Gluten-Free Granola Bar Recipe (Nut-Free)
These gluten-free granola bars are the ultimate kid-friendly snack! Nut-free, chewy, and easy to customise, they’re perfect for lunchboxes or freezer prep. Made with cornflakes, dried fruit, and seeds.
Servings: 20 squares
Calories: 118kcal
Equipment
- Microwave or stovetop
- Oven
Ingredients
- ½ cup (115 g) butter
- ⅓ cup (75 g) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1½ cups gluten-free cornflakes
- ½ cup (75 g) gluten-free self-rising/self-raising flour, If using gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour, you will need to add 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup dried apricots, chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit of choice)
- ¼ cup (50 g) pepitas
- ¼ cup (35 g) sunflower seeds
- ⅓ cup (25 g) shredded or desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160°C (320°F). Grease and line a slice or bar tin (around 20x30 cm).
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, sugar and honey. Microwave in 30-second bursts until melted (about 1.5–2 minutes total), stirring well between each burst. Alternatively, in a medium saucepan over low heat, stir together the butter, brown sugar, and honey until melted and smooth. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add in all the remaining ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared tin, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon, or by using an extra sheet of baking paper and pressing down firmly.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- Allow to cool completely in the tin before slicing into 20 bars.
Notes
Storage Instructions
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: place cut bars in a container with baking paper between layers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Simply pop into the lunchbox in the morning - they’ll be thawed and ready by snack time.
Substitutions & Swaps
- Swap dried apricots for dates, raisins, or chopped dried apple.
- Use puffed rice cereal instead of cornflakes if you prefer a lighter texture.
- Replace the dried fruit/seeds/coconut mix with 3 cups of oat-free toasted muesli for a different version.
- Want to add flavour? Try a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla extract.
Nutrition
Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.5mg