John and I kind of have a thing for granola bars. It started when we discovered the glory that is Trader Joe’s Apple (Pie) Bars. Then, we got into more basic versions with rolled oats. But somewhere along the line we got suspicious of the ingredients – namely high fructose corn devil – and strayed away from them altogether.
However, sometimes you really just need a snack that has some serious staying power. And being that this is Minimalist Baker, you know I wanted something simple. Enter: The 5-Ingredient (No-Bake) Granola Bar. Things are getting seriously minimalist right now.
How to Make Granola Bars
The base for these bars is dates – the natural sweetener supah powah. Then we add almonds, oats, peanut butter, and maple syrup (or honey or agave) and mix it all together!
That’s it. Just 5 ingredients, no baking involved (unless you want to toast the oats and almonds) and they’ll keep in the freezer for-ever (that is, if you can resist them for that long).
Substitutions
If you can’t jive with peanut butter simply swap in almond, sunflower or another nut/seed butter. To keep these vegan, stick with maple syrup or agave instead of honey. And to keep them gluten-free, use GF oats. Simple, customizable, delicious!
Speaking of delicious, these little guys are dreamy.
Simple flavors, wholesome ingredients, salty-sweet and lots of crunch. I made a batch last week and am already down to one-quarter of ONE bar. How I exercised the self control to save one quarter of a bar is beyond me. But by tomorrow it likely won’t be there, if I know myself at all.
These really are the perfect bar for a hearty snack because they keep you full for hours and don’t provide a sugar overload. Plus, they pack in plenty of healthy fats from the almonds and peanut butter, and lots of fiber from the oats. Afternoon and mid-morning snack, solved.
More Granola Bar Recipes
- Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Granola Bars
- Super Seedy Granola Bars
- Crunchy Baked Granola Bars
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
September 23, 2016: Video added and recipe updated to include slightly more dates so the bars stick together more easily.
Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup packed dates (pitted // deglet noor or medjool)*
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan)
- 1/4 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds (loosely chopped // see instructions for roasting nuts)
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters)
- Chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc. (optional additions)
Instructions
- Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.)
- Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw – I prefer the toasted flavor.
- Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl – set aside.
- Warm maple syrup (or agave or honey) and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
- Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8×8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars // adjust size of pan if altering batch size).
- Press down firmly until uniformly flattened – I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
- Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares // as original recipe is written). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn’t necessary.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with maple syrup and unsalted peanut butter.
Andrea says
Love these! They make a nice dessert option too as well as a breakfast bar or snack. I didn’t have that many dates, so I subbed raisins for the remainder, and I don’t do almonds, so I mixed raw cashews, pecans, and pumpkin seeds for the nut portion and added a few chocolate chips too. They came out excellent – perfect sweetness level. They are slightly crumbly, so if you’re taking on the go, you may want to freeze them instead of just fridge them like I did. Thanks minimalist baker!!!
Thank you for sharing your experience, Andrea! We’re so glad you love the bars. Sticky dates and pressing down well are other tips to help with crumbling!
Linda says
My daughter made me these so I would have a more healthy breakfast in the morning. We live in Italy where the typical breakfast is a pastry and coffee. These bars are SO good! I am addicted! Could I please ask if you would know how much one bar weighs in grams more or less? I’m counting calories and it would very helpful to know this. Thank you!
Hi Linda, we’re so glad you enjoy these bars! We haven’t measured the weight of these granola bars, but based on the weight of the ingredients, we’d estimate ~60 grams per bar.
Betsy says
I’ve been using this recipe for years! They are great for backpacking. and hold up well when shipping weeks early for resupply. I do ad some whey protein and M&M’s cause it’s backpacking and extra calories are nice!
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing your experience and modifications, Betsy! xoxo
Susan Scherer says
PERFECT
Don’t change anything.
So good yesterday I’m making double batch
Thank you!!!
Yay! We’re so glad you loved it so much and will be making the recipe again. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Amy says
Hi can I add fresh blueberries to it? I have a lot of blueberries in the fridge .
Hi Amy, we don’t think the texture of fresh blueberries would work in these, unfortunately. You can filter by ingredient in our recipe index to find other ways to use the blueberries. Hope that helps!
Carol says
We’ve made this recipe before and it’s great. However, I’m not a fan of dates and don’t remember what we substituted. Do you have suggestions? Thanks
Hi Carol, you could try another sweet, sticky dried fruit like apricots or prunes. They may not hold together quite as well though. Let us know if you try it!
Rachelle says
These turned out pretty good. For me they needed a little salt to balance the sweetness and overall less nuts! Next time I’ll either add a little salt and use less almonds (and chop the almonds, as I don’t like the large almond bites) or I’ll half the amount of almonds and add some pepitas for a softer seed while adding some salt… Thank you for inspiring me to continue making homemade granola bars for my family! This is a great base from which I can modify to our liking!
