Types of Breakfast Bars

Many breakfast bars don’t keep you full and are filled with additives. This article will share the different types of breakfast bars, and which ones are more natural.

Not all healthy bars are created equal. Find the best breakfast bar for you with our complete guide from Bob’s Red Mill.  

When it comes to a quick and easy breakfast bar, not all healthy bars are created equal. Many that claim to be healthy breakfast bars don’t keep you full and are filled with additives. That’s why we’ve put together a guide with some from-scratch bars that are easy to throw together and utilize the best ingredients for a healthy and happy morning.

Or, for times when you need something a bit more convenient than that, check out our line of Bob’s Bars. They come in five flavors (one for each weekday when you’re on the go).

Delicious Breakfast Bar Recipes

From classic Fruit and Nut Energy Bars, to Whole Grain Cereal Bars, here is a handful of some of our best breakfast bar recipes. Healthy granola bars and nutritious oatmeal breakfast bars can be thrown together fast (and eaten even faster). Try one, or try them all!

After School Oaty Snack Bars

These After School Oaty Snack Bars are free of processed sugars and chock full of naturally nutritious ingredients. You can make them gluten free by using our Gluten Free Rolled Oats, or experiment with fun flavor combinations. For PB&J Bars, replace the almond butter with peanut butter, reduce honey to 3/4 cup, and use raspberry jam in place of applesauce. If a tropical tango is more your style, replace the blueberries with 2/3 cup chopped dried apricots, 1/3 cup dried papaya and 1/3 cup chopped dried pineapple. And finally, if it’s a Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie bar you’re in the mood  for, replace the almond butter with peanut butter and the dried blueberries with 1 cup raisins and 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips. With these variations, whether you’ve been at school all day, work or home, you’re sure to be left satisfied.

Fruit and Nut Energy Bars

These Fruit and Nut Energy Bars make a perfect pre-workout snack or can be thrown in your bag for a hiking adventure or camping trick. Make a big batch and keep these bars on hand for times when you’re in need of a quick energy boost. The recipe comes from Elisha Joyce from Rebel Grain and is packed with ingredients of dried apricots, dried cranberries, date crumbles, hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Hulled Millet, Shredded Coconut, raw honey and sea salt. Bars will keep at room temperature for a few days or can can be stored in an airtight plastic container or plastic bag. If you’d like to prolong the life of these bars, store them in the fridge with parchment paper placed between the layers.

Protein Packed No-Bake Granola Bars

These beautiful Protein Packed No-Bake Granola Bars are a wonderful combination of flavors—subtle mocha, sweet-tart Goji berries and the nutty richness of almonds. The recipe came to Bob’s Red Mill from the wonderful Jenna Verroi from The Nosh Life and is a no-bake (and guilt-free) recipe. Ingredients include Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Steel Cut Oats, Pumpkin Seeds, Puffed Brown Rice Cereal, Organic Chia Seed, goji berries, dried cranberries, raw almonds and Chocolate Protein Powder Nutritional Booster. They also are filled with nutritious add-ins like cinnamon, coconut oil, coconut milk and dark chocolate chips. Keep these in an airtight container for a couple weeks in the fridge and customize them with everything from dried apricots to raisins.

Homemade Crunchy Granola Bars

These Homemade Crunchy Granola Bars from Meghan Cooper from JaMonkey are simple and delightful. They’re great for lunchboxes, road trips and afternoons when you’re in need of a healthy snack. The bars come together easily with just seven ingredients: Quick Cooking Rolled Oats, baking soda, salt, coconut oil, honey, brown sugar and vanilla extract. You can drizzle your end result with melted dark chocolate and add a few flakes of sea salt for a decadent and somewhat indulgent addition to these crunchy bars. If you’re looking for a granola bar recipe to bake with kids, this is an excellent one to use.

Whole Grain Cereal Bars

Did you know that Bob’s Red Mill hot cereal can make more than just your morning bowl of oatmeal? We love how this Whole Grain Cereal Bars recipe utilizes Scottish Oatmeal, 5 Grain Rolled Cereal, Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, Shredded Coconut and Flaxseed Meal for a fun twist on the traditional bar. Try this tasty combination of whole grains as an afternoon snack or a quick breakfast on the go.

The chocolate chips and cranberries give the bars a nice texture when you bite into them (and offer a good reason for these to quickly become a family favorite). After baking the mixture, let it cool completely before portioning into bars.

