Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars (no bake)

Chewy peanut butter granola bars made with healthy ingredients and no refined sugar! Full of peanut butter flavor, easy to prepare (no oven required!) and perfect for a healthier treat.

Granola bars are a staple in our house, and I love making my own from scratch. With 7 homemade granola bars on my site, we have a repertoire of flavors, but I find myself coming back to these chewy peanut butter granola bars time and time again.

Chewy and full of peanut butter flavor, these homemade granola bars are so simple to prepare, and I love knowing exactly which ingredients go into them.

The kids love them, and they are a delicious healthier treat to keep stored away in the fridge.

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped these granola bars. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.

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Ingredients you'll need

• peanut butter- make sure to use all natural peanut butter (aka: made from just peanuts and maybe a touch of salt). Avoid anything with added ingredients like oils, as this will prevent the bars from setting properly.
• coconut oil- I use refined coconut oil, as this does not have a strong coconut flavor
• honey- which helps to sweeten and bind the bars. Unfortunately maple syrup does not work in this recipe and other liquid sweeteners have not been tested.
• vanilla extract- adds depth of flavor
• rolled oats- which may also be called large flake or old fashioned oats. Avoid steel cut or quick oats.
• almonds- optional, to add nutrition and texture to the bars.
• chocolate chips- mini chocolate chips work best in this recipe as they help distribute the chocolate flavor throughout the bars and are not hard to chew when cold, unlike the regular sized ones.

Recipe tips

Avoiding dirty dishes

For this recipe, I've weighed out all the ingredients for you. This means that you can simply place your saucepan onto a kitchen scale, and pour the honey, coconut oil, and peanut butter directly into the pot, rather than struggling to scrape them into and out of measuring cups.

The most important step

The critical step in these ranola bars is to simmer the honey, peanut butter and coconut oil. This helps thicken the honey, making the bars stick together. If you skip this step, you should expect crumbly bars.

Combine the three ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. When the mixture starts bubbling (as shown in the photo above), start your timer for exactly 1 minute. When the time is up, remove the pot from the heat, stir in the vanilla and salt, and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.

Parchment trick

For these granola bars, it is necessary to line a baking dish with parchment paper to help get them out once they are set. If you struggle getting parchment to stay put in the pan, here's my trick:

1. cut parchment to fit the pan
2. spritz the pan with a bit of oil --> this helps the parchment stay put so you can work it into the corners
3. secure with binder clips

Extra flay-vah

If you want to take extra time to get even more flavor out of these granola bars, take a few minutes to toast your oats and almonds in the oven. Here's how to do it:

• heat oven to 350°F
• spread oats and almonds out on a baking sheet
• toast for 10-15 minutes until oats are golden and fragrant and almonds are lightly browned

FAQ

Can I swap the peanut butter for almond butter?

Yes! You can swap for any all-natural nut butter. Make sure it is well-stirred and drippy, and that the only ingredients are the nuts (and maybe some salt).

Can I make these granola bars vegan?

Unfortunately, maple syrup does not work to bind these bars, and I have not tried any other liquid sweeteners.

What else can I add to these granola bars?

Feel free to swap the almonds for your favorite nuts or seeds. You can also add in dried cranberries or blueberries, cinnamon, or other add ins. Find 7 granola bars here!

How long do these granola bars last?

Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also freeze them for 1-2 months.

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