One time, my grandma came across a recipe for granola bars, but didn’t feel like it was the healthiest. Knowing that I’m all into clean-eating and everything, she gave me the recipe and asked if I could make it better. I decided to take on the challenge and give the recipe a try by making a few substitutions. The result was a scrumptious pan of Nut-Free Vegan Baked Oatmeal with no refined sugar, and less fat and cholesterol than the original. They are totally vegan, nut-free, and whole grain too!

This is a great meal prep recipe because you have have a 9×13 pan done within an hour. You can then slice, package, and freeze them to have all week as a nutritious breakfast for snack. Having baked oatmeal on hand is a much better alternative to the sugar-loaded snack bars at the supermarket. Those ones are full of processed ingredients and more sugar than anything else. Why not save money and make healthier choices with a quick, easy pan of homemade granola bars?

Shopping List

Sometimes I use some specialty ingredients in my recipes that are hard to find at your local store. Here’s some links to some of my go-to products that you can get from Thrive Market. Clink the link in the sidebar to get a new-member discount!

• Arrowroot starch
• Sucanat

Similar Recipes

• Vegan Nut-Free Granola
• Vegan No-Bake Energy Bites

Print Recipe

Nut-Free Vegan Baked Oatmeal

These homemade granola bars are the perfect alternative to store-bought options. They're easy to meal prep and full of nutritious ingredients!

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time55 mins

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: granola, nut free, oatmeal, raisin, vegan, vegetarian

Author: Rachel Alexandra

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp hot water
• 1 Tbsp ground flax seed
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• ½ cup sucanat
• ½ cup wheat germ
• ¾ tsp cinnamon
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ¾ cup dried fruit, seeds, or chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 pan.
• Heat 3 Tbs. of water in a teapot on the stove.
• Whisk 1 Tbs. of ground flax seed with the water and set it off to the side. This will act as an egg to hold the bars together.
• In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, and salt. If you don't have wheat germ, flax seed or more flour can act as a substitute.
• Add the applesauce and vanilla to the "egg".
• Mix the wet and dry ingredients and fold in the dried fruit.
•  When everything is well combined, put the mixture in the pan and pat it down by hand.
•  Bake for 30-35 minutes. The edges should be turning golden brown.
• Allow the bars to cool for a few minutes, but cut them while they are still warm.