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–+ servings
Soft and chewy no bake oat bars with nuts, seeds, and cranberries on a marble countertop.

No Bake Oat Bars (Easy, Healthy Breakfast)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Author: Nico Pallotta

  • 2½ cups (250 g) rolled oats
  • 1 cup (250 g) creamy nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter)
  • ½ cup (170 g) honey or maple syrup
  • ¼ cup (40 g) ground flax seeds or use ¼ cup more rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt optional
  • ½ cup (60 g) mix-ins (dark chocolate chips, chopped dates, or dried cranberries)

  • Prep the pan: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides.
    Step 1 Baking pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Warm and mix: Add the nut butter and honey to a large bowl.
    Microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, until smooth and easy to stir.
    Step 2 Smooth nut butter and honey mixture stirred in a glass bowl.
  • Add the oats: Add the oats, ground flax seeds, cinnamon, and salt.
    Stir well until everything is evenly coated.
    If the mixture feels a bit dry or hard to mix, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk.
    Fold in your mix-ins.
    Step 3 Oat mixture with dried fruit and seeds in a glass bowl ready to press.
  • Press and chill: Transfer the mixture to the pan.
    Press it down very firmly, especially in the corners.
    Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or freeze for 30 minutes, until firm.
    Lift out, slice into bars, and store in the freezer.
    Step 4 Pressed oat bar mixture in a lined baking pan after chilling.
Substitutions
  • Rolled oats → Quick oats; gluten-free oats
  • Nut butter → Peanut butter; almond butter; cashew butter; sunflower seed butter (nut-free)
  • Honey or maple syrup → Maple syrup (vegan); date syrup
  • Ground flax seeds → Chia seeds; extra oats
  • Cinnamon → Pumpkin spice; pinch of nutmeg; or skip
  • Salt → Adjust to taste (especially if nut butter is salted)
  • Mix-ins → Dark chocolate chips; chopped dates; figs; apricots; cranberries; dried pineapple; pistachios; almonds; walnuts; pumpkin seeds; coconut flakes; cacao nibs
Tips
  • Freeze for best results → Keeps bars firm, grab-and-go ready
  • Press it like you mean it → Especially corners = better hold
  • Fix dry mix fast → Splash of milk until sticky
  • Go natural with nut butter → 100% nuts = smoother, richer
  • Vegan swap → Use maple syrup instead of honey
  • Mix-ins balance → 1 fruit + 1 crunch + a little chocolate
  • Storage tip → Keep in freezer or fridge to maintain texture
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