5 Ingredient Nut Bars Recipe – Homemade KIND Bars!
Homemade KIND Bars: an easy, 5 ingredient nut bars recipe for homemade kind bars! Salty ‘n sweet healthy nut bar delight!
What if I told you all you’d need were 5 simple ingredients to make the easiest homemade kind bars ever? And if you’re not a fan of kind bars, how about we just refer to these babies as ‘nut bars’? 😉
Today, we’re gonna be gathering 5 healthy ingredients to make lightly salty, lightly sweet, highly YUMMY kind bars!
They’re:
- Crunchy
- Sweet
- A little salty
- A lot delish
- Guilt-free
- And easy to make.
Like, what
more could ya need, ya know?
If you’re ready, I’m ready. So let’s bake this!
How to Make Nut Bars
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Then, line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Add all dry ingredients to a bowl and stir until well mixed. Pour maple syrup over the dry ingredients, then fold it altogether. You’ve just made your nut bar mixture!
Pour the nut bar mixture into that pan you prepped earlier. Smooth it out into an even, tightly-packed layer.
Bake, cool, slice and enjoy. That’s it! 😉
The 5 ingredients you need for Nut Bars
- Roasted, unsalted almonds: feel free to use unroasted almonds if you’d like a much less-roasted taste in your baked nut bars.
- Roasted, unsalted peanuts: I love using unsalted peanuts so I can control the exact amount of salt I’d like in my nut bars.
- Salt: if you don’t like any salt or are trying to keep your sodium intake down, feel free to skip this ingredient. Alternatively, you can add in a touch more if you’re in the mood for a saltier snack. 😉 Remember you can always add more after baking (sprinkle atop each bar).
- Vegan gluten free brown rice crisp cereal: my favorite ingredient in this homemade kind bars recipe. It adds a subtle crunch and texture variation that’s so satisfying. [click here to buy it]
- Pure maple syrup: the sweet “glue” that holds these nuts bars together. Okay, no one ever said glue sounded tasty, but you know what I mean. 😉
Nutrition Facts
These homemade kind bars are not only easy to make, but also guilt-free to eat. 😉 Check out each bar’s estimated nutritional stats:
- 106 calories
- 4g of protein
- 5g of sugar
- 8g of carbs
😋 Yummy Bar-Shaped Treats: Easy Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars • Homemade Crunch Bars • 5 Ingredient Vegan Coconut Chocolate Bars
Testimonials
Tamsyn says,
These were so easy to make and very yummy! Thanks for the recipe!”
Klara says,
Sometimes I switch up the nuts adding hazelnuts, walnuts, etc. This has become a family favorite recipe and is so easy to make and clean up!!”
Linda says,
These are sooo good. I didn’t have any crisp brown rice cereal so I crushed up some brown rice cakes!! Thank you.”
Maylen says,
These bars are addictive. I have made the recipe more than 10 times, with some small modifications, I don’t put cereal, only nuts such as macadamia, cashews, pistachios and almonds.”
A simple, 5 ingredient recipe for salty & sweet homemade nut bars that taste better than store-bought kind bars!
Which nuts are you gonna put in your very own nut bars? I’m thinking macadamia and walnuts. 😉 Thank you for stopping by and sharing in a joyful baking moment with me and your loved ones. ‘Til the next one…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
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Did you make this recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it!
Delicious Homemade Bars
- 3 Ingredient Kind Bars Recipe – Almond Coconut
- Homemade Dark Chocolate Sea Salt KIND Nut Bars
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- No Bake Chocolate Almond Butter Bars
- 3 Ingredient Healthy Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
- Healthy Peanut Butter Cup Oat Bars
5 Ingredient Nut Bars Recipe – Homemade KIND Bars!
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
Description
Homemade KIND Bars: an easy, 5 ingredient nut bars recipe for homemade kind bars! Salty ‘n sweet healthy nut bar delight!
Ingredients
- 1 cup roasted, unsalted almonds
- ½ cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
- ½ cup vegan gluten free brown rice crisp cereal
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add almonds, peanuts, cereal and salt to a large bowl. Stir until well mixed. Pour maple syrup over this mixture. Fold until well incorporated.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared baking pan. Using a rubber spatula, smooth into a tightly packed, even layer. Bake for 30-40 minutes (mine took 35 mins). Bars must bake thoroughly, or they won’t hold together when cooled.
