Easy no-bake chewy granola bars made by kids for kids! A fun and colourful dried fruit and marshmallow granola bar recipe.

This post is sponsored by PC® Children’s Charity. We only support brands and organizations we believe in and contribute to at home.
I adore spending time with my kids in the kitchen. We laugh, play around, act silly (but still safe), and learn while putting good food on the table for us to enjoy. We all get to learn about the ingredients, counting, and how to make better food choices together.
These granola bars were no exception. My youngest and I made them a few times together (video below) in support of Kid Food Nation. Kid Food Nation is a Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada program that teaches kids cooking skills, getting them excited about healthy food and providing them with tools to live a healthier and happier life. Nothing creates better conditions for success than feeding our kids and educating them about nutrition. That’s why PC Children’s Charity is supporting this nationwide movement that empowers children to make healthy and better-informed food choices.
Why did we make this granola bar recipe? It came from the Kid Food Nation cookbook, a compilation of recipes developed and made by kids – for kids.
A part of the Kid Food Nation program is the recipe competition they host, which involves kids across Canada submitting original healthy recipes that focus on their culture or Canadian pride. Winners of the competition had their recipes compiled into a Kid Food Nation cookbook.
How do you make a chewy granola bar recipe?
Brown sugar is the key to all things chewy in the baking world. In this granola bar recipe, the brown sugar gives the granola the chewy factor we love in them and that warm cozy snack feeling.
It pairs perfectly with the dried fruit and the marshmallows.
Other easy kid-friendly snacks:
More cooking with kids recipes:
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Kid-Friendly Salad
- Kid Food Nation’s online hub for recipes, games, tips, and fun facts geared towards healthy eating
Sweet and colourful granola bars recipe.
- 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) liquid honey
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) brown sugar
- 1 tsp (6 ml) vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup (250 ml) mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) dried banana chips
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) dried cranberries or raisins
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Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C).
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Spread oats onto a baking sheets and toast for 10 minutes.
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Meanwhile, in a pot, combine honey, butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Warm, stirring over medium heat until butter is melted and mixture is hot. Stir in toasted oats, marshmallows*, banana chips, and cranberries until well combined.
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Transfer to a lined with parchment paper and then greased 8 in. (1.5 L) baking pan and press firmly down. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Cut into squares to serve.
* I’d recommend letting the mixture in the pot cool slightly before adding the marshmallows in as they will melt if the pot is too warm.
Recipe slightly adapted and reprinted with permission from the Kid Food Nation cookbook.
Enjoy! xo
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