Nut-Free Homemade Granola Bars (Vegan)

Close-up of a chewy nut-free granola bar held by hand, showing the oat and seed texture.

Nut-Free Homemade Granola Bars (Vegan)

Vegan Nut-Free Homemade Granola Bars made with oats, tahini, and maple syrup. One bowl, delicious, and chewy - the perfect snack or breakfast.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Resting Time 10

Total Time 50

Servings bars

Calories 245kcal

Equipment

Oven

Ingredients

3 tablespoons chia seeds about 36 g
5 tablespoons water about 75 ml
⅓ cup pure maple syrup about 78 ml / 104 g
1 teaspoon vanilla extract about 5 ml
6 tablespoons tahini about 90 ml / 128 g; stir well before using
½ teaspoon fine sea salt about 3 g
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice blend or cinnamon; about 1 g
1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats about 175 g
½ cup raw sunflower seeds unsalted; about 75 g
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas) unsalted; about 45 g

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F/175 C. Line an 8” x 8”/20cm x 20cm baking pan with parchment.
In a large bowl, combine the chia seeds with water and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes. The chia seed needs to rehydrate and gel – this helps the bars hold together when cut.
Add the maple syrup and vanilla and stir before sitting for another 5 minutes.
Stir in the tahini, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
Fold in the oats, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds until everything is well coated and sticky.
Scrape into prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer, minimizing as much air space as possible so that all the oats and seeds cling together.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown on the edges and firm in the center.
Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.
Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 1 week and bring to room temperature before eating.

Notes

Binding & Structure: Three key tips to avoid crumbly granola bars:

Allow the chia seeds the full soak time (5+ minutes) to form a sticky gel.
The tahini must be smooth and runny (not too dry).
Press the mixture down very firmly into the pan, and do not cut the bars until they are completely cool to prevent crumbling.

Allergen Information: These bars contain sesame from the tahini. They do not contain peanuts or tree nuts, but check individual ingredient labels if cross-contact is a concern. If sending them to school or daycare, check the centre’s own allergy policy.

Nutrition