Easy no-bake granola bar recipe

Are you looking for a healthy and flavorful snack idea packed with wholesome ingredients and refined sugar free? These apricot coconut granola bars might be just what you are looking for.

Quick and easy to make, nutty, and chewy, these bars make the perfect healthy snack. They are great for breakfast on the go, as a post workout snack or as an afternoon pick-me-up.

These homemade bars are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and a great alternative to a sugary store-bought energy bars.

Meet the ingredients

You can find a complete list of ingredients with exact amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

Dry roasted cashews (check How to roast cashews)
Gluten-free rolled oats – always make sure to buy certified gluten-free rolled oats to avoid possible cross-contamination
Shredded coconut
Dried apricots
Dried strawberries or raspberries (optional)
Fine coconut flour
Lemon juice
Coconut oil
Maple or agave syrup

Oats and a gluten-free diet

Most people with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance can tolerate gluten-free oats with no problems. However, a small percentage of people may still react to avenin – a protein in oats similar to gluten. For these people, even certified gluten-free oats may be unsafe. If you develop any new symptoms after adding gluten-free oats to your diet, it’s best if you talk to your dietitian or a doctor.

Another problem can be cross-contamination. Even though oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often contaminated with gluten because they may be processed in the same facilities as gluten-containing grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Therefore, if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, always make sure your oats are certified gluten-free to avoid any cross-contamination issues.

How to make it

You can find a complete list of ingredients with exact amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

Soaking apricots: Put dried apricots in a bowl and cover them with water. Soak at room temperature for 2-3 hours.

Step 1

Line the square cake pan (22 x 22 cm or approx. 9 inch) with baking paper.

Step 2

Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl.

Step 3

Drain apricots well using a fork and place them into a high-speed blender. Add coconut oil, lemon juice, and maple or agave syrup and blend briefly until you get a thick paste.

Step 4

Add apricot paste to the bowl with dry ingredients and stir until all is well combined (or use a hand mixer).

Step 5

Press the mixture down firmly into prepared pan. Place it in the fridge for a couple of hours to firm up.

Step 6

Remove it from the pan and chop it into bars or squares.

Tips and how-tos

How to roast cashews

Roasting cashews deepens their flavor and gives them a crisper texture. Here is how to do it:

Preheat oven to 180 °C. Spread the cashews in a single layer on the baking sheet. Place in oven and roast for 8-10 minutes. Stir or shake the tray every couple of minutes to help the cashews to cook evenly.
When the cashews are golden and smell nice, remove from the oven, and immediately transfer onto a plate or another baking sheet.