Blueberry Oat Crumb Bars

If you have any blueberry fans in the family, you’re going to love these Blueberry Oat Crumb Bars. Not only do they have a deep, rich color, but they have a fantastic flavor and crunch, too. Think: berry cobbler in nutritious breakfast bar form. The crust and topping is made with Organic Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, Organic Regular Rolled Oats, Organic Coconut Sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, cubed butter and sliced almonds. The filling is made with fresh or frozen blueberries, Organic Coconut Sugar, cornstarch and lemon zest. Bake for about 40 minutes, until the topping is golden-brown and the blueberries have started to bubble. Let cool, cut into bars and enjoy alongside your favorite morning beverage. If it’s a lazy weekend day with a late start, we recommend coffee or hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream (to round out the berry cobbler taste, of course).

Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

These classic Fruit and Nut Granola Bars are made with Gluten Free Oats, gluten free raisin bran, dried fruits, nuts and honey. They also incorporate Brown Flaxseeds, sunflower kernels and honey. The recipe calls for chopped nuts, and the author uses almonds and pecans (though you can also incorporate other nuts like walnuts or cashews). This recipe is a great base recipe for customizable fruit and nut bars depending on what you have on hand. It’s amazing what can come together with oats, dried fruit, nuts and a little bit of sweetness!

Pumpkin Chai Boost Bars

As the recipe headnote states, these are a nice “tide-me-over” or “sweat session fuel” to keep your body going. We also like to think they taste pretty good during the fall season when all we’re craving is pumpkin everything. These Pumpkin Chai Boost Bars are delicious and super simple to throw together, made with Natural Almond Flour, Whole Grain Oat Flour, Date Sugar, Almond Protein Powder, pumpkin puree and Pumpkin Seeds. Make your batter, place it in a loaf pan, sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and chill for 20 minutes. Cut into eight bars and enjoy.

Tropical Fruit No-Bake Granola Bar

We’re big fans of the no-bake granola bars, especially this Tropical Fruit No-Bake Granola Bar. The recipe comes from Erin Williams of Printable Crush and is so quick and easy to make. It’s the perfect way to get kids involved in the kitchen and get them excited about nutritious, made-from-scratch breakfast bars. Erin creates her bars with a delectable mix of Crispy Rice Cereal, Quick Cooking Rolled Oats, butter, brown sugar, honey, coconut flavoring, dried pineapple, dried mango and chopped macadamia nuts. You’ll have to stay patient as they set for a couple hours, then dive in, serve and let the breakfast bar feast begin!

Orange Cherry Coconut Breakfast Bars

If you’re wanting to incorporate coconut flour into your breakfast bars, try these Orange Cherry Coconut Breakfast Bars! They’re made with Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Organic Coconut Flour, eggs, orange juice, almond extract and more. They also have a delicious crumb topping made with brown sugar, Shredded Coconut, slivered almonds, ground cinnamon and coconut oil. This is a fantastic gluten free and high fiber breakfast bar to keep in your morning rotation.

Breakfast Muesli Bars

These Breakfast Muesli Bars are a quick meal and packed with flavor. The recipe was developed especially for Bob's Red Mill by renowned whole grain specialist Lorna Sass, the author of Whole Grains Every Day Every Way. These bars are completely delicious and made with ingredients like orange zest, honey, orange juice, sea salt, Old Country Style Muesli, Whole Grain Oat Flour, dried cranberries and Flaxseed Meal. With Lorna guiding the way to your breakfast bar creation, you’re in for a true morning treat. This recipe makes twelve bars, so we say, double it!

Bob’s Red Mill Breakfast Bars

If you’re in a hurry and not in the mood to make your own bars from scratch, we have you covered! We’re excited to share our new line of breakfast bars. From our Peanut Butter Jelly & Oats Bob's Bar to our Peanut Butter Coconut & Oats Bob's Bar, each bar is packed with nutrition and simple, convenient nourishment. The bars come in five fantastic flavors and can be tossed into your purse, gym bag or lunch box for a delicious and satisfying snack.

Whether you’re making your healthy bars from scratch or indulging in one of Bob’s Breakfast Bars, we wish you a happy, nutritious day ahead!

Note: Eating raw oats is generally safe, but may cause digestive issues or increase the risk of foodborne illness.