Oat-Free No-Bake Granola Bars (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)

July 1, 2019 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 52 Comments

These 3-ingredient no-bake granola bars are so easy to make! This recipe for healthy homemade granola bars is oat-free, gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! These chewy bars make a great grab-and-go breakfast or kid-friendly snack! They’re sugar-free and naturally sweet, plus packed with protein and nut-free!

You know those moments when you’re like, “Why didn’t I think of this sooner!?” This is one of those times. Oats are the foundation of any good granola bar, but the hardest grain for a celiac to digest even when they are safe and 100% purity protocol. Noshing into a big ‘ole granola bar doesn’t sit well for many of us. Alternatives to the famed granola bar would be bars made from nuts and loads of sticky refined sugar. Granola bars are not so allergy-friendly, nor are many of the store-bought versions healthy. But what if we could change that with a healthy, homemade, no-bake recipe?

The 3 ingredients you need for oatless no-bake granola bars

Not only do we have to swap out the classic rolled oats, but these bars are nut-free and peanut-free. Plus, there are no sugary syrups holding these no-bake bars together! The magic trifecta?

Mind-blowing? Genius? Inventive? Industrious? I think it’s healthy allergy-free brilliance! If you’ve been a longtime Strength and Sunshine reader, you’ll remember I was once obsessed with quinoa flakes! Such a perfect oat and oatmeal alternative. I even made bars with them way back! Combining quinoa flakes, sunflower butter, and mashed banana was the perfect way to made a chewy no-bake granola bar, gluten-free, allergy-free, and super customizable!

How to make no-bake granola bars

These bars are SO easy to make! As long as you have some patience (the bars need to chill out in the fridge before you cut them!).

In a big bowl, mix together the quinoa flakes, sunflower butter, and mashed banana.
Once you have a thick “dough”, press it into a lined 8×8 baking pan, smoothing out the top.
Let the bars chill in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight before cutting into bars with a knife.

Granola Bar Customization Ideas:

Swap sunflower butter for another seed butter like pumpkin or hemp (or nut butter if you don’t need them nut-free!)
Add cinnamon to the mixture (I did this for my bars!) or other spices like allspice or ginger!
Use some vanilla extract or other flavorings to change things up!
Toss in some allergy-free chocolate chips, shredded coconut, gluten-free pretzels, dried fruits, seeds, etc.
Melt some chocolate and drizzle it on top of the bars! (Even allergy-free white chocolate!)
Never say no to some allergy-free natural sprinkles!
Use a different size pan or cut them into squares or fun shapes with cookie cutters!

Storing homemade granola bars

These oatless bars are PRIME for your weekly meal-prep routine! They are made for longterm storage and freezer-friendly. Once you’ve chilled the bars and cut them to your liking, you can individually wrap them tightly in wax paper or freezer wrap and store them in a Ziplock bag or container for longterm storage in the freezer. Thaw them in the fridge when you are ready to eat them so they don’t rock solid. The bars will be best used within 6-8 months from the freezer.

If you’re going to eat them quickly throughout the week, simple store the bars “ready to go” in small plastic bags in the fridge or an eco-friendly individual storage container of your choice. If you want to pack these in lunchboxes for the kids or throw some in your purse, the bars will be fine at room temperature for 2-3 days but will soften-up a lot depending on how warm they get! Keeping these no-bake granola bars fresh is and tasty, so make sure to keep air out with proper storage and keep them chilled for longevity! Even in the fridge, the bars will last for at least 4 months.

When to serve them up

These bars are great for a quick breakfast when you don’t have time to cook anything! Just grab and go. They make a great snack for lunchboxes, after-school, midday slumps, or on-the-go when you’re in the car. Essential road trip snacking! Depending on the size you choose to cut your bars, they can be more or less filling and act as a meal replacement (for 8 large bars) or small toddler-friendly snack (for 16 small squares).

Are homemade granola bars healthy?

There are so many “bars” out there. From granola bars, protein bars, meal replacement bars. The store-bought market is crazy saturated with choices and 90% of them are pretty much garbage. They’re either 500 calories (insanity!), contain loads of sugar, have every allergen under the sun, and not to mention…a single bar can get pricy! Homemade granola bars, on the other hand, specifically these gluten-free granola bars ARE healthy!

Packed with complete plant protein from the quinoa flakes and sunflower seed butter These is about 88g in this entire recipe!)
Healthy fats from the sunflower butter for lasting satiety.
Complex carbohydrates from the whole grain quinoa flakes (although quinoa is actually a seed!).
Fiber, potassium, B Vitamins, and Vitamin C from the banana.
Lots of iron from the quinoa flakes and sunflower butter.
No added sugar, just the natural sweetness of ripe bananas.
Easy on the tummy and not rough to digest.
Gluten-Free, Vegan, Oat-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Egg-Free, Corn-Free, Sesame-Free, Coconut-Free, (technically they’re Paleo/Grain-Free)!