The Best Homemade Kudos Granola Bars (Healthier Too!)
- Just like the original Kudos bars—crunchy, chewy, and covered in chocolate
- No baking required—great for summer snacks or after-school treats
- Healthier option—uses honey and nut butter as a natural binder
- Customizable—use any chocolate or toppings you love
Expert Tip: Press the bars down firmly with the bottom of a measuring cup before chilling. This helps them hold together when slicing and dipping!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses classic granola bar ingredients with a nostalgic twist:
- Rolled oats – for that hearty, chewy texture. I used Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oats.
- Rice cereal – adds crunch (use puffed rice or Rice Krispies)
- Cashew butter – gives the bars a soft, creamy bite (sub almond or peanut butter)
- Honey – acts as a natural sweetener and binder
- Vanilla extract & salt – rounds out the flavor
- Chocolate chips + coconut oil – creates that signature dipped and drizzled finish
- Mini M&Ms + crushed peanuts – for the authentic Kudos topping!
Looking for another kid-friendly snack? Try oatmeal peanut butter protein balls, cookie dough protein bars, or ranch chex mix next.
How to Make Copycat Kudos Bars
- Mix the dry ingredients: Combine rolled oats and crispy rice cereal in a large bowl.
- Make the honey mixture: In a small saucepan, heat honey and cashew butter until gently bubbling, 1–2 minutes. Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
- Combine ingredients: Pour the warm honey mixture into the dry ingredients and stir well.
- Press and chill: Transfer to the pan and press down firmly into an even layer. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Cut, decorate and dip: Cut into 14 bars. Press mini M&Ms or chopped peanuts into the tops. Melt chocolate and place in a flat bowl. Dip the bars into melted chocolate so it comes up 1/8 of the way up the sides of the bars.
- Drizzle and set: Drizzle remaining chocolate over the bars and let it set before serving.
Kudos Granola Bars
If you grew up in the '90s, there's a good chance you begged your parents for Kudos granola bars—those chewy, chocolatey, candy-studded treats that felt more like dessert than a snack. These homemade Kudos bars are a nostalgic, no-bake version that’s just as fun, but made with wholesome ingredients and easy pantry staples.
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Servings: 14 bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats gluten-free if needed
- 3 cups rice cereal
- 2/3 cup cashew butter
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extra
- Pinch of salt plus more to top
- 2 Tablespoons mini M&Ms
- 1 Tablespoon crushed peanuts
- 2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips dairy-free if needed
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- To a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and rice cereal.1 cup rolled oats, 3 cups rice cereal
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cashew butter and honey and bring to a bubble. Let it bubble gently for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, then remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.2/3 cup cashew butter, 2/3 cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extra, Pinch of salt
- Pour the honey mixture into the cereal and oats and stir to combine. Dump it out into the prepared pan and use a spatula or bottom of a measuring cup to firmly pack it into the pan.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Remove the chilled bars and cut them down the middle then crosswise 6 times so you have 14 long bars. Press the M&Ms or peanuts into the top of the bars as desired.2 Tablespoons mini M&Ms, 1 Tablespoon crushed peanuts
- Set a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl in 30-second increments until smooth. Transfer to a flat plate or bowl. Dip the bottom of each bar into the chocolate so it goes up 1/8 of the sides of the bar. Allow excess to drip off and place on a piece of parchment paper. Drizzle them with remaining melted chocolate. Top with additional flaky sea salt if desired. Let the chocolate set at room temp or in the freezer and enjoy.2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!
Notes
Nut butter swaps: You can use peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter in place of cashew butter. Just make sure it’s not too runny or oily.
Gluten-free tip: Use certified gluten-free oats and double-check your rice cereal (some contain barley malt).
Chocolate tips: Use good-quality chocolate chips or bars. Dairy-free chips (like Enjoy Life) work great.
Storage: Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 54mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 5mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tips and Variations
- Want nut-free? Use sunflower seed butter instead of cashew butter.
- Make it dairy-free: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and skip the M&Ms or use a vegan candy.
- Storage: Keep bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months
FAQs
Do I have to dip the bars in chocolate?
Not at all! You can simply drizzle the chocolate or skip it completely for a lighter treat.
Can I use a different sweetener?
Yes, for another natural sweetener use maple syrup or brown rice syrup, though honey is best for that chewy texture. Brown sugar is a great substitute as well.
Kid-Approved and Mom-Approved
Whether you’re recreating your favorite childhood snack or making a better version for your kids’ lunchboxes, these homemade Kudos bars hit the sweet spot between indulgent and better-for-you. They’re easy to meal prep, make a great post-workout snack, and are guaranteed to bring back memories.
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