Description
Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars offer a delightful blend of wholesome oats, nutty peanut butter, and sweet honey. Crisp, chewy, and packed with energy, these bars provide a perfect snack for busy mornings or afternoon cravings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 3 cups (700 ml) old-fashioned rolled oats (use verified gluten-free, if needed)
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) natural peanut butter
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) honey or maple syrup
- 2 whole eggs (or flax eggs for vegan option)
Mix-ins and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) mini chocolate chips
- Pinch of salt (omit if peanut butter is salted)
Optional Add-ins:
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Chia seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dried fruit
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and soften the peanut butter by microwaving for 10-15 seconds until easily drizzleable.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients, ensuring even distribution of components.
- Carefully line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing slight overhang for easy removal.
- Transfer the mixed ingredients into the prepared pan, using firm, consistent pressure to create a compact, uniform layer.
- If using chocolate chips, gently sprinkle them across the surface and press them lightly into the mixture.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-17 minutes, monitoring closely after 14 minutes to ensure the center is fully set and edges are lightly golden.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack, allowing the granola bars to cool completely at room temperature.
- After cooling, use the parchment paper edges to lift the entire batch out of the pan.
- Using a sharp knife, slice into 16 precise squares, creating uniform granola bars for serving.
Notes
- Warm peanut butter slightly to achieve a smooth, easy-to-mix consistency that helps bind ingredients perfectly.
- Use quick-cooking oats for a softer texture, ensuring the bars hold together without crumbling when cut.
- Press mixture extremely firmly into the pan to create dense, compact bars that won’t fall apart during handling.
- Customize by swapping peanut butter with almond or sunflower seed butter for nut-free or different dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg