• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Allergy Awesomeness
  • Cookbooks
  • Allergies
    • EOE
    • In My Kitchen
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • About
    • Contact
    • What I Believe
  • Featured
  • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Chewy No Bake Chocolate Granola Bars (Gluten Free & Vegan Options)

October 26, 2019 by Megan Lavin 15 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet

An easy, homemade granola bar recipe that fills your craving of chocolate, and makes a ton! It’s the perfect snack to tuck into school lunches, or grab for on the go snacks. These chewy granola bars are nut free and allergy friendly packed with good stuff like honey, oats, coconut oil, hemp seeds and flax seeds. There’s also a gluten free and vegan option to include all!
granola bar recipe

This post contains affiliate links.

If you’re new here, you might not know that my son, at one years old, only had ten safe foods thanks to a rare allergic condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Thankfully, ever since then he’s been constantly gaining foods back into his diet.

One food that I have PRAYED he’d get back was oats. Seriously, for years I’ve longed for the day we could have oats back in our diet. Oats are such a fabulous grain–they’re filling, delicious and even have some protein in and of themselves. 

This August he finally outgrew his oat allergy and so we’ve been celebrating by eating every type of oat recipe you can imagine! I’ll slowly be adding more oat recipes to my site as we find things we love. One we love is this gluten free oat muffin recipe that is made with bananas, chocolate chips and can even be made in the blender!

A quintessential oat recipe is granola bars. So, of course a granola bar recipe was top of our list to try. But, not just ANY granola bar recipe. I wanted a granola bar recipe that was chewy, no bake and of course had chocolate. And, I’m not just talking having a few gratuitous sprinklings of chocolate chips. I wanted double chocolate. I wanted everything coated in cocoa WITH chocolate chips. Because of our allergies it needed to be a nut free granola bar as well, but as you’ll see below, this recipe is very adaptable.

chewy granola bar

How do you make granola bars no bake?

Because we love to eat granola bars year round, I don’t want to have to heat up my kitchen, or even wait for my oven to preheat. The way you can get around baking granola bars is by is melting all of the wet ingredients together on the stove top. This not only dissolves the sugar, but helps form a cohesive coating that will help the granola stick together without having to bake it.

How do you make easy gluten free granola bars?

Granola bars are in and of themselves quite a simple recipe, especially if you make them no bake like below.

  • Simply stir together the dry ingredients
  • Melt the liquid ingredients on the stove top
  • Then stir everything together.
  • Pour the mixture into a greased cookie sheet, cool and then cut and enjoy!

If you’re needing them to be gluten-free chewy granola bars, then simply swap out your oats for certified gluten free oats and make sure your rice cereal is gluten free (like Malt-o-Meal).

Is this a healthy granola bar recipe?

I think so. It uses minimum processed sugar and mostly relies on honey for the sweetener. Add to the fact you have peanut butter or seed butter for protein, hemp seeds for essential fatty acids, ground flax seeds for antioxidants, and oats for fiber, it ticks many of the boxes for a better-for-you-snack. If you want less processed sugar, you can play around with the amount adjusting the brown sugar and honey ratios to your taste preference. Overall, I don’t feel bad when me or my kids chow down on these chewy granola bars because I know exactly what went into them and with things like hemp seeds and flax seeds that we don’t eat often, I know it’s adding variety to our diet.

Is this a vegan granola bar recipe?

Yes! With these easy steps:

  • Swap the honey for the same amount of maple syrup
  • Make sure you use vegan/dairy free chocolate chips

Boom! Now these granola bars will be vegan granola bars!

nut free granola bar

Can I interchange peanut butter for a seed butter in this granola bar recipe?

Yes. In fact, we only use SunButter in our granola bars due to peanut and tree nut allergies. A benefit to making these a nut free granola bar is that if you’re sending them in school lunches, you won’t have to worry if any of their friends have nut allergies or if your school is a nut free school. I can find SunButter at Wal-Mart, Smith’s, and Amazon, so it’s quite easy to find. I like to use the natural so that it’s not quite as thick and easier to stir.

If you can do Almond, that would also be delicious. Since this recipe is somewhat forgiving, if you find your specific nut or seed butter to be runnier or thicker than the traditional peanut butter, you can try adding a little more or less to make sure your coating is thick yet stirrable. 

