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Home » recipes » Dessert » Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Posted:8/4/21
Updated:9/27/21
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These easy no bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars are made with 9 simple ingredients and packed with flavor! Enjoy the sweet and salty treats as an easy snack, for breakfast, or dessert.

peanut butter with chocolate chip granola bars on blue background.

Homemade peanut butter granola bars

Did you know you can make granola bars at home? It’s true! Instead of wasting money on sugary storebought bars, make these tasty Peanut Butter Granola Bars in just a few minutes. Every bite is bursting with sweet and salty flavors thanks to the delicious mix of peanut butter, pretzels, oats, chocolate chips, and honey. 

I’m a huge fan of peanut butter and could put it in everything I eat (like these Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies and Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream). I especially love it in no bake oat bars because it adds a delightful chewiness and nutty flavors to each bite. Even if you have an aversion to nuts, you can easily swap it with just-as-delicious seed butter!

This recipe is naturally egg free and made with simple, easy to find, and budget-friendly ingredients. There’s plenty of room for substitutions and fun add-ins, so feel free to get creative! It isn’t hard to make the most delicious and healthy after-school snack of your dreams.

peanut butter granola bars cut up into bars in baking dish.

How to make peanut butter granola bars from scratch

These healthy peanut butter cereal bars are so easy to put together. You don’t even need to turn on your oven! This is how it’s done:

Mix the oats, cereal, and pretzels together in a bowl.

white bowl filled with pretzels, rice cereal and oats.

In a saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter, brown sugar, honey, and peanut butter together. Turn the heat down once the mixture starts to bubble and keep stirring. Finish by stirring in the vanilla.

Pour the hot syrup over the dry mixture and stir until everything is well coated. Transfer it to your prepared 8×8 pan and press it down with a spatula. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.

8x8 pan filled with granola bar batter with chocolate chips on top.

Cover the dish and refrigerate the granola for 2 hours. When it’s set, cut the granola into bars and enjoy!

3 granola bars on blue background.

Can I double the recipe?

You can easily double or even triple the number of granola bars you make so you always have a delicious homemade snack on hand. To do so, I recommend using a 9×13 baking dish so the bars aren’t too thick. Double or triple each of the ingredients and store the extras in the fridge and freezer.

Homemade granola bar tips

  • The newer the peanut butter, the better. Peanut butter at the top of a fresh jar will be much easier to work with than the stuff at the bottom.
  • Use all natural peanut butter if you can. The only ingredient in all natural peanut butter is peanuts, meaning there won’t be any added sugars or preservatives to affect the flavor of the granola bars.
  • These need to set in the fridge for at least 2 hours. The bars will fall apart if you cut the time too short.
granola bars with pretzels and chocolate chips on blue background.

Substitutions and add-ins

  • Gluten free – Make sure the quick oats are certified gluten free to make gluten free homemade granola bars.
  • Nut free – Sunflower seed butter, tahini, or pumpkin seed butter would be delicious nut free alternatives to peanut butter.
  • Vegan – Replace the butter with vegan butter or coconut oil, and honey with agave syrup or maple syrup.
  • Add-ins – Protein powder, chia seeds, raisins, hemp hearts, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, coconut, colorful sprinkles, white chocolate chips, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and more.
peanut butter granola bar on blue background next to white mug filled with tea.

Storing and freezing granola bars

To store, keep the cut granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. 

To freeze, place the cut granola bars in an airtight container and wrap each one in parchment paper so they don’t stick together. Freeze for up to 3 months. Before eating, let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

More homemade granola bar recipes

  • Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
  • Cake Batter Granola Bars
  • Rainbow Crunch Granola Bars
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars

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These easy no bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars are made with 9 simple ingredients and packed with flavor! Enjoy the sweet and salty treats as an easy snack, for breakfast, or dessert.
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

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These easy no bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars are made with 9 simple ingredients and packed with flavor! Enjoy the sweet and salty treats as an easy snack, for breakfast, or dessert.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
  • 3/4 cup pretzels chopped
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Spray a 8×8 pan lightly with cooking spray.
  • Mix the oats, rice cereal and pretzels up in a large bowl.
  • In a small saucepan add butter, brown sugar, honey and peanut butter and cook on medium high heat until butter melts. Once it begins to boil, change heat to low and stir for 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from burner and stir in vanilla.
  • Pour the hot butter mixture over the oats mixture in the bowl. Stir well, making sure that oats and cereal are fully coated.
  • Pour the mixture into the greased pan and push down with a spatula to flatten it. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top evenly. Use your spatula to press them down so they are embedded in the bars.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator to set for 2 hours (or until not crumbly). Cut into granola bar sizes and enjoy!

