No-Bake Chocolate Granola Bars

chocolate granola bars in stack with milk jug.

With about 10 minutes of prep time, you can make the most delicious homemade granola bars to last for many snack times to come. These bars are easiest to slice after chilling a bit, so plan to let them firm up in the fridge before you cut them.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Servings bars

Calories 269kcal

Author Amy Palanjian

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened natural peanut butter
1 cup brown rice syrup
1 cup chocolate chips (dark or semi-sweet)
3 cups crispy rice cereal (or puffed flax cereal)
2½ cups rolled oats
½ cup dried cherries (or raisins; optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving enough on the sides for you to lift the bars out of the pan.
Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and brown rice syrup to a large heat-proof bowl. Heat in the microwave in 30 second intervals until smooth, stopping to stir. (It should take a minute).
Add the cereal, oats, cereal, and dried cherries.
Stir with a wooden spoon, then use your (clean) hands to massage the ingredients together until well incorporated.
Pour into pan and use your hands to press down firmly and evenly.
Chill for 10-20 minutes, use the parchment to remove from the pan, and slice into bars. Serve chilled (they will be firmer) or at room temperature.

Video

Notes

To store, wrap each bar in plastic wrap and store in a zip top bag in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To store in the freezer, place bars in a zip top bag and remove as much air as possible.
I prefer to store these wrapped individually in plastic wrap.
Use smooth natural and unsweetened peanut butter.
Leave an overhang on two sides of the pan with the parchment paper so you can lift the bars out to easily cut them.
Chill for a bit before slicing.
Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter instead of the peanut butter.
Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
Sub 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut for some of the oats, if desired.
Slice into smaller pieces if desired. Or make thinner bars by using a 9x11-inch pan instead of the 8x8-inch pan I show here.

Nutrition