- Allow to cool for 1 hour, or until completely cooled. Use a heatproof spatula to gently lift and loosen bars from parchment. Slice into 12 bars (6 rows by 2 columns). Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
Delicious Homemade Bars
Notes
Storing Instructions: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up 1-3 weeks. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Nutrition Info is an estimate based on 12 total bars.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 51mg
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 4g
This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to make a small commission for my referral, at no additional cost to you.
Might be a silly question, but can I use rice syrup?
Not silly at all! I think that should work! 🙂
Hi. I love your recipe. The bars look so delicious! I have a question though. Why do some recipes call for baking the bars while in others, the syrup is heated and poured on the nuts, which then are cooled in the refrigerator. Is there a difference in taste between no bake and baked KIND bars?
Thank you
What kind of puffed rice cereal do you use? I’m having trouble finding one. The arrowhead mills I bought is cross-contaminated with gluten and I know Rice Crispies contain gluten.
Hi Ginny! I typically use Barbara’s Brown Rice Crisps Cereal. Hope this helps! 🙂
I just this moment found your site. Haven’t made any of the bars yet but definitely plan to, for they look delish. I buy something at Wal-Mart called Figgy Pops. Little energy balls made with fresh figs, cherries, cashews and coconut flakes or chips. It is almost ripe fig season around here, and I have been scouring the internet looking for recipes. Can you come up with directions to make something like I described? They have other flavors also, but that is my fave!
Thanks Mary Lou! I’m loving your recipe suggestion! Unfortunately, figs cost an arm and a leg here!! . Have you tried my no bake pecan pie bites? Try making those with dried figs instead of dates and adding in some cherries and coconut at the end. 🙂
Yuuuuuum!!! I just came on to ur site too. This nut bar looks amazing. Gonna make some ASAP.
Yay!!!! Hope you enjoy!
Do you think I could achieve the same results using agave nectar? I’m out of maple syrup at the moment, and I’m impatient, lol!
Would this work with sugar free maple syrup or do you need the sugar component to set them?
Hi Belinda, I’m not sure as I haven’t tried it yet. Let me know how it works out if you do!
This recipe looks great ! Do you think it would work with honey instead of maple syrup? It’s possible I’m the only person on earth who doesn’t like it. Lol.
Thank you, Elnora! 🙂 Honey should work. 🙂 Haha–well, I’ve met a few who would agree with you! 😉
Hi,
I am looking for an advice from an expert. I am not sure why but my bars are not crunchy. They are very soft and floppy. Do you have any idea why. I have tried different ingredients, proportions and texture.
I hope you can help.
Thanks,Jola
Hi Jolanta, sounds like there might be too much wet–the maple syrup, and the bars haven’t baked long enough. Try increasing the bake time and/or reducing the maple syrup. Also, have you checked your oven temp lately? Sometimes the oven can get a little wonky! Good luck. 🙂
These are sooo good. I didn’t have any crisp brown rice cereal so I crushed up some brown rice cakes!! Thank you.
Such a good idea to use the brown rice cakes! I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed them. 🙂
These bars are addictive. I have made the recipe more than 10 times, with some small modifications, I don’t put cereal, only nuts such as macadamia, cashews, pistachios and almonds.
I’m so glad you like them, Maylen. 🙂 I love that you made your own customizations–they all sound incredible!
Is it possible to use honey instead of maple syrup? I’m not vegan but I am diabetic. Both are sugars, but honey has properties that are better for me than plant-based sugars. I love Kind bars, but they are expensive.
Hi Becky, yes, I think that’s possible! I’ve had quite a few readers tell me that they used honey and the KIND bars turned out great. 🙂 Homemade treats that reduce expenses are the best! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think.
Hi! Have you ever tried making these without the peanuts? My daughter has a peanut allergy, and I was wondering if I could expect similar results if I substituted cashews. Thanks! These look wonderful and I’m excited to try them out!
Hi Gena, so sorry to hear about your daughter’s peanut allergy. Yes, I think using cashews instead of peanuts will work out just fine. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you and your daughter think! Happy baking!
These are just what I’m looking for a quick protein filled snack! What is the nutritional information for these bars?
Awesome, Carmela! I just calculated the nutrition info for you. 🙂 You’ll find it in the recipe card, below Notes. Enjoy!
I thought KIND bars were vegan?
