Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Name: Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ⅓ cup (87g) peanut butter; ¼ cup ( 50g) brown sugar; ¼ cup (60ml) honey; ¼ cup (56g) butter (melted); 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1½ cup (120g) old fashioned oats; ¼ cup (30g) sunflower seeds; ¼ cup (28g) ground flax seed (optional)

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These Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars are the perfect snack! They’re satisfying, easy to make, and much better than the store-bought stuff. The creamy peanut butter and sticky honey bind together the oats and sunflower seeds for the most delicious treat!

two Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars on a cooling rack and drizzled with chocolate

Why I Love Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

There’s a reason granola bars are a classic snack to throw in lunches, grab after school, or pack for soccer practice fuel. They’re delicious, nutritious, and will keep you full for a while! Pre-packaged granola bars can get pretty expensive, especially for the rate my family goes through them, so I developed a simple recipe to make sure we never run out.

These chewy peanut butter granola bars take the cake over some other granola snacks I’ve seen because it takes us back to basics. I mean, I adore a granola recipe like Apple Peanut Butter Granola Sandwiches, but there’s a time and place for those and a time and place for this quick on-the-go snack.

Plus, they’re satisfying and so easy to make. You can make them my way, or customize them yourself, but either way, I know you’ll love them!

Ingredients to Make Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

You’ll notice this list is made of real, recognizable ingredients! That’s part of why I love this recipe – you probably have most, if not all, of these ingredients in your pantry already. These homemade granola bars have no hidden ingredients.

You’ll need old-fashioned oats, sunflower seeds, brown sugar, and ground flax seed (if you’d like – this is optional for additional nutrients!).

Then, to bind the dry ingredients together you’ll need peanut butter, honey, melted butter, and vanilla.

That’s it! Simple and tasty!

A Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bar drizzled with chocolate and placed on a piece of parchment paper with others in the background on a cooling rack

How To Make Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Step 1: Combine Wet Ingredients and Sugar

Start by combining the wet ingredients and sugar together first. Add the peanut butter, sugar, honey, butter, and vanilla to a small bowl.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed.

Step 3: Add Wet to Dry

Mix the peanut butter mixture into the oat mixture and then press it into a greased 8×8 baking pan.

Step 4: Bake

Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Allow it to cool completely before cutting it into bars.

FAQs

How do I store homemade granola bars?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. I like to cut them once they’ve cooled and wrap them individually in foil before storing them in an airtight container. That way we can just grab them and throw them in the lunch box.

How long will they last?

These granola bars will last about one week in an air-tight container.

Why are my granola bars falling apart?

It sounds like they didn’t cool long enough after baking. If you try to cut them before they’re fully cooled, they don’t set into one solid sheet and then they crumble when you cut them.

Can I use natural peanut butter?

You can, but you may need to play around with the measurements of other ingredients like the oats. Natural peanut butter can be runnier which means it’ll take longer to set.

Variations on Granola Bars

Add marshmallows and chocolate chips for s’mores granola bars!
Try adding nuts to make this Almond Granola Bar recipe.
If you love Reese’s as much as we do, add chocolate chips to this recipe!
Incorporate dried fruit and M&Ms for a trail mix bar.
Chop pretzels into small chunks to add a little saltiness.
Cranberry and white chocolate are a great combination! Drizzle the white chocolate on top for extra flair.
Same with classic chocolate and chunks of chopped cherry!
Make Cheerio Granola Bars for a yummy breakfast version.

More Recipes Like This

I hope you and your kids love these granola bars! They’re a great family treat and I’m excited to share them with all of you!

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