Chia Fruit and Nut Bars are chewy, naturally sweet, wholesome snack bars made with simple pantry ingredients. No baking required, naturally gluten-free, and perfect for lunchboxes or grab-and-go snacking.
Chia Fruit and Nut Bar Recipe
If you are looking for a healthy homemade snack that actually tastes delicious, these fruit and nut bars are a winner. They are chewy, slightly crunchy, naturally sweet, and loaded with texture from nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
These bars require just a handful of ingredients and a food processor. No baking, no refined flour, and no complicated steps. Just blend, press, chill, and slice.
They are ideal for school lunchboxes, afternoon snacks, gym bags, or those moments when you need something satisfying fast.
Why You’ll Love These Bars
- No-bake and easy to make
- Naturally sweetened with dried fruit
- Gluten-free and dairy-free
- Great for meal prep
- Easy to customize with your favorite nuts and dried fruit
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Whole almonds, toasted
- Walnuts, toasted
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Dried cranberries
- Prunes or dates
- Walnut oil or coconut oil, optional for texture
How to Customize
This recipe is very flexible. Swap almonds for cashews, walnuts for pecans, or cranberries for chopped dried figs, apricots, dates, or cherries.
You can pulse until smooth for softer bars or leave some nut pieces larger for extra crunch.
Storage Tips
- Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 week
- Freeze individually wrapped bars up to 2 months
- Great chilled straight from the fridge
These bars are perfect when you want something homemade, filling, and naturally energizing without reaching for packaged snacks.
This goes beautifully in a lunchbox. If you’d like more easy snack ideas, check out my healthy back-to-school snacks roundup.
Chia Fruit & Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup prunes
- 1 cup dried cranberries unsweetened
- 1/2 cup walnuts toasted
- 1/2 cup almonds toasted
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons walnut oil or coconut oil, plus more if needed
Instructions
- Line an 8x8-inch pan or loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Add walnuts and almonds to a food processor. Pulse until roughly chopped.
- Add prunes, cranberries, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnut oil.
- Process until mixture becomes sticky and begins clumping together. If too dry, add a little more oil, 1 teaspoon at a time.
- Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Press down firmly into an even layer.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
- Lift out using parchment paper and cut into 8 bars or bite-sized squares.
- Store chilled and enjoy.
Notes
- Swap cranberries for chopped dates, apricots, figs, or cherries.
- Use pecans, cashews, or hazelnuts instead of almonds or walnuts.
- Keep refrigerated for best texture.
- Freeze individually wrapped bars for easy grab-and-go snacks.
Nutrition
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Oh wow these sound amazing. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
You’re welcome!
these look amazing
They were Krystel… Now they are all gone 🙁
excellent…..
Thanks!
These look just like Indian “halwas” 🙂 Looks great!
Halwas? Never heard of it… I’ll google those up!
these not only sound amazing but look amazing 🙂 yummy and love that you added flax seed, I wish more people would know the goodness from adding this to there cooking 🙂 thanks for sharing
These look amazing! I love snacking on granola bars so I’m definitely going to try this out!
They are Jenn!! Let me know how they come out 😉
I have not had homemade fruit and nut bars in a while and this makes me want to make them again. Thank you for this post, have a great day.
You’re welcome Deedra!
These look wonderful! I love finding ideas for healthy snacks that the kids will like. Pinning it. Found you on Wednesday Whatsits.
Thank you Marie! Let me know how they come out
I just saw this recipe at “The Scoop” and had to come by to pin it. It looks delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
My weekly linky party is still going so please free to share it over there and come & say g’day!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thanks so much for stopping by Natasha! It is an honor! 🙂
This an amazing recipe, I used to take chia seed in my shakes, but i rather have it in this form. Will book mark this in my favorites. Thanks for sharing at my Fab Friday party
Maria
Could you replace prunes with dates and the walnut oil with coconut oil?
yes and yes 🙂