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Learn how to make the classic chewy oatmeal raisin bar at home with this no-bake recipe!
Soft and Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars
If your kid loves those chewy bars with the oat man on them, but you don't like buying them, this Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars recipe is for you! Goodbye box, hello homemade!
I love this recipe because it's also a no-bake recipe! You read it correctly, there’s no need to turn on the oven. Woohooo!!! Making a tasty and healthy snack kids devour with real ingredients and very little work involved… No doubt this recipe is a win!
The little ones -and you- can enjoy these no-bake granola bars as a snack to eat on the go or pack it for lunch with fruit, veggies, and other sides to fill bellies and satisfy any cravings!
Ingredients
Most of this recipe’s ingredients are pantry staples, so making homemade granola bars is quite simple and much healthier than store-bought snacks! Here’s what you need:
- Quick oats: since this is a no-bake recipe, quick oats are the better choice. Old-fashioned oats may be tougher to chew but they work just as well!
- Crispy rice cereal: adds a nice crunchy texture.
- Salt: just a little to enhance all the flavors.
- Raisins: tons of nutrition!
- Butter: or coconut oil to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Brown rice syrup: helps to hold together all the ingredients. Get it here.
- Brown sugar: to sweeten the granola bars and bind the mix.
- Vanilla: makes everything more delicious!
You'll find the measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Oatmeal Raising Granola Bars
This healthy Oatmeal-Raisin Granola Bars recipe involves minimal work and no baking at all! So, let’s grab the ingredients and make these bars while we give the oven a break. Check how to make this recipe:
- Prep
Line an 8 x 8-inch or 9 x 9-inch square baking pan or glass baking dish with parchment paper. - Combine dry ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the oats, cereal, salt, and raisins. Set aside. - Make the liquid mix
In a small pot, melt the butter, syrup, and brown sugar. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 4 minutes, making sure the mixture continues to minimally bubble while stirring often. Turn off the heat and add the vanilla. - Combine
Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture. Mix well to combine all ingredients. - Press down!
Place the oaty mixture into the square baking dish. Cover with parchment paper, and press down with your hands until the mix is well packed. Just when you think you've pressed down enough, press some more! - Chill & slice
Allow the pan to cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Lift the parchment paper out onto a cutting board, slice into 12 bars, and store in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the pantry.
Is there a substitute for brown rice syrup?
Brown rice syrup can be substituted with corn syrup. Both have the same texture and help bind the ingredients together. I do not recommend swapping it out with honey or maple syrup, they do not have the same elasticity as brown rice or corn syrup.
How to Store Them
Once you cut the bars, store them in a ziplock bag or an airtight container for up to 1 week in the pantry. I don’t recommend freezing these granola bars since they get soggy.
Pack No-Bake Granola Bars for School Lunch
These Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars are a terrific addition to any lunchbox. Follow these hacks to pack epic lunches like a pro:
Keep it separately
When packing these granola bars for school lunch, keep them separately wrapped in parchment or wax paper and place them in their own compartment so they don’t absorb any moisture or other ingredients’s flavors.
Make it a meal
Want to add extra nutrition to the lunchbox? Build a balanced meal by packing these Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars along with veggies, fruits, deli meat, hard-boiled eggs, healthy desserts, or your kid’s favorite school snacks.
Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons raisins
- ¼ cup butter or coconut oil
- ¼ cup brown rice syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
Prep:
- Line an 8 x 8-inch or 9 x 9-inch square baking pan or glass baking dish with parchment paper.
Make the bars:
- In a large bowl, mix the oats, cereal, salt, and raisins. Set aside.
- In a small pot, melt the butter, syrup, and brown sugar. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 4 minutes, making sure the mixture continues to minimally bubble while stirring often. Turn off the heat and add the vanilla.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
- Place the oaty mixture into the square baking dish. Cover with parchment paper, and press down with your hands until the mix is well packed. Just when you think you've pressed down enough, press some more!
Chill and slice:
- Allow the pan to cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
- Lift the parchment paper out onto a cutting board, and slice into 12 bars.
Storage:
- After cutting the bars, store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 1 week in the pantry.
Lucy Windevoxhel says
HI!
I just made these and the texture came out perfect!! They did not break apart at all. I would like to make them a tad less sweet and maybe add some nuts/ nut butter for protein but I’m afraid it would alter the texture. Have you tried any alterations yet? What would you recommend?
MOMables says
Lucy, it’s hard to cut the sugar since the sugars is the liquid that holds and binds the recipe. believe me, i’ve tried a hundred ways. consider them a treat.
Kimberly R says
How long can you store them for and would freezing extend their life?
MOMables says
these store in an airtight container or zip bag for about a week. freezing them will make them soggy.
Sarah says
Is there a substitute for brown rice syrup that will still hold the granola bars together? Besides corn syrup. :)
MOMables says
besides corn syrup or marshmallows… no. Once you use brown rice syrup… you’ll never use corn syrup again lol
Maria says
I’ve never used brown rice syrup. Is it unrefined? I tend to only use honey and maple syrup for that reason. Also, can you replace the brown sugar for sucanat?
MOMables says
Hi Maria! Brown rice syrup is made of brown rice starches. It’s “refined” in the sense that it has to be spun and filtered to get that consistency. It’s one of the best sweeteners though and it’s often preferred above agave and refined honey. you can absolutely substitute sucanat for the sugar. I do that all the time (most people don’t know what it is so we just write “sugar”).
Sarah says
I’ve been looking for a granola bar recipe that doesn’t fall apart – but do you think I could swap in chocolate chips for the raisins? My kids despise raisins :(. I know they’ll probably get melty but wouldn’t they harden up (at least somewhat) when they cooled?
MOMables says
Sarah, yes you can swap out chocolate chips for raisins… but wait until the mixture has cooled off some, otherwise they will melt in the bar.
Nicole says
Is there something I can use instead of brown rice syrup (maybe more honey or maple syrup)? Thanks
MOMables says
no. the brown rice syrup holds it together. if you substitute honey they break apart. :(
Jackie says
Hi, Laura! I attempted to make these yesterday, but I did something wrong. I poured the syrup into the oats/rice cereal as fast as I could, but it hardened and clumped before I could mix evenly. Do you think I cooked the syrup on too high of a heat? Or maybe too long? It looked like butterscotch pudding when I was done (the color, not the consistency).
Thanks!
Sarah says
I will be giving this one a try! Looks fantastic!
Claude Campeau says
I really want to try this. I’ve never heard of brown rice syrup before, I hope I can find it around here!
Laura says
Claude, you’ll be able to find brown rice syrup at most health grocery stores (such as Whole foods) and on Amazon.
Marishannon says
I see brown sugar in the instructions but not in the ingredient list. Am I overlooking it?
Laura says
my apologies, the “and” should have said “or” -honey “or” brown sugar. fixed!