Vegan No-Bake Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Chewy-crispy granola bars loaded with old-fashioned oats, chocolate chips, and toasted pecans, bound with tahini and brown rice syrup. These require minimal mixing and offer two texture options depending on bake time. Perfect for lunchboxes, snacks, or meal prep. The tahini provides richness while brown rice syrup keeps them naturally sweetened and chewy.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 325F. Line 9-by-13-inch pan with parchment, leaving overhang on two sides. Coat parchment lightly with cooking spray.
- 2
Combine oats, cereal, chocolate chips, pecans and salt in large bowl.
- 3
Combine rice syrup, tahini and vanilla in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds or heat in saucepan over medium heat 1 minute.
- 4
Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to prepared pan and press firmly with spatula back.
- 5
For chewy texture, bake until barely coloring around edges and still soft in middle. For crunchier bars, bake until golden brown around edge and somewhat firm in middle.
- 6
Cool in pan 10 minutes, then use parchment to lift onto cutting board. Cut into 24 bars and cool completely without separating, about 30 minutes more.
- 7
Once cool, separate bars.
Tips
Press bars firmly into pan to ensure they hold together after cooling; loose packing leads to crumbly bars.
Don't skip the initial 10-minute pan cool before lifting out; this allows structure to set enough to handle without breaking.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 7 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days for longer freshness.
Prepare through pressing into pan up to 8 hours ahead; cover and refrigerate, then bake from cold (add 5-10 minutes to bake time).
Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Wrap individually for portable snacks.
Common Mistakes
Under-pressing into pan to avoid crumbly, falling-apart bars
Baking too long at high temp to avoid burnt edges and dry interior
Separating bars too early to avoid breaking while still warm
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make these without a microwave?
Yes. Heat rice syrup and tahini together in a small saucepan over medium heat for about 1 minute, stirring until warm and combined, then proceed as directed.
What if my bars turn out too soft after cooling?
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to firm them up. If persistently soft, you may have under-baked; next batch can bake 5 minutes longer.
Can I freeze these for later?
Yes. Wrap cooled bars individually in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature 30-45 minutes before serving.