Skip the store-bought snacks and whip up a family favorite recipe for soft and chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars.
As I near the final countdown to baby #2’s arrival, I’ve got one craving and one craving only on my mind: all things chewy!
It may seem odd to crave a texture rather than a taste, but there’s just something about chewy foods that has driven both of my pregnancies. Baby #1 was all about the…
bagels! And with just a few short weeks left until we meet our newest addition, Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars have been on the regular rotation at our house.
Much like their culinary cousin, Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, this DIY snack steers clear of any crispiness in favor of every element I’ve ever known a spectacular granola bar to encompass: chewy, chewy, chewy andddd more chewiness.
I like a granola bar that you can really sink your teeth into. These bars satisfy every chewy craving imaginable, with the added bonus that they’re packed with peanut butter for some good ol’ fashioned protein.
The p.b. flavor is courtesy of both the creamy good stuff and peanut butter chips. Toss in a few chocolate chips for a touch of sweetness and you, too, may be destined to skip the store-bought granola bars for good.
Looking for more DIY granola? Don’t miss my go-to recipe for Easy Homemade Granola that can be customized with all of your favorite chopped nuts and dried fruits for the ultimate make-ahead breakfast-slash-snack.
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (regular or reduced fat)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup peanut butter chips
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 13x9-inch nonstick baking pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil and vanilla extract with a handheld beater until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate medium bowl, stir together the oats, brown sugar and salt. Add the oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture and stir until well combined then stir in the peanut butter chips and mini chocolate chips.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan, pressing it into an even layer.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing the granola into bars and serving.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
Hey, can this recipie be modified to make the bars crunchy ? If so please can you please help me out with the substitution of ingredients ?
Hi Oliver! This recipe specifically yields soft and chewy bars so unfortunately I don’t have modifications for making them crunchy unless you try baking them in a larger pan so the mixture is thinner and increasing the bake time.
Hello- these taste great! How do you store them?
So glad you’re loving the recipe, Aimee! Store them in an airtight container at room temp.
These are so great love so much better than store-bought.
I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Susan!
I made these for the second time last night. I followed the recipe except I used crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy. I baked them a bit longer to get the golden brown edges, probably my oven. The first time I made them I thought they are okay, but decided that I should individually wrap and freeze them so they wouldn’t get stale, since it was just me eating one a day. Wow, after finishing the first batch I have decided that they are really good and I don’t want to go back to store bought! I also used a large pancake turner sprayed with Pam to press the mixture into the pan, which worked great. Thanks for the recipe!
Love reading this, Karen! I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the granola bars!
Excellent granola bars! I used half the amount of brown sugar and it was still delicious. Next time i will do without the brown sugar completely.
We loved this recipe! Thank you!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
I made the granola bars and added flax seed, rasin and nuts. Wow is was great.
Excellent! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Kathy!
These bars are super delicious and easy to make!!!!! 5 stars
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Kay!
Very good. Giving them as Christmas treats this year.
Edible gifts are the best gifts! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Sharon!
These look great! Can coconut oil be substituted for the canola?
That should work! Can’t wait to read your results, Rhonda! :)
Yes. That’s what I did. I just melted the coconut oil first.
These granola bars are super easy to make and I bet you have all of the ingredients on hand! Wondering why I have purchased granola bars from the store for the past 25 years! SMH! They are delicious!
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Brenda!
don’t have peanut b utter chips can I just use more chocolate chips
Absolutely!