Mint Almond Granola Bars Recipe – Refreshing No-Bake Snack

These homemade Mint Granola Bars are tastier than store-bought versions. They’re simple to make and have a soft, chewy texture that’s perfect for a quick breakfast or an on-the-go snack.

Granola bars are versatile — they can be a wholesome bite or a sweet treat. I often start with the same base used for caramel oatmeal bars to make baked granola bars that hold together well and stay chewy.

When my kids were younger they loved granola bars, so I experimented with flavors every week. After discovering an extra package of mint cookies in the pantry, I created these cookie-filled granola bars. They’re straightforward to prepare and bake in about 18–20 minutes.

Enjoy them plain for a simple snack or add a green and chocolate drizzle to dress them up for St. Patrick’s Day — both are delicious options.

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Why This Mint Bars Recipe Works

These thin mint granola bars are quick to make and ideal for breakfasts, lunchboxes, or a mid-afternoon treat. They combine the satisfying chew of oats with the bright flavor of crushed mint cookies.

• Easy to Make – Skip the store-bought options and bake a pan of homemade bars in under 30 minutes.
• Cookie Flavor – Crushed mint cookies give a fresh mint and chocolate note throughout each bar.
• Snack Size – Perfect for breakfast, school lunches, or after-school snacks.

What You’ll Need

With a handful of common ingredients you can make these baked chocolate mint granola bars. Key ingredients include:

• Quick Oats – They form the base and help the bars bind; rolled oats can be used but give a chewier texture.
• All-Purpose Flour – Measure using the scoop-and-level method to avoid packing too much flour.
• Large Eggs – Help bind the mixture.
• Unsalted Butter – Gives rich flavor while letting you control salt.
• Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness and helps create a chewy texture.
• Mint Chocolate Cookies – Crushed Thin Mints or Grasshoppers add minty chocolate crunch.
• Toppings (Optional) – Melted green candy melts and chocolate chips make a pretty, festive drizzle.

Tip: Use leftover cookies to flavor a mint latte or to make thin mint brownies.

How To Make Mint Granola Bars

The dough comes together in under 10 minutes. Follow these steps to bake a pan of bars:

1. Preheat and prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or line it with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Beat the softened butter with brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, then beat until combined.
3. Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl stir together the flour, quick oats, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. The batter will be thick.
4. Fold in cookies. Crush the mint cookies and gently fold the crumbs into the batter.
5. Bake and cool. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 18–20 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into bars.
6. Decorate. Melt green candy melts with a little shortening until smooth, place in a small baggie, snip a corner, and drizzle over the bars. Repeat with melted chocolate chips and shortening. Let set before storing.

Storage Recommendations

Room Temperature: Keep the bars in an airtight container for 3–4 days.

Refrigerator: Wrap individual bars tightly and refrigerate for 4–5 days.

Freezer: Freeze bars in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Tips and Tricks

• Line the pan. Parchment makes it easy to lift the whole slab out for neat slicing.
• Mix-ins. Try chocolate chunks, mint chips, or small pieces of freeze-dried marshmallow.
• For crunch. Stir in rice krispies or cacao nibs for added texture.
• Color the drizzle. A drop of green food coloring in the candy melts brightens the topping for holidays.
• Don’t overbake. Overbaking will make the bars dry and crumbly. Remove them as soon as the edges set.

FAQs

More Granola Bars

• Strawberry Granola Bars
• Gingerbread Oatmeal Bars
• Chocolate Granola Bars
• Peanut Butter Granola Bars

If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a 5-star rating and a comment below — feedback is appreciated!

Recipe

Mint Granola Bars

Yield:
16 granola bars

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
18 minutes

Total Time:
33 minutes

These Thin Mint Granola Bars are easy to make and ideal for lunch boxes. Crushed chocolate mint cookies add bright flavor and texture to homemade baked bars.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups quick oats
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups crushed Thin Mint cookies (or Keebler Grasshoppers)
• ½ cup green candy melts
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon shortening, divided

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
2. Beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
3. Stir in the flour, oats, salt, and crushed cookies until evenly mixed. The batter will be thick.
4. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake 18–20 minutes. Let cool completely, then cut into 16 bars.
5. Place the green candy melts and ½ teaspoon shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until melted and smooth. Spoon into a plastic baggie, snip a corner, and drizzle over the bars.
6. Repeat with the chocolate chips and remaining shortening. Allow drizzles to set before storing in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 378
Total Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 46mg
Sodium: 94mg
Carbohydrates: 64g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 35g
Protein: 4g

Nutrition facts are estimates and not guaranteed. For specific dietary advice consult a registered dietitian.

This post was first published in March 2014 and was updated and republished in March 2024.