These soft-baked peanut butter granola bars use peanut butter and honey to deliver a big dose of protein and energy. Kids will love this simple 5-ingredient snack!
Healthy Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Not all granola bars are created equal — some contain as much sugar as a candy bar! However, these healthy Peanut Butter Granola Bars are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth, without all the added sugar!
Why I love these Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars:
- High in protein
- Made with whole grains
- Naturally sweetened
- Good source of fiber
- Provide healthy “good” fats
- Only 5 simple, real food ingredients!
Besides all the healthy benefits, these easy granola bars are super satisfying! That crunch, the rich peanut butter flavor with a touch of sweetness, and of course, that chocolate topping totally hit the spot for me.
Oh, and the kids love them too!
Start the day with one of these peanut butter granola bars for a quick and healthy breakfast, grab one for an on-the-go snack, or pop on in the kiddo’s lunchbox for a treat you can feel good about serving. They’re perfect to make ahead for busy days!
If you’re looking for a whole foods indulgence that will totally satisfy that sweet tooth… without inducing a sugar-rush, these healthy peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars are just the ticket!
Love granola?? Be sure to try our Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls too!
Ingredients
For your convenience, I’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the products used to make this recipe; disclosure policy available here.
- 2 cups steel-cut oats, rolled oats or whole grain oats
- 1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs or chocolate chips
Kitchen Tools Used
- Non-slip mixing bowls
- Parchment paper
- 9-inch Square pan or baking dish
Instructions
To Prep: Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking pan with a square of parchment paper and set aside.
- Stir the oats, honey, salt and peanut butter together with spatula.
- Mix until everything is well combined and sticks together like a thick batter. Taste and adjust the sweetness or add a pinch of salt, as needed.
- Press the oat mixture into an even layer in the prepared baking pan, and bake for 12-15 minutes. Immediately sprinkle cocoa nibs or mini chocolate chips over top of the granola bars. Gently press chocolate chips into granola so they’ll stay in place when you cut and serve. Use caution, as the bars may still be hot.
- Allow to cool before cutting into squares. Once the bars are almost room temperature, you can place the pan in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can You Use Instead of Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter works great as a binding agent and it is tasty too! However, if allergies are a concern, you can substitute with another type of nut butter (such as almond butter or cashew butter) or even nut-free sunbutter (made with sunflower seeds).
Why Won’t My Granola Bars Stick Together?
There are a couple reasons that granola bars may crumble apart:
- The ratio of wet to dry ingredients is off. The honey and peanut butter in this recipe work like a “glue” and keep the oats and dry ingredients from falling apart. If you try to reduce the amount of peanut butter, for example, the recipe might not work correctly.
- The granola bars did not have time to cool enough. It is important to let the granola bars cool completely before trying to remove them from the pan or cutting them. If they are at all warm when you try to move/cut them, the granola bars may not stick together as well.
Be sure to stick to the recipe and allow your granola bars ample time to cool and set before serving. But also keep in mind that these are homemade soft-baked bars, which might not be as hard as store-bought granola bars (and that is a good thing in my book!)
And even if they do crumble a bit, they will still taste fabulous and be full of flavor!
How Long Do Homemade Granola Bars Stay Fresh?
Store your homemade granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
If you’d like to make a batch ahead of time and freeze for later, they will last for up to 2 months in the freezer. Cut into individual servings, wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and place in a freezer bag. That way you can thaw out one at a time as needed.
Is This Recipe Gluten Free?
Steel cut oats are naturally gluten-free; however, you may want to check labels to make sure that all ingredients are free from potential cross-contamination, if that is a concern.
Is This Recipe Vegan?
Because honey is produced by bees, it could be considered an animal product and not vegan-friendly. If looking for a vegan substitute you could try date honey or brown rice syrup. I haven’t personally tried these, so I don’t know if they would hold the granola together quite as well as real honey. But they will taste great!
Cocoa nibs are 100% vegan, so they are perfectly ok to use in this recipe in place of chocolate chips (which contain dairy). You could also use non-dairy chocolate chips or even dried fruit, such as raisins.
More of our Favorite Easy Kids Snack Recipes
- Honey Nut Cheerio Balls
- Gluten-free Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Under the Sea Themed Fruit Snacks
- Healthy Green Gummy Snacks
- Homemade Fruit Roll Ups (2 Ingredients)
- Grape Juice Gummy Bears
- Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls
Grab a free printable copy of our Peanut Butter Granola Bars recipe:
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Healthy Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Equipment
- Square Baking Pan
- Mixing bowl
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel-cut oats (or rolled oats)
- 1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs (or mini chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking pan with a square of parchment paper and set aside.
- Stir the oats, honey, salt and peanut butter together. Taste and adjust the sweetness or add a bit more salt to help round out the natural peanut butter.
- Press the oat mixture into the prepared pan, and bake for 12-15 minutes. Immediately sprinkle or press the nibs or chocolate chips over top of the pb bliss bars. (Careful, bars may be hot)
- Allow to cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin our homemade peanut butter granola bars on Pinterest:
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Kellie says
I will definitely try these protein balls! They look so good and I’m trying to add more protein to my diet. Thanks for sharing! 💕
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
They definitely are an easy way to sneak protein into your day (and prevent that mid-morning energy crash!) Hope you love them!