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.
These are incredible! I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter, but I made them for my partner. When they finished baking, I was just going to try a little piece. Holy cow! SO good. Only changes I made: doubled the peanut butter chips since I didn’t have chocolate, and added some peanuts for crunch. Thanks for this amazing recipe!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe, Janice!
These were perfect. My first time making granola bars with an egg. My whole family loved them and they’ll be great for the kids’ lunchboxes. With the oats and the peanut butter, they make for a filling, nutritional snack. I had no issues with crumbling upon cutting. I pressed them down really well with the back of a metal spatula (lightly sprayed with baking spray) both before – and immediately after – baking. Just press down and pull up carefully while the bars are still hot so you don’t make a mess with any of the melted chocolate. This has definitely replaced my Ina Garten granola bar recipe. Think I will try with some shredded coconut the next time around. Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m so thrilled to hear that you and your family enjoyed the recipe, Jill! Let me know if you try it with coconut and how it turns out!
Made these & recipe is a keeper. Son in law was snacking on them last night almost ate what was left. He wants to add coconut & other add ins. Round 2 of making them when I get back hm
I’m so happy to read this, Sharon!
So good! Kids loved it. Added chopped dates and sunflower seeds. I baked it an extra 10 minutes till it started to brown. Let it cool and then sliced it into bars. I made a double batch the second time. The first batch was gone with an hours.
Love reading this, Judy! So thrilled the granola bars were a hit!
I made a few changes; I used almond butter, toasted the oats and added sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, sunflower seeds and coconut. I always lightly toast the nuts as well to enhance flavor. I did not use sugar, but increased the honey to 1/2 cup. Baked for 17 minutes at 350 degrees.
Thanks for your note!
I made these gluten free last night, using gluten free oats and they were delicious!!!! My edges were not browned in the 15 minutes, so I kept putting them back in (approx. another 6 minutes until I saw them start to brown). I think next time, I won’t wait for the edges to brown and just take them out at the 15 minute mark and see how they do. They are still soft but a little harder than I think they are supposed be, but delicious!!!! I had a little bit of peanut butter chips leftover, so I melted those and drizzled a very thin line back and forth over the top when they cooled. Did I say they were delicious! :) Thanks so much for this recipe! My granddaughter is going to love them!
Yay! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Cathy! I hope your granddaughter enjoys the granola bars, too!
Can you make this with sugar free peanut butter and without the chips ? Just looking for straight peanut butter bar for my breakfast without chocolate lol
That *should* work! Let me know if you give it a shot, Daniel!
Easy to make and no yucky ingredients! My 13 year old loves to make them!
I’m so happy to read this, Michelle!
Never been a fan of PB chips. Don’t want to add the chocolate. Could you just increase the PB?
I’d recommend just leaving the mix-ins out!
Can I use quick oats?
That should work!
Update, my grandson,20 months old was busy snacking on it in the car to mom & family place . Recipe is a keeper
Yay! So happy to read this, Sharon!
I was nervous to attempt granola bars because I tried it once years ago (different recipe) and they were inedible and gross, lol! I tried these and they’re incredible. They smell good, look good and taste even better. It’s so good I think of it as a treat. Thank you!!
You are so welcome, Faith! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
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.
Can I use quick oats? Will it give the same results. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer! I wouldn’t recommend using quick oats for this recipe because they are much softer, so the results won’t be the same.
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!