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These chocolate peanut butter granola bars are a homemade version of your favorite store bought bars. If you love chocolate chips, peanut butter and granola, you’ll love these healthy bars that are prefect for breakfast or snacking on-the-go.
This recipe is from Bless This Mess Family Dinner Made Easy. Melissa is a mom of 5 living in Southern Utah who created this guide for 8 weeks of fuss-free summertime meals and snacks like these homemade granola bars. I love that each week comes with a complete meal plan and grocery list! This is how she makes the no-bake bars.
Be sure to check out my other recipes for homemade granola, kid friendly breakfasts, and snacking tips for kids!
RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL
How to make granola bars
- Heat the honey, butter and brown sugar in a pot on a medium heat.
- Allow the mixture to settle and form little small bubbles.
- Turn off the heat and add the vanilla, salt and peanut butter.
- Mix until everything is well blended.
- Add the oats and peanuts, and stir to combine.
- Make sure all the oats are moist and covered by the peanut butter mixture.
- Place the mixture into a parchment lined 9×9 baking tray, and press down firmly.
- Let the mixture cool, and then press in the mini chocolate chips.
- Set in the fridge for a couple hours and then cut into bars.
Tips for making homemade granola bars
- Make these bars thicker by making them in an 8×8-inch pan. Since these are made for kids and they hold well together, I like this thinner bars made with the larger pan.
- Press mixture very firmly into the prepared baking pan. You really need to pack it in tightly using a rubber spatula or back of a greased measuring cup. This will help them stick together in the end so they don’t crumble.
- Don’t skip the cooling process. Not only does cooling them allow the butter to harden so all the ingredients stick well together, but it also makes it easier to cut.
- Use parchment paper for storage. It helps to wrap them in parchment paper or place thin pieces of parchment paper between the layers so they don’t stick together.
Frequently asked questions
Once you cut the bars, keep them in an airtight container, with the layers separated by parchment. Store them in the fridge and they will keep well for up to 7 days.
Yes, these bars freeze really well and will keep for up to 3 months.Freeze them solid on a baking sheet and then transfer to a freezer bag or container. Thaw the bars at room temperature for about an hour before enjoying.
You can make these bars vegan by substituting the honey for maple syrup and using a plant based butter alternative or coconut oil. These bars are also gluten-free, if you have an intolerance, be sure to use GF certified oats.
More bars recipes:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake)
- Breakfast Oatmeal Bars
- Vegan Lemon Bars
- Healthy Rice Krispie Treats
- Easy Pumpkin Bars
- Vegan Protein Bars
- Caramel Apple Granola Bars
- Honey Nut Cereal Bars
- No Bake Honey Oat Granola Bars
If you’ve tried this feel good Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup roasted salted peanuts
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper so that some of the parchment hangs over two sides. Spray with cooking spray.
- Add the honey, butter, and brown sugar to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Let the mixture come to a light bubble for 1 minute while stirring.
- When the butter mixture is ready, remove it from the heat, and stir in the vanilla, salt, and peanut butter.
- Add the oats and the peanuts to the saucepan, and stir to combine. Make sure none of the oats are dry.
- Place all of the oat mixture in the prepared pan. Use a rubber spatula or the bottom of a greased measuring cup to press firmly the mixture into the pan very well.
- Let this cool for about 10 minutes before sprinkling the mini chocolate chips over the top. Press the chocolate chips into the granola bars with the bottom of a measuring cup.
- Let the granola bars cool for at least 2 hours. Lift the bars from the pan using the edges of the parchment, and place them on a cutting board. Cut into desired shape and size and serve.
Notes
- Instead of butter, you can use coconut oil.
- Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup, but the honey adheres better.
- Instead of peanut butter, you can use other nut butters or sunflower butter.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Hi, if you bake these for 15-20 mins do you think they may crumble less?
Hi Davin, they will most likely turn into granola then bc the moisture will be removed. Did you find them to be too crumbly as is?