Are rice krispies gluten free?

No, Kellogg’s brand rice krispies are not gluten free because they have malt which contains gluten. I still call them “rice krispies” in the recipe for those that don’t need it to be gluten free, and because that is the general term by which people know this type of cereal by. I purchase the Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice which is gluten free. It’s also perfect in my allergy-friendly rice krispies!

Can this granola bar recipe be allergy friendly and top 8 free too?

Yes! These chewy granola bars will be allergy friendly if you use these ingredient substitutions:

  • certified gluten free oats
  • SunButter
  • a gluten free version of rice krispies (like Malt-O-Meal)
  • allergy-friendly chocolate chips (like Enjoy Life)

These easy swaps will help your your granola bars be safe for those who suffer from food allergies like our family! 

chocolate granola bar

What type of oats are best for granola bar recipes?

There are usually two main types of oats: quick oats and old fashioned rolled oats. I find that old fashioned rolled oats are bigger, have a better mouth feel and are sturdier, so I use those in my granola bar recipe. If you need this recipe to be a gluten free granola bar, be sure to use certified gluten free oats. If I’m just blending oats to make my own oat flour, like in these Gluten & Dairy Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, then I’ll use either type of oats since they’re just being ground down in my blender.

Are oats naturally gluten free?

This is a tricky question, because technically…yes. But, a lot of oats are processed where wheat is processed. For those that need strict avoidance, where they cannot even come into contact with wheat or gluten, like Celiac Disease, or a wheat allergy, you need to have certified gluten free oats to ensure that the company has strict cross contamination and cleaning protocols to keep the oats gluten free. Use whatever works for your diet.

Are chocolate chips dairy free?

Regular, run-of-the-mill chocolate chips that you’ll find at regular grocers are not dairy free, and therefore also not vegan. To find dairy-free chocolate chips, you have to buy a specialty brand. We love Enjoy Life. They are starting to become more available, like at Wal-Mart, but if not there’s always Amazon.

gluten free granola bar

How do you store homemade granola bars?

Thankfully, this recipe stays quite chewy even if left out, so sometimes for the first day I make them, I’ll just keep the entire pan lightly covered with wax paper or plastic wrap. Then, after we’ve eaten a few, I’ll portion out each individual bar into a plastic baggie, or wrap each one individually with plastic wrap. That way they’re portable and ready to be dropped into school lunches or grabbed on the way out. I’ve never frozen these, as we gobble them up too quickly, but I would think if you needed to, you could freeze individually wrapped bars, and then allow them to thaw at room temperature if you wanted to make them really far ahead of time.

What ingredients do you need for these allergy friendly granola bars?

  • Brown sugar
  • Honey (or maple syrup for a vegan version)
  • Coconut oil
  • Salt
  • SunButter/Peanut Butter/or your favorite nut butter
  • Vanilla
  • Crispy rice cereal (gluten free if needed)
  • Oats (gluten free if needed)
  • Ground flax seeds
  • Hemp hearts
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Chocolate chips, vegan if needed

If You’re looking for some more homemade healthy snacks, try these:

  • Nut free trail mix
  • Allergy friendly snacks (a list of all store bought items!)
  • Vegan muffins (can be gluten free too!)
  • Gluten free school lunch ideas (plus free of other allergens!)
Continue to Content
granola bar recipe

Chewy No Bake Chocolate Granola Bars (Gluten Free & Vegan Options)

Yield: 27 granola bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

An easy, homemade granola bar recipe that fills your craving of chocolate, and makes a ton! These chewy granola bars are nut free and allergy friendly packed with good stuff like honey, oats, coconut oil, hemp seeds and flax seeds. There's also a gluten free and vegan option to include all!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups rice krispie cereal (for gluten free version use Malt-O-Meal brand)
  • 2 and 2/3 cups old fashioned rolled oats (use gluten free if needed)
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seeds
  • 1/4 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1 and 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup for vegan version)
  • 1 cup SunButter/peanut butter/nut butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • Chocolate chips to taste (vegan chocolate chips if needed)

