Grab these easy no bake peanut butter free chewy granola bars for snacks, lunches and school. These easy granola bars are a new take on the classic peanut butter granola bar turned allergy friendly made peanut free, tree nut free (contains coconut), gluten free, dairy free and Vegan. You won’t believe how much they taste just like peanut butter!
The last days of Summer panic has officially set in since we have now enter the ‘back to school’ shopping season…
Part of me is elated.
Part of me is sad.
Part of is just dreading getting up super early everyday…lol.
As soon as it turns August 1, Summer is practically over and planning for school really starts for an allergy family. Everything like emergency action plans, extra epi-pens, teacher meetings and safe lunches everyday needs to be planned in advance. It’s all pretty standard but the getting into the swing of things at the beginning of the year is all a little crazy.
These granola bars are something that just screams back to school and will remind my son he can’t eat everything other kids eat. Last school year the most popular snack was granola bars… and not just any ole granola bar. Peanut butter granola bars. Kids love peanut butter. I did too but that won’t stop us.
We’ve since let the peanut butter loving ship sail long ago and moved on to pumpkin seed butter as an alternative. The pumpkin seeds are really good at blending into a creamy peanut or sunflower buttery texture. Sunflower butter would also work great in these granola bars. If you child is in a nut free classroom, these butters and bars would be appropriate for those with peanut and tree nut allergies.
So to make things more ‘normal’ at snack time, I finally made peanut butter free version of a classic snack bar. This was in my head (and in the kitchen) on and off for almost a year. I start recipes and often forget to come back and tweak them. Regular day to day life gets in the way of recipe development. The important recipes and one’s I’m really excited for usually turn up pretty quickly but you might be surprised to know I have an upwards of 30 recipes that I’ve started and have yet to complete… and probably close to 100 more trapped in my head that I would love to create.
With time being more but often less in the Summer, I find myself scraping for time. I want to let you all know I’ll be taking a break here for a little bit. Hopefully nothing major and only a week. Everyone needs a vacation and this is the time families take them.
I have one last thing before I go… I have a special Back To School cash giveaway from some of my blogger friends!! Enter below for your chance to WIN $325 Visa Gift Card
Sponsored by the following fabulous bloggers… Be sure to check out their blogs for some more fabulous inspiration!
Diary of a Recipe Collector – Or Whatever You Do – Cooking and Beer
Beyond Frosting – Recipe Runner – Julie’s Eats & Treats
House of Yumm – Bitz & Giggles – Petite Allergy Treats
Chez CateyLou – Mom Loves Baking – Mariah’s Pleasing Plates
Lemon Tree Dwelling – Yummy Healthy Easy – Food Faith Fitness
Belle of the Kitchen – Spoonful of Flavor – The Gunny Sack
I Dig Pinterest – The Cookie Writer – Lemons for Lulu – Maebells
- 2½ cups gluten free quick oats
- ½ cup pumpkin seed butter or favorite nut/seed butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening or coconut oil
- ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds or nuts
- 3 Tbsp allergy friendly chocolate chips
- In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients except chocolate chips, set aside.
- Microwave maple syrup on high until boiling. Stir in oil to melt and microwave an additional 30-1 minute of boiling. Add pumpkin seed butter and mix until smooth.
- Carefully pour the bowl over the dry ingredients and mix until all incorporated. The mixture will become thick. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before adding chocolate chips
- Drop oats in a lined 8X8 pan and evenly press into the pan.
- Chill in refrigerator for 2-3 hours or 30 minutes in the freezer.
- Cut and store any leftovers in plastic and keep in refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze to keep longer.
Some other things you may like:
Chocolate and Peanut Butter-less Mousse- dairy free Vegan
Hello, I’m Laura! Thanks for stopping by… I hope this blog will help you or someone you know and love. 
Pumpkin seed butter rocks! I love the smokiness of raw pumpkin seeds anyway, and as a butter, it is fab!
These look so awesome!! I looove seeing recipes with pumpkin seed butter since it has become the only nut or seed I can have. (Of course I can substitute but it is so awesome to see them straight up and know they’ve already been tried with it. ) Have a nice break and enjoy your family!
I can say I have never been more excited for fall to get here! Two reasons….a babe is coming and two being preggo during the summer is hard! And these bars I want to make so I can munch on them all day long!
I’m so excited for you Meg on the next great adventure of becoming a parent! Summers are totally tough being pregnant. 🙁 Thanks so much!
These just make me so happy! Granola bars have been so hard to give up, but I need to give these a try! I love how easy they are to make, too! I hope you enjoy your time off! We all need that from time to time and you have earned it, girl!
Laura! Allow yourself to enjoy the break, it will make you feel more refreshed when you come back! I still think you’re the best mom ever, your kiddos are so lucky! Especially when you make them these awesome granola bars so they can enjoy a granola bar just like everyone else!
I can’t even believe that we’re down to the final countdown before school, either! I’m on the lookout for ALL the easy snacks right now, so these granola bars are totally up my alley! Love how healthy they look so I can totally have two right??
These are so perfect for lunch boxes or after school. Great recipe, Laura!
These bars are gorgeous!! I could snack on these all day long.. 😀
I can’t believe it’s back to school so soon already too. I am trying to get everything ready since my son starts school for the first time next month eeks. I am kind of terrified and excited at the same time. Love these nut free granola bars! They’re perfect for packing along in school lunches!
I am excited about getting back to our normal school routine. It’s always a little bittersweet. I love that I can enjoy these bars too!
I can not imagine what you go through to plan for school and all the what ifs! You go Momma! Love these granola bars!
What a perfect lunchbox treat! These look awesome – you can see how amazing the texture is!
Great giveaway for our kids! Thank you!
Can’t wait to make these for my son. Is there a particular brand of gluten free oats that you like and trust?