I have a problem with these No-Bake Granola Bars. A big problem.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Dried Cranberries & Pepitas - These refrigerator granola bars take mere minutes to assemble. Our favorite homemade grab-and-go snack! Vegan, GF.

I can’t stop eating them.

They are just … yum. Perfect right out of the fridge. Sort of chewy, but not crazy chewy. A little sweet, a little salty.

But they’re chock full of good, good stuff. Oats, pumpkin seeds, even some chia seeds thrown into the mix. I could be wolfing down a lot worse, right?!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Dried Cranberries & Pepitas - These refrigerator granola bars take mere minutes to assemble. Our favorite homemade grab-and-go snack! Vegan, GF.

I am pretty much obsessed as evidenced not only by how much I love to eat these things (my guy has a hard time keeping his hands off of them, too), but I am also obsessed with:

  1. How easy they are to make. Five minutes to whip up!
  2. How handy they are to have around. Homemade grab-and-go food – the best kind of grab-and-go food!
  3. How delicious they are. Oh wait; I’ve covered that, haven’t I?No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Dried Cranberries & Pepitas - These refrigerator granola bars take mere minutes to assemble. Our favorite homemade grab-and-go snack! Vegan, GF.

I first came across the recipe for these granola bars in my brand-spankin’ new Food 52 Vegan cookbook by Gena Hamshaw. This version of the recipe, No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Dried Cranberries & Pepitas, is a slight spin on the original. I’ve swapped the raisins for cranberries, added chia seeds, and chosen salted pepitas. Yum.

These no-bake granola bars are a tasty, tasty problem indeed.

If you try this recipe, please leave a rating! And, if you find it share-worthy – which I hope you do – please share. Tag #kitchentreaty on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, and don’t forget to check out my other recipes!

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Dried Cranberries & Pepitas

Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 4 hours 10 minutes
Author: Kare
These refrigerator granola bars take mere minutes to assemble. Our favorite homemade grab-and-go snack!

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup toasted salted pepitas (unsalted/untoasted work too)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)
  • 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter (I use the natural stuff)
  • 1/2 - 2/3 cup brown rice syrup (can sub agave nectar)

Instructions

  • Line an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. I like to use a long piece with the sides sticking out so I can use them as "handles" to lift out the bars later on.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pepitas, cranberries, and chia seeds.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter and 1/2 cup brown rice syrup.
  • Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix well with a wooden spoon. If the ingredients aren't quite sticking together, add a little more brown rice syrup, stirring after each addition, until they do.
  • Pour into the baking dish and press flat with your hands. The more firmly you can press, the less likely they are to be crumbly!
  • Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, until firm. Lift from baking dish and cut with a sharp chef's knife. Store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Notes

Gluten-free note:

This recipe is already gluten-free; just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats to be safe.
Adapted from Food52
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