Thank you for sharing, Rachelle! xo
Serina says
After seeing the prices of granola bars at the grocery store, I hopped online to find a recipe. You can just stop right here and use this one because it is out of this world easy and delicious. I used honey as my sweetener and did it as is before using any optional additions and it’s still amazing. I can’t wait to experiment with it and add some chocolate or dried cranberries.
Whoop! We’re so glad you love this recipe, Serina. Thank you for the amazing review! xo
Imy says
I love these bars! I made them at the weekend and have been having them for breakfast all week – they’re tasty and very filling – ideal for someone who doesn’t like a big breakfast!
We’re so glad you’re enjoying these bars, Imy! Thank you for sharing! xo
Kaiden says
This was amazing. Excited to add this to my regular meal prep. Thank you so much!!
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe and will be adding it to your regular meal prep. Thank you for sharing, Kaiden! xo
Angela Butikofer says
This is a delish recipe! I add coconut flakes and cranberries!
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Angela! Your additions sound lovely! xo
Mindy says
Turned out good. I did make a couple changes.
I used cranberries instead of dates(since I didn’t have any was those or plums to choose from) put those in the food processor instead.
I used half a cup of almonds instead of a cup, 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds. 3/4 cup total used a little less than called for as I think pumpkin seeds are more calories than almonds.
I did put the almonds and pumpkin seeds in the food processor as I don’t like big chunks of nuts.
I added some salt to give it a little sweet and salty taste(plus I need more salt in my diet having lower blood pressure)
We’re so glad you enjoyed them. Thank you for sharing, Mindy! xo
ZA says
I made this but omitted the almonds b/c I’m allergic (and subbed sunbutter) and it came out super sticky and very soft….is there anything I can do or add to make it less sticky and a bit more firm to hold its bar form?
Hi, we’d suggest adding another nut/seed! If you leave out the almonds, the ratio of wet to dry ingredients will get thrown off.
Maz says
Silan (date honey) also works instead of honey, agave nectar or maple syrup. Tahini can also be substituted for peanut butter, although remember that nut butters tend to be thicker and stickier than tahini and might hold the bars together better. Where I live, tahini is much cheaper than nut butters are, so my preference is either tahini or a mix of tahini and nut butter.
Thanks so much for sharing, Maz!
Nicole Dandeneau says
Can I use pecans instead of almonds?
Hi Nicole, Yes, pecans should work well! They may toast slightly faster than almonds, so just check them sooner. Let us know if you try it!
Jenny Elaine Jenkins says
I made these bars to help see me through work shifts and they are delicious! Thank you for sharing x
We’re so glad you enjoy these bars, Jenny! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
MendoNana says
Delicious! I toasted the almonds and oatmeal in a nonstick skillet, so it didn’t heat up the kitchen. I added sweetened dried cranberries for the optional dried fruit. I used crunchy peanut butter, because that’s what I had; it worked fine. This will be a classic recipe in my family!
Thank you!
Lovely! We’re so glad it will be on repeat in your kitchen. Thank you for sharing! xo
SueJ says
This was fabulous!!!! Way better than expectations (but I can be a cynic)! As at least one of the previous commenters did, I did mix up different dried fruits, because I didn’t have enough dates, to reach the total weight called for. Did the same with a mix of nuts/seeds to reach the amounts called for. Toasted all ingredients that were not already toasted. I did hesitate to list here what I specifically used other than specified in original recipe, because it seems to be discouraged by the site’s notes preceding the comments. I did include the 10 min. fruit soak and drain to ensure it was moist enough. I toasted the oatmeal as described. Used an 8 x 8″ pan. I have no doubt I will make these again and again!!! Thanks to the staff at Minimalist, and, honestly, thanks to the previous commenter who similarly did some substitutions, giving me the courage to do so myself, in order to make it without having to run to the market
Thank you for sharing, Sue! We’re so glad you had success with your modifications! xoxo
Barbara says
Can you use porridge to make this
Hi Barbara, we’re not sure what you mean. Would you mind clarifying what you mean by porridge? What type of grain? Is it cooked or uncooked?
Linda says
Thanks for this recipe. What if you don’t have a food processor for the dates??
Hi Linda, Another reader reported cutting up the dates by hand and mixing vigorously. The granola bars might not hold together as well that way, but it could be worth a try! It’s also possible you could have success in a high-speed blender (like a Vitamix), but in our experience blenders struggle a bit with dates. Hope that helps!
Suzanne says
I’ve made these bars numerous times using various nut butters, various nuts and seeds and dried fruits. They’re always good. They make a great to go snack. I just keep them in the freezer. Best granola bar recipe I’ve tried.