Instructions

  1. Grease a cookie sheet pan (also known as a half sheet pan, 18x13 inches) with a non-stick spray (we use canola).
  2. In a large bowl, combine the rice krispies, oats, flax seeds, and hemp hearts and stir to combine and then set aside.
  3. In a medium sauce pan over medium heat add the coconut oil, honey, SunButter, brown sugar, cocoa and salt. Frequently stir until everything is melted and the sugar is dissolved. The mixture will be thick. Take the mixture off the heat and stir in the vanilla.
  4. Pour the melted mixture over the dry cereal mixture and stir immediately. Keep stirring until everything is covered and evenly distributed.
  5. Pour the combined mixture onto the greased cookie sheet. With greased hands, gently push the mixture until it's flat and even along the entirety of the pan.
  6. Next, take your desired amount of chocolate chips and spread it on the top of the granola bars.
  7. Measure out enough wax paper to cover the entire 13x9. Place that on top of the granola bars and then with another 13x9 or other large, flat pan, press down. This will embed the chocolate chips into the mixture.
  8. Allow the contents to completely cool at room temperature.
  9. Once cool, I make three cuts across the width and 9 cuts across the length to make 27 even bars.
  10. To store, either keep the wax paper or plastic wrap on the top of the entire pan, or separate into individual bars and either wrap them in plastic wrap or drop them into sealable plastic baggies. Bars keep up to one week.

Notes

See all of the questions above for FAQs--it is most likely answered in the post!

Adapted from the fabulous Clean Monday Meals' Granola Bars

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Bellemain Heavy Duty Aluminum Half Sheet Pan, 18" x 13" x 1"
    Bellemain Heavy Duty Aluminum Half Sheet Pan, 18" x 13" x 1"
  • Reynolds Cut-Rite Wax Paper, 75 Square Feet
    Reynolds Cut-Rite Wax Paper, 75 Square Feet
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 27 bars Serving Size: 1 bar
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 412Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 9gSugar: 9gProtein: 15g
© allergyawesomeness@gmail.com
Category: Snacks

DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT, SO YOU DON’T LOSE IT! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER ALLERGY-FRIENDLY PINTEREST BOARDS TOO!

chewy gluten free granola bar recipe by allergy awesomeness

 

 

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Snacks, Soy Free, Top 8 Free, Vegan Tagged With: Dairy Free, Egg Free, EOE Recipe, Fish Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Peanut Free, Soy Free, Top 8 Free, Vegan, Wheat Free

About Megan Lavin

Hi! I'm Megan, a mom to four kids, two with multiple food allergies & one with EOE. I'm a published cookbook author that constantly tweaks recipes to make them allergy friendly--it's an addiction. I share every recipe & tip with you, to help you eat like you did before food allergies & dietary restrictions. You can still be awesome, even with food allergies!

Previous Post: « A Week’s Worth of Allergy Friendly Freezer Meals!
Next Post: The Complete Thanksgiving Menu for Food Allergies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mandy

    September 21, 2020 at 12:11 PM

    Do you have any insight into how crucial the role of flaxseed is in this recipe? I know it sometimes serves as a binder (especially in lieu of egg), but I also know it is sometimes added for health benefit (omega 3). I am always on the lookout for good recipes for my allergic 2 year old, but in addition to milk, egg and peanut he is also allergic to…flaxseed. I thought of trying this recipe with chia instead of flaxseed, I was curious if you have tried or gotten feedback from others who have tried variations?

    Reply
    • Megan Lavin

      September 21, 2020 at 9:03 PM

      Hi Mandy. Good question. These bars wouldn’t normally have eggs in them, it’s really more for nutrition. I’ve never made the without the flax, but would think the sunbutter would be enough of a binder. If you try it, let me know!

      Reply
  2. Michelle McEachern

    September 7, 2020 at 10:25 AM

    Can you freeze these to save for later? If so, what’s the best method to keep them? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Megan Lavin

      September 9, 2020 at 8:39 AM

      Hi Michelle. Great question. I’ve never tried freezing them because we eat them too fast. I would image they’d be fine. If you try it, please report back.

      Reply
  3. KJ

    April 4, 2020 at 6:59 AM

    These are simply amazing. Absolutely delicious and made a really good quantity also. To met our allergy needs, I used shortening instead of coconut oil and used Wowbutter. I didn’t have hemp hearts so i threw in an equal amount of ground chia seeds. I used about half honey and half maple syrup just based on what I had in the pantry. This will be new staple for snacks and lunch boxes…. and maybe breakfast! Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Nertila

    December 19, 2019 at 6:20 AM

    Hello. I was hoping to make this for my 15 months old baby. I’m thinking to substitute the honey and sugar with dates. Any suggestions on what to substitute the chocolate with? Thank you.

