These nut-free oatmeal raisin bars have all the oatmeal raisin cookie flavors you love but are made in a portable bar that's perfect for hiking, school snacks, or that mid-afternoon treat.
Recipe at a Glance: Oatmeal Raisin Bars
- DETAILS
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes (10 minutes hands-on)
- Preparation method: No bake, make-ahead
- HIGHLIGHTS
- These oatmeal raisin bars are a homemade nut-free granola bar made with oats, raisins, and rice cereal.
- They're suitable for most diets and can be made in advance, making them perfect for school snacks or hiking trips.
- You can customize them with your favorite mix-ins.
I've got a serious weakness for oatmeal raisin cookies, but when I'm craving something a little less sweet that still has that classic oatmeal and raisin combo, I turn to these homemade granola bars. They're just sweet enough, and nut-free, making them a great option to pack along as a hiking snack, or as a safe school snack.
They're a little softer than your average bar, but they hold together, thanks to super sticky brown rice syrup. Honey adds a little extra sweetness and flavor, but if you prefer a firmer granola bar, swap in extra syrup for the honey.
Jump to:
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Oats--Regular rolled or old-fashioned oats work best here. If you are avoiding gluten, double check the label to be sure they are certified as gluten free.
- Brown rice syrup--This is the secret ingredient that ensures your granola bars hold together. Don't try substituting a different sweetener. You can find brown rice syrup online or at whole food or natural food stores.
- Raisins--I like Thomson raisins the best for these bars to give them that classic oatmeal raisin flavor, but you can swap in your favorite, or try a different dried fruit, such as cranberries or cherries.
How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars
1. Stir the oats, Rice Krispies, raisins, cinnamon, and salt together.
2. Warm the brown rice syrup and honey in a small saucepan until soft and combined.
3. Pour the syrup mixture over the oats and stir until everything is coated.
4. Press into a square baking dish and chill until firm. Slice into bars.
FAQs
Definitely. Stir in chopped toasted nuts, or chocolate chips along with the raisins.
Storage
For best results, store your sliced bars in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- It's really important to ensure the oats and rice cereal are completely coated in the syrup and honey mixture so that everything sticks together.
- For a firmer bar, use 6 tablespoons rice syrup and 2 tablespoons honey or make it entirely with brown rice syrup.
- Chill for at least 2 hours before slicing or the bars will fall apart.
- These homemade granola bars are suitable for dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian diets.
More Homemade Snack Recipes You'll Love
Tried This Recipe?
If you've tried this recipe, please leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or Pinterest for more great camping and grilling recipes.
Recipe
Oatmeal Raisin Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Large pinch salt
- ¼ cup brown rice syrup
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Line a square 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir the oats, cereal, raisins, cinnamon, and salt together.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the syrup and honey, stirring with a silicone spatula until they combine, about 1 minute.
- Pour the syrup over the oat mixture and stir with the silicone spatula to combine. Take the time to really stir the mixture well, ensuring the all of the oats and cereal are coated. This should take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Dump the stick oat mixture into the prepared pan and use a piece of parchment to firmly press the mixture into an even layer. Keep pressing until everything is very compact.
- Chill the oat bars for at least 2 hours before using a sharp knife to slice into 10 bars.
Notes
- Storage--Store in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 1 month.
- Make it firmer--For a firmer bar, use 6 tablespoons rice syrup and 2 tablespoons honey or make it entirely with brown rice syrup.
- Chilling--Chill for at least 2 hours before slicing or the bars will fall apart.
- Dietary--These homemade granola bars are suitable for dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian diets.
Leave a Reply