These no-bake fruit and nut bars are great for a healthy snack or breakfast when you’re in a hurry! In 10 minutes, you can whip up a batch using oats, nut butter, and whatever combination of nuts and dried fruit you have in your pantry.
At college, my friends and I love to study at this cute little coffee shop just down the street from campus. While their coffee and tea selection is wonderful, my favorite thing to order is one of their homemade fruit and nut bars. When you’re trying to write a paper or study for an exam, they make the best snack! My roommate and I love these bars we had to find out how to make them ourselves, and now I’m so excited to share this recipe with you!
Finding good snack bars at the store can be tricky. Popular granola bars often include lots of refined sugar, seed oils, and even high fructose corn syrup – yuck! By making your own fruit and nut bars at home, you can ensure that you’re using wholesome ingredients that will actually nourish your body and not just give you a sugar rush. Plus, they taste so much better. 🙂
This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prepare, and it’s great for using up whatever nuts and dried fruits you have in the pantry. I tried to replicate the recipe from the coffee shop by using pumpkin seeds, dried coconut, dried cherries, and slivered almonds, and they were delicious. Feel free to play around with this recipe though to find a combination you love!
Flavor Variations
There are so many ways you can adapt this recipe – change the nut butter, add different spices, use different combinations of nuts and fruit. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Peanut butter with honey, cacao nibs, chia seeds, and dried cherries.
- Almond butter with maple syrup, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and dried apricots.
- Sunflower seed butter with honey, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and dried coconut.
Let me know what you come up with in the comments section!
Tips for making fruit and nut bars
- Don’t like almond butter? Feel free to substitute peanut butter or sunflower seed butter if you prefer!
- Try to find a nut butter that doesn’t have any extra oils or sweeteners. Trader Joe’s always has great options for peanut butter, almond butter, and sunflower seed butter.
- Depending on the kind of dried fruit you use, you may want to chop it into smaller pieces before adding it to the bar mixture.
- If you want to use mix-ins that can melt (like chocolate chips!), make sure that the almond butter mixture has cooled before you add it to the rest of the ingredients!
- Want to add some extra protein? Mix in 1/2 cup of a vanilla or plain protein powder with the almond butter when you heat it. This will help it dissolve so you don’t taste it!
- Store these bars in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. They’re perfect for when you need a snack or breakfast in a hurry.
Tools you will need
To make these fruit and nut bars, you’ll need a small saucepan, a large mixing bowl, measuring cups, a spatula, and an 8 by 8 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Ingredients you will need
- 1 1/4 cups almond butter – Look for a brand that doesn’t add any extra oils or sweeteners. The honey in this recipe will make these bars sweet enough. 🙂
- 1/2 cup honey – Use whatever kind of honey you have on hand, or substitute maple syrup if you prefer.
- 2 cups oats – Old-fashioned oats work for this recipe.
- 1 tbsp coconut oil – This helps the bars stay together well.
- 2 cups of mix-ins – This can be whatever combination of nuts and fruits you like! I used almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried coconut, and dried cherries.
- 1 tsp cinnamon – If you like, try out other spices like ginger, nutmeg, allspice, or cloves too.
- 1 tsp vanilla – Almond extract would also work for this.
- pinch of salt – Kosher salt works well for this.
How to make Fruit and Nut Bars
Put the almond butter, honey, coconut oil, vanilla, and cinnamon in the small saucepan. Heat over low heat for 3-5 minutes while stirring with a spatula so that it forms a smooth mixture. Be careful not to let it burn! Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, salt, and whatever mix-ins you chose.
Pour in the almond butter and honey mixture and stir to combine.
Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in the baking pan. Pour in the fruit and nut bar mixture and use a spatula to press it flat and even.
Refrigerate the bars for at least 30 minutes before you cut them.
If you liked this recipe…
Make sure to look for other healthy snack ideas at the Kitchen Counter! Here are a few other recipes you might enjoy:
- 15 Minute Banana Bites
- Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
- Carrot Hummus Dip
- Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Carrot Cake Sourdough Muffins
If you make this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation!
Fruit and Nut Bars
These no-bake fruit and nut bars make a tasty and healthy snack!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups almond butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup dried unsweetened cherries
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 cups oats
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat the almond butter, honey, coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla over low heat. Stir to combine and remove from the stove once it forms a smooth mixture (about 3-5 minutes).
- Combine the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the almond butter and honey mixture and stir to combine.
- Line an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Pour the fruit and nut bar mixture into the pan and press it out flat and even using a spatula.
- Refrigerate the bars for at least 30 minutes before cutting them into squares.
Nutrition Information
Yield 16 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 247Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 0mgSodium 12mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 4gSugar 11gProtein 7g
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