Soft, chewy, and packed with sweet, salty flavor, these Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars are made with oats, Medjool dates, seeds, dark chocolate, and flaky sea salt for the ultimate healthy no-bake snack.
![Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars [gluten-free + no added sugar]](https://i0.wp.com/healthyhelperkaila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SaltedCaramelGranolaBars7.jpg?resize=525%2C788&ssl=1)
They’re no-bake, gluten-free, dairy-free, naturally sweetened, and perfect for meal prep, lunchboxes, post-workout snacks, or those “I need something sweet immediately” moments.
If you’ve been searching for healthy vegan granola bars, nut-free snack bars, or an easy homemade granola bar recipe, these bars are about to become your new obsession.
![Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars [gluten-free + no added sugar]](https://i0.wp.com/healthyhelperkaila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SaltedCaramelGranolaBars5.jpg?resize=525%2C788&ssl=1)
Why You’ll Love These Granola Bars
- Completely nut-free and school-safe
- Vegan and gluten-free
- No baking required
- Naturally sweetened with Medjool dates
- Soft and chewy with a crunchy texture
- Made with simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect for healthy snacking and meal prep
The combo of sunflower seed butter, dates, dark chocolate, and sea salt creates that rich sweet-and-salty flavor that tastes way more indulgent than it actually is.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Bars
- Gluten-free quick oats
- Sea salt
- Ground flax
- Roasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds
- Soft Medjool dates
- Sunflower seed butter
- Melted coconut oil
For the Topping
- Vegan dark chocolate chips
- Coconut oil
- Flaked sea salt
The dates blend with sunflower seed butter to create a sticky caramel-like texture that holds the bars together perfectly.
How to Make Vegan Salted Caramel Granola Bars
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, sea salt, flax, and roasted seeds.
- Add the dates, sunflower seed butter, and melted coconut oil to a food processor. Blend until the mixture becomes sticky, crumbly, and fully combined.
- Transfer the date mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Using your hands works best here.
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared baking dish, making sure it’s evenly distributed.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours to set.
- Lift the bars out using the parchment paper and slice into 8 bars or 10 thinner bars.
- Combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl. Melt in the microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth, or melt using a double boiler.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the bars and sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
- Return the bars to the fridge for 1 hour until the chocolate hardens.
What Makes These Bars Taste Like Salted Caramel?
The magic comes from the Medjool dates. Once blended with sunflower seed butter and coconut oil, they create a rich, buttery, caramel-like flavor naturally without refined sugar or store-bought caramel sauce.
Add dark chocolate and flaky sea salt, and suddenly these taste suspiciously close to a gourmet candy bar.
Homemade Granola Bars are the BEST!
Once you make homemade granola bars, you’ll never go back to store-bought, especially since these bars are:
- fully vegan
- gluten-free
- packed with healthy fats
- NO added sugar
And they taste like salted caramel thanks to the combo of sea salt flakes and medjool dates.
Did I mention they’re drizzled with rich dark chocolate?!
![Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars [gluten-free + no added sugar]](https://i0.wp.com/healthyhelperkaila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SaltedCaramelGranolaBars.jpg?resize=525%2C788&ssl=1)
Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 bars
- Category: snacks
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For bars:
- 1 1/4 cups gf quick oats
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup ground flax
- 1 1/4 cup roasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds
- 12 soft medjool dates, chopped
- 1/3 cup sunflower seed butter
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
For topping:
- ¼ cup vegan dark chocolate chips
- ½ tsp coconut oil
- 1-2 tsp flaked sea salt
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the oats, sea salt, flax, and seeds. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine dates, sunbutter, and melted coconut oil. Process until the mixture is well combined and crumbly.
- Scrape the date mixture into the oat mixture and stir until all the ingredients are evenly combined. Use your hands if needed!
- Press the mixture into the prepared dish. Make sure it’s evenly distributed. Place into the fridge for 2 hours to set.
- Remove from the fridge, carefully lift the bars out of the plan and cut into 8 bars ( you can also cut them into 10 bars to make them thinner).
- In a small bowl, combine the chocolate and coconut oil. Melt in the microwave for a minute. Stir, then heat for another 30 seconds or until fully melted. or over a double boiler (about 3 minutes). Drizzle over the bars with a small spoon. Sprinkle Kosher flaked sea salt over the top and put them back in the fridge for 1 hour to allow the chocolate to harden before serving.
![Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars [gluten-free + no added sugar]](https://i0.wp.com/healthyhelperkaila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SaltedCaramelGranolaBars2.jpg?resize=525%2C788&ssl=1)
Tips for the Best Homemade Granola Bars
- Use soft, fresh Medjool dates for the best texture
- Press the mixture down firmly so the bars hold together
- Chill completely before slicing for clean edges
- Add extra flaky sea salt if you love sweet and salty desserts
- Store chilled for the perfect chewy texture
Easy Recipe Variations
- Add unsweetened coconut flakes for extra texture
- Stir in hemp hearts or chia seeds
- Use extra dark chocolate for a richer flavor
- Add cinnamon for a cozy twist
- Drizzle with melted sunflower butter for extra decadence
Perfect for:
- Meal prep
- Lunchboxes
- Post-workout snacks
- Road trips
- Afternoon cravings
- Healthy desserts disguised as snacks
![Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars [gluten-free + no added sugar]](https://i0.wp.com/healthyhelperkaila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SaltedCaramelGranolaBars4.jpg?resize=525%2C788&ssl=1)
Storage Tips
Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They also freeze beautifully for longer storage.
Bonus: they taste incredible straight from the freezer.
Final Thoughts
These Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars are chewy, crunchy, chocolatey, sweet, salty, and wildly addictive in the best way possible.
Basically, the kind of snack that makes you feel productive and put together while eating chocolate straight from the fridge.
Have you ever made homemade granola bars before?
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6 responses to “Vegan Nut-Free Salted Caramel Granola Bars [gluten-free + no added sugar]”
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These bars look so good. I love that they are made with wholesome ingredients and not filled with sugar. I’ll have to make some.
These are SO good! You’ll never want to buy store-bought granola bars again. 🙂
Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – Have a wonderful week!
Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – Hope your having a great week.
what do you recommend instead of the sunflower seed butter? I have a kiddo who is allergic to ALL nuts and seeds, so yeah that makes life VERY interesting. I’m using date caramel but am trying to figure out how to make this work with out the nut/seed butters.
I am so sorry, I really don’t have any good suggestions. The seeds and seed butter are sort of crucial for the recipe. You could try this but I can’t vouch for results: https://amzn.to/3X5sP1k