Microwave Granola Bars (No Bake)

No bake granola bars are super easy to make and use only a few ingredients. They are naturally dairy free and can be made gluten free with zero effort. This recipe is extremely easy to customize to your own tastes and preferences, making microwave granola bars one of the absolute best options for breakfast or simple snack meal prepping!

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy: No bake granola bars are about as easy as it gets. Do some mixing, pop it into the microwave for a couple of minutes, and you’re done!
• Versatile: This recipe is super customizable so you can add ingredients and flavors to make it what you want.
• Family friendly: From kids to adults, we all love a good granola bar from time to time and being able to make your own is an easy win.
• Perfect for prep: These microwave granola bars are the perfect option for a breakfast prep for when you don’t have much time in the mornings. It’s also great for getting a quick snack ready ahead of time that you know what all is in it!

No Bake Granola Bar Ingredients

To make these granola bars you’ll need two cups of puffed cereal, two cups of rolled oats, and a cup of creamy peanut butter. Additionally you will need a half cup of honey, a quarter cup of light brown sugar, salt, and vanilla extract.

If you don’t have puffed rice cereal on hand or just want to try something a little bit different you can give these other cereal selections a try:

• Reese’s Puffs cereal
• Lucky Charms cereal
• Captain Crunch cereal
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal

Making Your Granola Bars Gluten Free

In order to make this recipe gluten free simply make sure the puffed cereal you use is gluten free. Use the gluten free variety and make the recipe as normal. Some puffed rice cereals are made with malt and may have small amounts of gluten so be sure to check your label.

Gluten free cereal ideas:

• Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice Cereal
• Gluten Free Rice Crispies Cereal
• Cocoa Puffs Cereal (Yes, they’re gluten free!)

Ingredient Substitutions & Ways to Customize

There are countless ways to make these no bake granola bars your own. We all have our specific flavors that we gravitate towards so try a bunch of different things! Here are a few of my favorite tweaks to this recipe to try out:

Nut and Seed Recommendations

• Chopped walnuts
• Chopped cashews
• Sunflower seeds
• Chopped almonds

Recommendations on the Sweeter Side

• Mini chocolate chips
• Hershey’s Shell
• Crushed Heath bars Pro tip: Freeze them ahead of time and crush them before thawing to make the perfect chunks.
• Almond bark

Fruits to Try Out

• Raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Chopped dried mangos
• Other dried fruits

Random Good Stuff to Try

• Shredded coconut
• Cinnamon
• Pumpkin spice seasoning

How to Make No Bake Granola Bars

Step 1

Start your microwave granola bars by lining an 8 by 8 inch baking dish with aluminum foil and toss the oats and puffed cereal together in a large mixing bowl.

Make sure to leave about a 2 inch overhang with the aluminum foil so you have something to grab onto later when transferring the bars.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, brown sugar, and salt. Place this mixture into the microwave and heat it for a minute.

Remove the bowl from the microwave, give it a stir, and place back into the microwave and heat for another minute.

Add the vanilla extract to the mix and stir it again to incorporate it all together.

Step 3

Now, pour the peanut butter mixture you just made over the oats and puffed cereal and gently fold it all together.

This is where you will add the chocolate chips or other optional ingredients you want to add to make your no bake granola bars your own style.

Step 4

Once everything is good and combined, pour your mixture into the baking dish you prepared earlier. Firmly press it into an even layer in the baking dish.

Cover your bars with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator for 30 mins to an hour. If you’re in more of a hurry you can also place it into the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Step 5

Once they have adequately chilled, lift the bars out of the baking dish using your handy aluminum foil. Cut your no bake granola bars into the size and shape that works for you and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Storing and Freezing

Store the microwave granola bars in the refrigerator. You can use an airtight container or a plastic bag that seals. Another option is to individually wrap them in plastic wrap or tin foil for an even easier grab-and-go snack or breakfast!

If you’re freezing these bars for later, individually wrap them in plastic wrap or tinfoil and place into a larger bag that can seal.

Try to remove as much air from the bag as you can and place into the freezer. This will ensure they don’t try to freeze together while, at the same time, making it easier to grab just a couple out of the freezer when you’re ready.

Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love:

• Brioche French Toast Casserole
• Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
• Breakfast Burrito Skillet
• Mixed Berry Baked Oatmeal
• Apple Spice Slow Cooker Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter Avocado Toast

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