Healthy Nut Free Granola Bar Recipe (Easy & No Bake)

There’s nothing better than a homemade snack that’s easy to make, packed with wholesome ingredients, and perfect for meal prepping. This healthy nut free granola bar recipe checks all the boxes! Whether you need a quick breakfast, a grab-and-go snack, or a healthy treat for the kids, you’ll love how simple and delicious they are.

The best part? Using sunflower butter instead of nut butter, these are perfect for folks with nut allergies and are great for packing in school lunches.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Nut Free Granola Recipe

• Minimal ingredients – Just four pantry staples, no fancy ingredients required!
• No baking required – A simple mix-and-chill recipe makes these a breeze.
• Delicious – These taste incredible. So good you’d never believe they’re a healthier option!
• Customizable – Easily swap ingredients to fit dietary needs and preferences. You can add dried fruit, chocolate chips, and any other add-in you prefer! The sky is the limit.
• Budget-friendly – Making these at home costs far less than store-bought bars. At nearly $8 per box, store bought granola bars cost significantly more than these homemade ones. Oats are a budget-friendly pantry staple and SO versatile. Sunflower Seed butter is a bit pricy (with a store brand organic version at my local Kroger for $5.49) but you can make 3.5 batches of this recipe with one 16 oz container! You can also swap honey for whatever sweetener you have on hand to stretch your grocery budget.
• Perfect for meal prep – Make a batch ahead of time for a week of snacks. These are ALWAYS the first snack to go in my house when I’ve got a batch in the fridge!
• Nut Free – Perfect for school lunches and people with nut allergies. While we don’t have any nut allergies in our family, my kiddos attend a school that is nut free. We’ve all grown to love the taste of sunflower seed butter during this time!
• Nutritious – With all ingredients I can pronounce plus protein and fiber, I feel great about feeding these to my family. They are delicious and sweet but filling too!

Ingredients in This Healthy Nut Free Granola Bar Recipe

Rolled Oats

The heart of these granola bars! Oats provide fiber, texture, and a satisfying chewiness while keeping you full longer. Please note that the oats I used when photographing this recipe are called old fashioned oats which are essentially the same thing as rolled oats.

Sunflower Seed Butter

Sunflower seed butter acts as a binder, holding the bars together while adding healthy fats and protein. It also enhances the flavor and creaminess. Nut butters can be substituted if desired, but my family prefers the flavor of the sunflower butter in these!

My whole family loves SunButter brand! My kiddos’ school is nut free and they love when I pack SBJ sandwiches in their lunches!

Honey

A natural sweetener that helps everything stick together. It adds a slight caramelized flavor and keeps the bars soft.

Vanilla Extract

A small but mighty ingredient that adds warmth and enhances the overall taste.

Tips & Substitutions

• Flavor Change: Swap sunflower seed butter for tahini.
• Make It Crunchy: Add a handful of seeds or chopped nuts. Sunflower seeds would complement the flavors of this recipe perfectly!
• Boost the Flavor: Sprinkle in cinnamon, mini chocolate chips, or dried fruit.
• Lower Sugar Option: Reduce the honey slightly and replace it with mashed banana or unsweetened applesauce.
• Make it Vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey.

How to Store This Healthy Nut Free Granola Bar Recipe

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
• Freezer: Wrap bars individually in parchment paper and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
• Room Temperature: If your kitchen is cool, they can stay fresh in an airtight container for 3-4 days. The texture will be a little less firm at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
Yes, but the texture will be softer. Rolled oats provide the best chewiness.

What if my granola bars don’t stick together?
Make sure to press the mixture firmly into the pan, and let it chill long enough to set.

How do I make these bars firmer?
Chill them longer or add an extra tablespoon of sunflower butter for better binding.

How to Make This Healthy Nut Free Granola Bar Recipe

The “normal” way:

1. Prepare the Pan: Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Heat Wet Ingredients: In a small saucepan, warm the sunflower butter and honey over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and mix in the vanilla extract.
3. Combine: Pour the wet mixture over the rolled oats and stir until well coated.
4. Press Firmly: Transfer the mixture to the lined baking dish, pressing it down firmly to ensure it sticks together.
5. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until set.
6. Cut & Enjoy: Lift the bars out using the parchment paper, slice into squares or bars, and enjoy!

The “lazy” no extra dishes way:

Sometimes when I’m in a rush I prefer to skip a couple steps to make the process even easier. Feel free to try it both ways and see what you think!

1. Prepare Parchment: Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a cutting board or clean counter.
2. Combine: Mix sunflower butter and honey in a bowl then stir in rolled oats and vanilla extract. (It’ll take a little more elbow grease to stir when not using heat).
3. Press Firmly: Pour mixture onto parchment paper and place another sheet of parchment paper on top. Press parchment paper until mixture is flat.
4. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until set.
5. Cut & enjoy. Slice into squares or bars, and enjoy!

This healthy nut free granola bar recipe is the perfect way to fuel your day with wholesome goodness. Try them out and let me know your favorite add-ins!

Looking for another sweet treat? Check out this 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Egg Recipe that’s a Reese’s Copycat. Swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter for a delicious, nut-free candy.

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