Notes

If you would like to make a larger batch, use a 9×13 pan and double all the ingredients. 
Course:Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine:American
Keyword:peanut butter granola bars
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

 

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  1. Donna says

    September 4, 2022 at 2:23 pm

    Can l use pretzel crisps instead of regular pretzels?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      September 5, 2022 at 10:53 am

      You sure can!

      Reply
  2. Kim starling says

    February 19, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Could I use whole rolled parable instead of quick oats?

    Reply
    • Kim starling says

      February 19, 2017 at 2:36 pm

      That’s oats*

      Reply
    • Pamela says

      February 19, 2017 at 3:13 pm

      Hey Kim, yes you can use whole rolled oats for this recipe. If at all possible I’d suggest you throw them in a food processor first to break them up some as the texture will be different if you just use them whole. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Joyce miller says

    September 16, 2013 at 4:12 pm

    hey, What is your cardsapp brand number? thanks

    Reply
  4. Monica says

    May 31, 2013 at 4:46 pm

    Oh man, can I have one of these right now? I love the generous chocolate chips on top and how well they cut, too! I love all the combinations here of salty, sweet, crunchy, PB, chocolate…did I miss anything?! : ) Looks great!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 31, 2013 at 5:20 pm

      Hahaha, I would love one right now too! If you make them, feel free to share. 😉

      Reply
  5. Lisa @ silkandcookie says

    May 27, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    I love this idea. Great to take on a walk or picnic! so delicious!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 27, 2013 at 4:31 pm

      Just made them a few nights ago for game night.. a hit there too!

      Reply
  6. Elise @ Paint Chips & Frosting says

    May 22, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    I love the combination of sweet and salty! 🙂 These look so delicious!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 22, 2013 at 7:38 pm

      Thanks Elise! Im a big sweet + salty fan so I think this works perfect for those cravings!

      Reply
  7. DessertForTwo says

    May 14, 2013 at 8:11 am

    These sound fantastic! I need these in my life!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 14, 2013 at 12:43 pm

      I hope you give them a try!

      Reply
  8. Grace @ Perpetual Nomming says

    May 14, 2013 at 2:00 am

    This looks really good. I love anything peanut butter and chocolate chip!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm

      Me too, 2 of my favorite combinations!

      Reply
  9. Kelly @ Life made Sweeter says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:59 pm

    Oh my goodness, these have everything I love combined into one bar! They look heavenly but dangerous! Hehe I don’t think I could stop at just one either;)

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 10, 2013 at 11:43 pm

      I know, if there is any in our house, I will eat them. I need a lock system that will only distribute me one a day!

      Reply
  10. [email protected] sallys baking addiction says

    May 10, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    All of my favorite things in one! Salty, sweet, peanut butter, chocolate, pretzels, granola. Perfect! I’d love one right about now 🙂

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 10, 2013 at 8:45 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Sally. I would too, hehehe. <3

      Reply
  11. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

    May 10, 2013 at 11:18 am

    These look SO delicious. I am a big fan of the sweet and salty combination. Also, being able to eat granola bars that do not contain a bunch of added, unnecessary ingredients is a HUGE plus!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm

      I’m making a bit batch for some friends next week. They make everyone happy!

      Reply
  12. Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:14 am

    Now that’s my kind of granola bar! Peanut butter, pretzel and chocolate chips? YUM! Sign me up please. 🙂

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 10, 2013 at 1:18 am

      *Sends you some virtual granola bars* 🙂

      Reply
  13. Deanna says

    May 9, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    When I make granola bars, I always have trouble getting them to stick together. Looks like these stay together really well so I’m excited to try making them!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 10, 2013 at 12:56 am

      Hey Deanna, these definitely will stick together nicely. When I don’t mix properly so all the dry ingredients have the butter mixture on or don’t cool long enough in the fridge, then I find they are crumbly. Hope you enjoy them!

      Reply
  14. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says

    May 9, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    Pretzels, peanut butter and chocolate are so good together. These granola bars look like heaven! I definitely want to try these, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 9, 2013 at 5:46 pm

      I hope you make them Sarah, they’re so yummy.

      Reply
  15. miss messy says

    May 9, 2013 at 9:41 am

    what a combination! these sound amazing 🙂

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      May 9, 2013 at 12:46 pm

      I’m dreaming of one now…

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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