involved, right?? Hopefully your hubby didn’t come to expect the overboard meals….I guess even if he did, too bad! He can have a granola bar instead 🙂
I love homemade granola bars, and coconut makes everything better in my opinion. Now the Nutella would have my oldest daughter doing flips! Pinned!
can quick oats be substituted? I need a quick sweet, always prefer naturally healthy, dish to take to an event and I’m all outta grocery budget for the week. I have everything else
Hi Tamara! I’ve never made these with quick oats but I’m betting they’ll work out just fine. If you decide to use them, let me know how they turn out. I hear you on being out of budget for groceries for the week, lol!
Thank you for sharing this, I’ve been searching all morning to make granola bars with Nutella and this definitely sounds great!
These are amazing! I didn’t have coconut, so I did without, and I used honey instead of agave and they were still amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy you tried them and liked them, Heather!! Thanks for the sweet comment!