No Bake Chocolate Granola Bars

Made with rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, peanut butter, chocolate and more, this recipe is a cinch to mix together and set up. And the texture is like a rice krispie treat, only with more flavor and substance. These are seriously delish and also super satisfying—a perfect easy snack to make at home to keep us fueled! Along with my Fruit and Nut Bars, these chocolate granola bars are one of my go-to homemade snack recipes to make for friends when they have a new baby in the house or to make when I’m trying to stock up with freezer meals. They’re also great to take hiking or camping with kids. The great thing about this recipe is that you simply stir the ingredients together, let it set, and slice up the bars. No cooking required. (And you can safely taste the batter, just like with my Bliss Balls, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls, and no-bake Chocolate Balls .)

Ingredients You Need

To make this easy no-bake Chocolate Granola Bar recipe you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox. TIP: You can use honey in place of the brown rice syrup. The bars won’t hold together quite as well, so be sure to store them in the fridge and serve them very cold for best results.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process involved in making this chocolate granola bar recipe for your family. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information. TIP: You can wrap these individually and store, or store them in a container loose. Both work!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

This recipe is easy to make gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free rolled oats, which you should be able to find at most grocery stores.

Why do you use brown rice syrup?

I know that brown rice syrup isn’t a pantry staple that most of us have in the house, but one jar will make two batches—and you can store it in the fridge until you’re ready to make the second batch. You can buy it online or look for it near the sugar or agave in your grocery store. My small town stores both carry it.

Can I make this recipe nut-free?

For whatever reason, peanut butter binds the best in this recipe. To make the bars nut-free, use sunflower seed butter instead and serve them cold out of the fridge.

How to Store

Store chocolate granola bars in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container or in the freezer in a zip top bag for up to 3 months. You can wrap each bar in plastic wrap so they’re easy to grab and go.

Best Tips for Success

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. Use your hands to mix the batter as needed to get it evenly coated. Chill for a bit before slicing. I prefer to store these wrapped individually in plastic wrap. Use honey for the brown rice syrup, but be sure to serve them straight from the fridge as they will need to be cold to hold together as well. Dice up into small pieces for younger eaters. Or make thinner bars by using a 9×11-inch pan instead of the 8×8-inch pan I show here, which will be easier to bite into and chew. Pair with a Strawberry Smoothie, Vanilla Milk, or another healthy drink for kids. For more flavor options, try my Chocolate Chip Granola Bars and Chewy Granola Bars.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share!