Oat-free and gluten-free granola bars with almonds, sunflower seeds and apricots on a cutting board.

Oat-Free and Gluten-Free Granola Bars — Paleo & Clean Eating Snack Bars

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Oat-Free and Gluten-Free Granola Bars are chewy, nutrient-dense snack bars perfect for paleo, grain-free and clean-eating lifestyles. Packed with almonds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut and dried apricots, these bars are naturally sweetened with honey and hold together beautifully when chilled.

Prep Time: 10 mins • Cook Time: 3 mins • Additional Time: 2 hrs • Total Time: 2 hrs 13 mins • Servings: 20 (Yield: 20 bars)

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cups almonds, divided
  • 1¼ cups sunflower seeds, divided
  • 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup diced dried apricots
  • 1½ cups coconut oil
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ cup ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp salt

Directions

  1. Pulse ¾ cup almonds and ¾ cup sunflower seeds in a food processor until chopped into roughly ¼-inch pieces (about 1–2 minutes). Transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Pulse the remaining almonds and sunflower seeds briefly to make larger chunks (about 1 minute). Combine these with the chopped nuts, shredded coconut and diced apricots in the bowl.
  3. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together coconut oil, honey, ground cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Heat until the mixture barely bubbles and becomes slightly lighter in color, 3–5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  4. Pour the warm coconut oil mixture over the fruit-and-nut mix. Stir until the dry ingredients are fully coated and the texture resembles wet sand.
  5. Line a rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper. Pour the granola mixture onto the paper, top with another sheet, and press very firmly (or use a second pan to press) until evenly compacted. Chill in the freezer 20 minutes (or let sit 2–3 hours) until firm.
  6. Remove, cut into 20 bars and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Cook’s Note

  • Swap in any nuts or seeds you prefer (pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds).
  • For crunchier bars, cook the coconut oil/honey mixture a bit longer to reduce moisture.
  • Freezer-packaging keeps bars fresh for weeks.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

  • Calories: 352 • Total Fat: 32 g • Saturated Fat: 20 g • Sodium: 64 mg • Carbs: 18 g • Fiber: 5 g • Sugars: 12 g • Protein: 5 g

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