These healthy cereal bars are packed full of nutritious dates, seeds, oats and berries. And even better, there is no baking involved so they're perfect for days when you don't want to put the oven on. Great for lunchboxes, snacks or a healthy sweet treat.
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Finding healthy, nut free recipes to fill my kids lunchboxes with that they'll actually eat is a bit of a challenge.
I'm sure I'm not alone in finding it difficult to satisfy the school's healthy lunch box policy AND my kids' picky eating.
These no-bake cereal bars are the result of much testing and I'm really pleased with how they turned out.
They can easily be nut free (use sunflower seed butter instead of nut butter).
And, while they do contain sugar it's of the more-natural variety - dates and maple syrup.
I've used goji berries because they're full of goodness but you can substitute raisins or other dried fruits if you prefer.
My favourite cereal bar memories
When I was a kid one of my favourite lunch box fillers were Tracker bars. Does anyone else remember them?
You can still buy them but my favourite flavour, which I think was apple and blackcurrant, no longer exists. I don't know why because they were SO good!
Some of my favourite oat bars
I've made lots of different oat bars over the years such as these oaty jaffa cake bars and these carrot cake bars.
I've also made these five ingredient peanut butter granola bars by Minimalist Baker on a few occasions.
And they were epic.
I love the idea of a no bake healthy cereal bar.
But I needed to work on a nut free version that I could include in my children's lunchboxes. Both our pre-school and primary school are completely nut free due to allergies.
Make them nut free
It took me a few attempts to get it right but this is the final result and it is SO good.
I use sunflower butter* when I'm sending them into school. However, if you don't need your healthy cereal bars to be nut free you can use any kind of peanut butter or nut butter.
Check out my healthy lunch box ideas
Ingredients
For full recipe, ingredients and quantities go to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Here's what you need to make healthy cereal bars:
- 240g medjool dates - if using another kind of dates they may need to be soaked in hot water before starting this recipe
- 85g maple syrup - agave or brown rice syrup can also be used
- 70g sunflower seed butter - nut butter can also be used if you don't need them to be nut free. I particularly like cashew butter.
- 1 tablespoon flax seed (linseed) - this is optional but I like to add flax seed into some of my recipes because it's so good for us.
- 125g pumpkin or sunflower seeds - chopped nuts are also good
- 135g oats - use gluten free oats if needed
- 100g goji berries - or use other dried fruit eg raisins, cranberries, cherries or chopped dried apricots
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How to make no-bake cereal bars
If you have made this recipe I would love it if you’d leave a comment and rating below. Thank you!
Please do not reproduce this recipe without permission.
No-Bake Cereal Bar
Ingredients
- 240 g dates* ideally medjool, roughly chopped
- 125 g pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds or chopped nuts
- 1 tablespoon linseed/flaxseed optional
- 135 g oats
- 85 g maple syrup
- 70 g nut butter or use sunflower seed butter to make it nut free
- 100 g goji berries or other dried fruit
Instructions
- Line a 20 x 30cm baking tin with baking paper and set aside.
- Place the dates in a food processor or high speed blender and process until broken down.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add 135g oats and 125g seeds. Also add a tablespoon of flaxseed if using. Mix well.
- Place 85g maple syrup and 70g nut or sunflower butter in a small saucepan and gently heat until combined.
- Add to the mixing bowl with the 100g goji berries and mix well. I recommend using your hands to ensure that the berries combine well with the other ingredients.
- Transfer everything to your prepared tin and smooth the top. I find the best way to do this is to place a sheet of baking paper over the top and use a mug or glass to roll over the top.
- Place in the fridge for at least an hour until firm.
- Cut into bars and store in the fridge.
Notes
- If you are not using medjool dates and they feel dry, soak them in hot water for 30 minutes before starting this recipe, then drain.
- Nutritional information is approximate and is intended as a guide only.
Nutrition
Pin no-bake healthy cereal bars for later
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Honest Mum
Wow, these look amazing. I've never tried sunflower seed butter either. Must x
Mandy Mazliah
Sunflower seed butter is great - so good for nut free snacks like this but beware - it goes green when you bake it!
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
These sound delicious Mandy and such a yummy snack to have on hand too! I shall try them with some peanut butter as after school snack for my peanut butter mad 7-year-old 🙂 x
Mandy Mazliah
Let me know how they go down Jo! I love peanut butter too.