Homemade Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars Recipe
These homemade easy peanut butter granola bars are a delicious and nutritious snack made with rolled oats, natural peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), and optional add-ins like chocolate chips and nuts. Perfectly baked to a chewy texture, these bars are versatile, gluten-free, and can be adapted for vegan diets using flax eggs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use verified gluten-free, if needed)
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter*
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 whole eggs (use flax eggs for vegan-friendly**)
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
- Pinch of salt (omit if peanut butter is salted)
- Optional add-ins: walnuts, pecans, almonds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or dried fruit
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) to prepare for baking the granola bars.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, natural peanut butter (warmed slightly if solid), honey or maple syrup, eggs (or flax eggs), and optional ingredients such as chocolate chips and nuts. Mix thoroughly to get an even consistency.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Line a 9×9 inch baking dish or pan with parchment paper. This step is crucial to easily remove the bars after baking.
- Press Mixture: Transfer the mixture into the lined baking dish. Firmly press the mixture into an even layer; pressing firmly helps the bars hold together better. If using chocolate chips, sprinkle them on top and press them into the surface.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes. Begin checking at 14 minutes to avoid overbaking; the bars are ready when the center is set and edges start to brown.
- Cool Completely: Remove from oven and set the pan on a cooling rack. Let the bars cool fully before cutting to ensure they hold their shape well.
- Cut Bars: Using a sharp, non-serrated knife, cut the bars into 16 squares by pressing the knife straight down; avoid dragging the blade to maintain bar integrity.
- Serve and Enjoy: Your peanut butter granola bars are ready to enjoy! For best texture, store them in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use a nut butter with a drizzly consistency to prevent bars from becoming dry. For peanut-free versions, substitute with other nut or seed butters.
- For vegan substitution, replace the 2 whole eggs with 2 flax eggs made by mixing 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed with 5 tablespoons water, letting it set for 5-10 minutes before adding.
- Cut bars using a sharp, non-serrated knife without dragging to avoid tearing the bars.
- Bars can be cut into 12-14 longer bars if preferred, but nutritional information is based on 16 squares.
- If bars don’t bind well with maple syrup, try using honey for better stickiness.
- Add 1/2 cup protein powder (unflavored, vanilla, or chocolate) for extra protein, reducing oats by 1/2 cup accordingly.
Keywords: peanut butter granola bars, homemade granola bars, healthy snack, gluten-free snack, easy granola bars, baked granola bars, vegan granola bars
