Since the New Year, I have been trying to choose healthier snacking options. This is probably the hardest challenge for my diet. At times I have a sweet tooth and I crave something crunchy and sweet, often opting for something unhealthy, like a chocolate bar or a cookie. Experimenting in the kitchen to create a healthier snack option, I now present to you a delicious no bake DIY granola bar that will satisfy your cravings for sweet treats as well as incorporating healthy ingredients to keep your sweet tooth happy and your belly trim. These bars travel well and are great for work, school, camping trips, hikes, and vacations.

This granola bar has plenty of fiber and will be a great treat to snack on throughout the day. The recipe is also super flexible and you can experiment with different combinations of dried fruit and nut butters. If you’re feeling extra naughty, you can add a handful of dark chocolate chips or carob chips, or you can drizzle melted dark chocolate on top. You can add a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder if you want something similar to a chocolate bar. To eliminate the honey completely, you can mash up a handful of Medjool dates with 1-2 tablespoon of water to create a paste and incorporate it into the bar. Instead of vanilla extract, I purchased caramel extract that does not have added sugars but adds a delicious aroma and richness. In this recipe, I used dried figs, cranberries, roasted almonds, and peanut butter. Go ahead and experiment with different flavours and textures, and I hope you’ll love this recipe as much as I do!

Ingredients

½ cup Sugar Free Nut Butter (Almond, Cashew, and Peanut)
1 ½ Tablespoons Coconut Oil
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (Can also experiment with other Extracts, like Almond or Caramel)
2-3 Tablespoons Honey or Pure Maple Syrup
½ cup Rolled Oats
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
1/3 cup Flax
1/3 cup Chopped Dried Fruit (Coconut, Figs, Dates, Apricots, or Mango)
1/3 cup Dried Berries (Blueberries, Cranberries, or Raisins)
1/3 cup Chopped nuts
1 8×8 square pan lined with parchment paper

Instructions

Step 1

In a microwaveable cup or bowl, add nut butter, coconut oil, honey or syrup, and vanilla extract. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat until melted. Depending on the microwave, mine took about 2 times at 35 second intervals. If you do not own a microwave, you can melt the mixture on the stove top on low to medium heat.

Step 2

While mixture is hot, add rolled oats, flax, and chia seeds. Mix evenly.

Step 3

Add the nuts and dried fruit to the mixture and mix evenly.

Step 4

In an 8×8 square pan lined with parchment paper or lightly greased if no paper, add mixture and press it into the pan. Place the finished product into the fridge and chill for 1 hour.

Step 5

Cut the chilled bars into a desired size and store in an airtight container.