We’re so glad you love this recipe, Suzanne. Thank you for sharing! xo
Billie Alexander says
Second time making these. I’ve never had a filling granola bar before! I work as a farming apprentice and baker, so long demanding days both jobs. When I get hungry and need a snack this literally smashes cravings. Allergic to tree nuts so I sub Pepitas, and have been changing it up with different dried fruits for each batch. Also first lasted 3 weeks, super cost effective getting the ingredients from my co-op too.
We’re so glad the granola bars have been helpful, Billie. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications!
Kim L says
These are delicious and perfect for hiking or traveling. I use rice syrup and have absolutely no issues with them sticking together.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience, Kim! xo
Karen says
Does heating the honey not make it lose the parts that make it healthier? I’ve always seen not to heat up honey
Hi Karen, we have heard that about raw honey specifically. You could use another sweetener!
Campbell says
Remember never to heat manuka honey as the antioxidant, antibacterial and antiinflammatory components are like probiotics and can break down under extended heating.
Gretchen says
I adapted these to bite size peanut balls to make it easier for me to have a small snack. I ground the dates, oatmeal, and almonds in the food processor. Then mixed the peanut butter and maple syrup as directed. Mix with ground ingredients. You may need to add a bit more of the peanut butter mixture to hold the ingredients together. Scoop into size desired. Squeeze into balls. I freeze on a plate and then store in a freezer container in the freezer. They can be thawed or eaten frozen if needed!
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing, Gretchen!
Carole Leybourne says
A lovely recipe to follow, thank you!
I chose to go with half maple and half agave syrup.
I didn’t have enough almonds so topped up with cashews and the nut butter I had was almond. I loved the flavour of the toasted oats and nuts.
I chose to add a quarter cup of pumpkin seeds, the same of sunflower seeds and dried cherries, which brought a zing to the sweetness 😋
An absolutely delicious nutty treat. Definitely healthier than shop bought as no ultra-processed ingredients 😋 Thanks again! 🙏🏻
We’re so glad you enjoy the granola bars, Carole. Your modifications sound lovely. Thank you for sharing! xo
Kelsey says
These look great but question: are these really healthier than those in the store say from nature valley? Some of theirs for one bar say only 150 calories and 9g of sugar, but you are saying these have 230 calories and 20g of sugar?? That seems like a lot considering the store bought ones or maybe I should skip the snack altogether.
Hi Kelsey, unlike cane sugar, dates have fiber and naturally-occurring nutrients, so it’s not as simple as comparing grams of this vs. that. These granola bars are less processed and contain more wholesome ingredients than most store-bought bars and that will likely mean a higher nutrient content. That being said, what’s “healthy” is going to vary from person to person and goes beyond the scope of what we’re able to discuss here!
Amy says
If I wanted to make a 9×13 pan (because they are that good and we eat them FAST!) would you recommend just doubling the recipe???? Thank you!
Yes, that should work beautifully! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Amy! xo
Flora says
I have never left a comment on a recipe blog post before but I just had to tell you that these granola bars are BANGING!
I added white and milk chocolate chips and they are perfect. A lovely new addition to our food bag for our long hikes. Thank you!
Your additions sound extra delicious, Flora! Thanks so much for leaving a review! xo
Kath says
So good thank you! I swapped out the dates for dried apricots and the syrup for honey then added desiccated coconut and cacao nibs. Also added more peanut butter and honey than the recipe, until it all stuck together some more. They took a couple of days to firm up properly in the fridge with some jars on top to press down. They are the perfect breakfast snack, thanks for the great recipe :)
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Kath! xo
Penny says
I’ve made this twice. I have used a bag of dates. The first time the bar was very dry and fell apart into crumble. The second time Iused more dates and soaked them for 10mins. The bars are a lot moister but are still falling apart. Not sure how to make them ‘stick’ together
Hi Penny, sorry it’s giving you trouble! Is it possible you’re not pressing down firmly enough (see step 6)? What type of dates are you using?
Kathryn says
I made these yesterday and will be making them again soon. I added a bit of mixed fruit at the end but they would have been great even without it. I used a piece of greaseproof paper to stop the glass I was using to compact the bars from sticking to them. They are incredible. Everyone in the family even my picky teenage daughter keep eating them and I’ll be out getting more ingredients very soon.
Next time I’ll make extra and put some in the freezer! A fantastic recipe !
Whoop! We’re so glad the granola bars are a hit with the whole family. Thank you for sharing, Kathryn! xo
Amber Wujcik says
I would like to increase the protein content. Have you tried adding collagen or whey powder to the recipe (I know the collagen would make them no longer vegan)? Just curious if you think it would change the texture?
