Nut-Free SunButter Granola Bars

Nut-Free SunButter Granola Bars made with oats, three kinds of seeds, cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and SunButter. Perfect for back-to-school snacks!

It’s almost my favorite time of year…back to school. 

Now, I don’t have any school-ing to get back to, outside of the German courses that I take in the evenings (I just finished my third semester!). 

But there’s something so special about the energy that comes when the yellow school buses reappear in the neighborhood. 

Meine Lieblingsjahreszeit ist der Herbst. (My favorite season is fall.)

It’s a rebirth, it’s a fresh start, it’s a reconnection with what’s good, what could be good, and what could be better. 

One of the staples in my lunchbox growing up was a granola bar.

It was often a snack that I tried to save but most of the time ripped open and devoured well before the bells rang for lunch at noon. 

So, how could we make granola bars better, besides, you know, make more of them? 

Well, what would it be like to make Nut-Free SunButter Granola Bars this year?! 

These no-bake granola bars are made with oats, three kinds of seeds, dark chocolate chips, and SunButter. 

Because they’re entirely nut-free, they’re school-safe and suitable for lunch-boxes, purses, backpacks, and wherever you need extra fuel this fall. 

Why You Should Make Nut-Free Granola Bars

There are so many reasons to love on these granola bars.

And because I’m a list person, I’m going to list a few of my thoughts for you: 

1. They’re packed with fiber, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs. 
2. They’re entirely nut-free and based on oats and seeds! 
3. They’re made no-bake and no-blender, so you can hand mix them without any special equipment.
4. They’re super portable and easy to throw into a to-go bag. 
5. They’re perfectly sweet and delicious 

Have I convinced you yet?!

Here’s What You Need to Make Nut-Free Granola Bars

• gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats
• pepitas
• mini chocolate chips
• dried cranberries
• chia seeds
• ground flaxseed
• No Sugar Added SunButter
• pure maple syrup 

That’s it!

How to Make Nut-Free SunButter Granola Bars

First, line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.

Combine the oats, pepitas, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, chia seeds, and ground flaxseed in a large mixing bowl.

Add in the SunButter and maple syrup.

Stir everything well with a spatula or spoon until it’s well combined and the oats are totally coated.

The mixture should be pretty thick. 

The Secret Ingredient Is No Sugar Added SunButter!

A special thanks goes to No Sugar Added SunButter for keeping these bars entirely nut-free! 

This delicious sunflower seed butter is packed with protein and healthy fats. 

Adding SunButter acts as the “glue” in these bars, binding them together without any added oils. 

I love that it has a hint of sea salt to balance out the sweetness of these bars!

It also adds a nice and subtle “nutty” flavor without any nuts. 

The Hardest Part Is Waiting…

Spoon the mixture into the parchment lined baking pan and press firmly using your hands or the back of the spatula so it’s evenly spread out.

Add more chocolate chips on top if you’d like and press those in with your hands. 

Cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving to allow it to harden. 

I found the bars were even easier to slice if you let the pan sit in the fridge overnight.

Slice and Enjoy!

When the bars feel solid to the touch, remove the parchment paper from the pan and place it on a cutting board.

Using a sharp knife, slice the block into 9-12 bars.

Because these are homemade bars, they might crumble slightly on the edges. 

Don’t stress, the crumbles are delicious, too! 

Enjoy them immediately for a chewing, nutty, naturally sweet snack. 

Store the leftovers bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week and freeze them for long term storage.

How To Enjoy these Nut-Free SunButter Granola Bars

Enjoy these Nut-Free Granola Bars as a delicious homemade granola bar. 

You can change the mix-ins by adding in raisins, hemp hearts, sunflower seeds, or cacao nibs. 

I think they taste fantastic with a cup of coffee or decaf as a mid-morning or afternoon snack. 

For the best consistency, store them in the refrigerator, but you can take them on the go for hours without refrigeration, too. 

The bars will be firmer when refrigerated and softer at room temperature. 

Enjoy! 

If You Try These Nut-Free SunButter Granola Bars, Let Me Know!

I’d love to hear what you think of them.

Be sure to leave me a comment, rating, and review so I can use your feedback to create more yums.

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.

Check out my Pinterest page to pin more recipes like this one to make later.

Want more grab and go bars? You’ll love my Grain-Free Apricot Almond Energy Bars, Blueberry Maple Baked Breakfast Bars and PB&J Baked Breakfast Bars!

Love this post and want more? Go to my homepage and subscribe to get updates delivered right to your inbox!

XO Lauren

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This post is brought to you by SunButter but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!