    Reply
    • allergyawesomeness@gmail.com

      December 19, 2019 at 8:00 AM

      Hi, there is no chocolate in it, just cocoa powder. If you want, you can omit the chocolate chips.

      Reply
      • Rachel

        June 13, 2020 at 5:17 PM

        These were great! So hard to find an egg and gluten free granola bar recipe! I didn’t have hemp hearts in the house so just subbed more ground flax seed. My daughter loved licking the spoon. 🙂 Love all your recipes—thanks!

        Reply
  5. Leah

    November 15, 2019 at 3:58 PM

    Thank you so much for posting this. My husband was just diagnosed with EOE as an adult and we have had a very hard time determining his true allergies. For the moment, he is dairy free and nut free, with a variety of other things, but we are probably going to begin elimination diet soon. I appreciate seeing what other families with EOE do about snacks! Thanks for the encouragement that we will figure it out 🙂

    Reply
    • allergyawesomeness@gmail.com

      November 16, 2019 at 11:44 AM

      You’re so welcome, Leah. I feel for you and your husband. It is hard getting to the bottom of it, and hope my site can be useful to you.

      Reply
  6. Nicole Thompson

    November 4, 2019 at 1:06 PM

    My 5 year old daughter just became dairy free. All the chewy granola bars in my pantry had milk, so I found this and made it specifically for her. My other 5 kids watched us making them and asked if they were no-bake cookies. (They smell so good when the chocolate begins to warm up and the pb starts to melt.) All 6 kids were anxiously awaiting their cooling so we could slice and sample them.

    I was really surprised when my teens told me they liked them better than the store bought bars. The only adaptation I made was to chop up marshmallows and press them in the top with the chocolate chips so they could be the s’more flavor my daughter loves.

    I was very pleased with this recipe. I used about 1/2c maple syrup and the rest honey, and was worried they would taste like maple, but the chocolate masked it, I could not find that flavor at all. It was a very similar taste to a traditional no bake cookie.

    I cut them using our store bought bars as a template and it made 36 to wrap up for taking to school or on the go and the equivalent of another 2 that I cut up for the kids (and dad) to sample.
    I would give these a 5 star rating and will definitely make them again.

    Reply
    • allergyawesomeness@gmail.com

      November 5, 2019 at 11:17 AM

      I’m so happy to hear that. We love them and all of us (non-allergy alike) gobble them up. So glad that it works for your family! Thanks for the nice feedback.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Get My Cookbook!

An Allergy Mom's Lifesaving Instant Pot Cookbook

Get My E-Cookbooks!

Megan

Hi! I'm Megan, a mom to four kids, two with multiple food allergies & one with EOE. I'm a published cookbook author that constantly tweaks recipes to make them allergy friendly--it's an addiction. I share every recipe & tip with you, to help you eat like you did before food allergies & dietary restrictions. You can still be awesome, even with food allergies!

Read More...

Newsletter Sign Up!

You know you wanna receive curated newsletters as well as have my latest recipe sent straight to your inbox! Enter your email below to get this party started!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Current Reader FAVS

How to Make Jello Pudding Dairy-free (Top-8-Free & Vegan Too!)
30 Minute Dairy-Free Creamy Tuscan Chicken (GF, DF, Egg, Soy, Peanut, Tree nut Free, Top 8 Free)
The BEST Homemade Gluten-free Flour Mix (Gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut and tree nut free; top 8 free; vegan)
Egg-free & Dairy-free Frittata Cups

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recipe tweaker. Substitution queen. Dish washing hater. Little boy wrangler. Mom blogger. Allergy advocate.

Nothing on this blog should take the place of your physician. Please always follow your doctor's orders. If a specific brand is noted, please always re-check the labels to make sure it fits your dietary needs, as ingredients and manufacturing processes can change from the time of publishing.

All images, text, and recipes are copyrighted to Allergy Awesomeness from 2015 on. Privacy Policy.

Copyright © 2021 Allergy Awesomeness on the Foodie Pro Theme