Hi Amber, that could work! Maybe start with slightly less oats in case the protein powder dries them out. Let us know how it goes!
Jennifer Bishop says
I’ve made these granola bars innumerable times. I use the recipe as written and add a little sea salt. I wrap them individually for ski snacks. It is an easy, great recipe.
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing! xo
sha says
Thank you so much for this recipe!
I want to make it less sweet so I’m thinking of reducing the amount of dates and maple syrup, but I feel doing so would change the texture and it wouldn’t bind as well.
Do you have any suggestions on what else I could add that could act as a binder
?
Thank you so much! 🙂
Hi Sha, you’re 100% correct – they won’t bind as well. Maybe more nut butter would help?
Erika says
I usually skip the maple syrup and add some water instead. It works very well! I think they are sweet enough without, however I use mazafati dates that are a bit sweeter and more moist than medjool.
naveen says
Reduce sweetness, too sweet. I put only 3 dates and 1/8 cup of maple sugar, it’s good sweet.
Steph says
Hello, these look great. I’m wondering how they do outside of the fridge / freezer. I was thinking of making some to take on a long hall flight to keep me satisfied but if they become a gooey mess then they won’t be suitable. Excited to try them either way!
Hi Steph, They get a little soft at room temperature, so the texture is best when stored in the refrigerator. Our Crunchy Baked Granola Bars would work better for that. Hope that helps!
Michelle Saunders says
Tastes divine, sadly did not bind together… will have to use it as a cereal or overnight oats…. Gutted
Oh no! So sorry to hear that, Michelle! Did you make any modifications?
Sandra says
Have you tried bars using date paste?
Hi Sandra! We haven’t, but it might work!
Kathy says
I made a few modifications. I soaked the dates in boiling water for 15 minutes to soften and drained them. I also cut the almonds to 1/2 C and added one cup total of mixed hemp kernels, ground flax seed, pepitas and sunflower seeds. I rolled them into 1 1/2″ balls using some coconut oil on my hands to make that task easier. so delicious and filling!
Amazing! Thanks so much for your modifications, Kathy. xo
Manadu says
Can I use less sweetener in it?
Hi Manadu, you could, but they might not stick together as well!
Mary says
I’ve been looking for a granola bar recipe and this turned out great! I did add a little of the maple syrup to the dates in the processor to get them to blend. I also added chopped dried cherries and soaked and dried pumpkin seeds ( more crunch), and a couple tablespoons of melted cacao butter for richness and “glue”. And vanilla.
Altogether a wonderful recipe – many thanks!
Sounds lovely! Thank you for sharing, Mary! xo
lisa says
These are so good! I made them last night with a few twists. I followed most of your recipe with the following changes… I added 1/4 c of golden raisins, 1/4c of dried cranberries, 1/4c of Pepitas, 1/2c of almonds, 1/2 c of hazelnuts, 1/4 c of coconut flakes and 1 tsp of vanilla. They turned out amazing! I cut them into snack sized bites and placed them in the freezer. They will make great snacks during Pickleball, after my weight workouts or anytime for that matter. Love your site. Cheers, Lisa
Love your modifications, Lisa! Thanks so much for your kind words and wonderful review! xo
Lynn says
These turned out great! I made them as stated. Next time I’ll try adding other ingredients. I can always trust your recipes to turn out :)
We’re so glad you have success with our recipes, Lynn! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Amanda says
These are amazing! I’ve made them a bunch of times now. My boyfriend can’t get enough of them. They last him around 5 minutes!! So delicious and such a nice protein boost for a mid morning snack.
Yum! I’m going to try a nutless version for my bf’s sons who have nut allergy. Using tahini and various seeds instead of the nuts. Hope it comes out as delicious.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Amanda. We are so glad you both enjoy them! Tahini and raw pumpkin/sunflower seeds should work :) Keep us posted!
Robin says
What can I use in place of the dates?
Hi Robin, perhaps another sweet, sticky dried fruit like apricots or prunes. They may not hold together quite as well though. Let us know if you try it!
Aerin says
Wow these are good. For the optional add ins I did banana chips crushed up, coconut flakes (toasted with the oats) and chocolate chips. They cut and held together well and are hearty. This whole blog has been really helpful for me navigating my daughters food allergies, it’s our go to site for baking recipes and never disappoints so I figure I should finally comment!
We’re so glad it’s been helpful, Aerin! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! xoxo
Mary says
I made these but they fell apart into granola. I can’t figure out what went wrong. But the granola tastes good!
Hi Mary, sorry they fell apart! Is it possible your dates weren’t sticky and moist? Did you try soaking them (see the notes section)? One other idea is to make sure you’re pressing them very firmly in step 6!