Hi Nisha, quite a few KIND bar varieties aren’t vegan, unfortunately. Most have honey in them. Either way, it’s super fun to make your own at home! 🙂
I want to try making this, but I have a question: I am guessing you use raw almonds to make them? I am sorry if it’s a dumb question, but just wanted to make sure…
Hi Christine, that is SO not a dumb question! 🙂 The almonds I use are roasted. Can’t wait to hear what you think! P.S. Always feel free to ask. 😉
These kind bars look so good and so healthy. It’s just what I’ve been wanting. I just found your website site. I can’t wait to make a bunch of your recipes they look amazing! I need a new food processor. What kind do you recommend what brand what model number do you use?
Hi Michele! And welcome! 🙂 They’re seriously one of my family’s favorite treats. For the food processor, I LOVE this one (aff): Food Processor It got me through the entire summer of blending up frozen fruits for ice cream (and making nut butters, no bake bars, etc.). Enjoy!
Thank you so much for the information on the food processor I’m going to definitely check it out sounds great!
My pleasure! Enjoy!
Hi, I’m just wondering how to tell when the bars are thoroughly cooked? I haven’t made them yet so don’t know if it’s obvious.
Hi Sam, it’s actually not that obvious lol. It’s a bit of trial and error. When the bars are baking, the maple syrup will start to bubble. When the bubbles have mostly dissipated, you’re almost there. Basically, you need to bake them for about 35 minutes–or right up until they’ve ALMOST burned. Lol. When they’re cooling, they’ll start really hardening up. And cool completely before slicing. After the first batch, you’ll have a better idea based on your oven. 😉 Hope this helps!
Thanks for expanding about the baking. My oven has been “off” on the degrees so I really have to watch whatever I bake. Frustrating but doable. lol I’ll look for the bubbling… plan to make these tomorrow. They look fabulous – I’m a fan of Kind bars but these look even better. Hope I can stop at one… no I mean two. ha ha Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure! Oh, it’ll definitely be at least two (speaking from experience here). Be sure to let me know how they turn out! 🙂
Well I’m making my fifth batch right now. My first two crumbled… very delish no matter… so I lightly chopped the almonds and that did the trick. Still my oven sucks! Really had to play with cook time. Ugh. . I have shared these with two vegan friends and four non, and everyone LOVED them. I believe a few have subscribed to your blog. BTW, I’m not vegan… just more vegetarian so that’s a great compliment on your recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!
Wow, I feel like you should totally get a gold star for sticking to it ’til ya figured it out. You rock, Donna! I’m glad that lightly chopping the almonds helped things along. I absolutely LOVE hearing when non veg folks love these treats too. 🙂 Thank you for the compliment & taking the time to report back! Can’t wait to hear what you try next. Hugs. 🙂
Can you use rice crispies for brown crispy cereal
Hi Glenda, yes you can! 🙂 Enjoy!
I love the healthy grains KIND bars, my toddler and I both eat them. Great for my on the go life. I couldn’t resist trying these!
They are delicious! I used chopped salted almonds and peanuts, easier on toddler teeth. I also omitted the salt and added a 1/4 cup of Enjoy Life chocolate chips. Baked for 35 min as per your suggestion. They turned out great!! No toddler approval yet but you have mine. These will be a staple in my house now. Not sure if the freeze well but I may make another pan and try it out. This batch will be gone soon. Thanks for another great recipe!
Right? I’ve always had a soft spot for KIND bars, but unfortunately they’re not vegan. 🙁 Such a great idea to make these with chopped nuts for the little one. I’ve got plans for this basic recipe… and hearing about your subs/add-ins gets me even more excited! Thanks for letting me know how these turned out. Can’t wait to hear what you try next, Chris! 🙂
These homemade KIND bars look absolutely delicious, and quite addictive! I could snack on these all day! Hope you have an awesome week, Demeter! xo
Thanks so much, Marsha! 🙂 You would totally love snacking on these all day! Hugs! xox
Back to school time is most definitely a thing, even when you’re out of school! I’m now a teacher so I guess I still have at least a few years to hang on to “back to school” time. And I’m totally fast-forwarding to thinking about the holidays too, so you’re not alone in that, but I too am trying to keep quiet about it until it’s like, September at least! Anyway, these bars look just about perfect for snacking or even a quick breakfast on the crazy back to school mornings. Who knew an innocent little bar could look so beautiful?! Plus they look SO crunchy, an essential in any good bar if you ask me!
Right?? Well for you, that’s even more true! 😉 Yep, these bars are just the thing for those hectic mornings. Thanks for stopping by, Sara! 🙂