No-Bake Granola Bars

Active Time: 15 MinsTotal Time45 Mins
Yield: 12 bars

Granola bars are probably a pantry staple in your kitchen for quick snacks and filling lunchboxes, but you’ve probably never made a batch from scratch. Start with this easy no-bake recipe made with rice cereal, oats, almond butter, maple syrup, and a touch of cinnamon.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup crisp rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
  • 3/4 cup uncooked old-fashioned regular rolled oats
  • 1 cup creamy almond butter (8 oz.)
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

How to Make It

Step 1

Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Toss together cereal and oats in a large bowl.

Step 2

Place almond butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a small saucepan; heat over medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour mixture over cereal and oats; gently mix together with one hand until combined.

Step 3

Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan, pressing firmly to form a compact, even layer. Chill until fully set, about 30 minutes. Cut into 12 bars.

Chef’s Notes

VARIATIONS:

Tart Cherry-Pistachio
Stir 1/2 cup chopped roasted salted pistachios and 1/2 cup chopped dried tart cherries into cereal mixture in Step 1.

Apricot-Coconut-Cashew
Stir 1/3 cup chopped roasted salted cashews, 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots, and 1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut into cereal mixture in Step 1.

Chocolate Chip-Pecan-Sea Salt
Stir 1/3 cup chopped roasted pecans and 1/3 cup miniature milk chocolate chips into cereal mixture in Step 1. Sprinkle top of granola mixture with 1/4 teaspoon finely ground sea salt in Step 3 before chilling.

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