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With very little work, you can turn pantry staples into healthy homemade granola bars!
Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bar
Unlike the packaged kind, these Peanut Butter Granola Bar are fresh, healthy, and made with the wholesome ingredients you choose! Their texture is soft, without being cookie-like and don’t crumble like so many homemade bars do.
The ingredient list allows for flexibility (don’t we all love that) and they can truly be customized to you and your child’s preferences. Dried fruits, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, even the peanut butter can be swapped for sunflower butter.
One of our favorite combinations are dried cranberries and apricots, with dark chocolate chips and maple syrup for sweetener. Just remember to keep measurements the same when swapping out some of the ‘add-ins’ and you have a never-ending variation of the beloved granola bar!
What is In a Peanut Butter Granola Bar
Many of these ingredients are pantry staples, so it’s quick to throw them together in a pinch. Here’s what you need:
- Rolled oats: this recipe yields better results with rolled old-fashioned oats. You’ll divide these and turn some into oat flour in the blender.
- Rice crispies: this kid-favorite cereal provides added crunch and texture.
- Brown sugar: to sweeten and bind the ingredients.
- Salt: to enhance the other flavors.
- Cinnamon: so good. a little goes a long way.
- Add-ins: mix and match dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips, up to 2 cups.
- Peanut butter: to help bind the granola bars. Make it nut-free by using sunflower butter.
- Butter: melted to combine the ingredients. You can use coconut oil to make these bars dairy-free.
- Vanilla: a tasty flavor everyone loves!
- Honey: you can use maple syrup or brown rice syrup instead.
- Water: adds a little moisture to the dry ingredients.
You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Granola Bars with Peanut Butter
Turn on the oven because if you can mix ingredients, you can make these Peanut Butter Granola Bars quick and easy! Follow the tips, and you’ll get a perfect classroom snack in a breeze! Just follow these steps:
- Prep
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper or grease it generously with oil or nonstick spray.
Place ⅓ cup of oats in a blender or food processor and blend until they have a flour-like texture. Transfer the oat flour into a large bowl. - Measure and Mix
To the large bowl with the oat flour, add the rest of the oats, rice crispies, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and your 2 cups of dried fruit, nuts, and/or chocolate chips
In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, melted butter, vanilla, honey, and water.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and with a wooden spoon, mix and combine. - Bake
Spread the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing firmly.
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown along the edges. These will still be soft when they come out of the oven, almost like they are underbaked.
Allow the pan and the bars to cool down completely. - Cut
Once fully cool, use a knife to cut a row of bars. If they seem a bit crumbly, refrigerate for 30 minutes to help them set - Store
Wrap individually and store in an airtight container.
How do Homemade Granola Bars Stick Together
Brown sugar combined with honey is the glue that helps dry ingredients stick together. While you can make the substitutions I suggest in this recipe, don’t omit these “sticky” ingredients.
Another hack to keep homemade granola bars from falling apart is pressing down when you spread the mix into the pan. This will help the mixture stick together while cooking.
Once done, allow the bars to cool down completely to avoid crumbling. If they still seem like they will fall apart after cooling, place them in the fridge for 30 minutes to help them set.
How to Store Homemade Bars
Once cool and cut, wrap each granola bar individually and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week and on the counter for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing these bars since the texture of the oats will change when thawing.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats, divided
- 1 cup rice crispies
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
- 2 cups add-ins (like nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit), mix & match your favorites
- ⅓ cup peanut butter, or nut-free butter
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup honey, maple syrup or brown rice syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper or grease it generously with oil or nonstick spray.
- Place ⅓ cup of oats in a blender or food processor and blend until they turn into flour. Transfer the oat flour into a large bowl.
Measure & mix:
- To the large bowl with the oat flour, add the rest of the oats, rice crispies, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and your 2 cups of dried fruit, nuts, and/or chocolate chips.
- In a medium bowl whisk together peanut butter, melted butter, vanilla, honey, and water.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and with a wooden spoon, mix and combine.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing firmly. Use a large piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap to make the process less sticky.
Bake:
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown along the edges. These will still be soft when they come out of the oven, almost like they are underbaked.
- Allow the pan and the bars to cool down completely. Once fully cool, use a knife to cut a row of bars. If they seem a bit crumbly, refrigerate for 30 mintues to help them set.
Store:
- Wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap or cover the pan. Keep them on the counter for 3 days or in the fridge for a week. I do not recommend freezing them.
Val says
How many bars do you get from this recipe?
MOMables-Laura says
This recipe yields about 9 bars in an 8 x 8-inch pan or 12 bars in a 9 x 9-inch pan.
Rebecca says
I was very wary about making this because of how many people said that theirs didn’t hold but i made it anyway and i’m so glad I did!! Absolutely delicious! I added 1 cup of mixed seeds and 1 cup of chocolate chips which all melted within it to make it almost gooey. I made sure to pack it down tightly in the pan and once cooked it didn’t break up at all, held together perfectly. Will be keeping some out for the week and putting the rest in the freezer and will defo be making again! My new go to granola recipe :D
MOMables - Laura says
I’m so glad you loved these Rebecca!
Tiffany Hinton says
Hi! We are currently living overseas in Hungary and can’t get any type of rice crispy type cereal. Any idea what I could use instead?
MOMables says
You can use some type of puffed cereal, low in sugar that is small.
Zoie says
I make these for my family and they love them! They always eat all the bars in one day so i triple the recipe. I’ve made this recipe so many times now. Thank you so much!
MOMables says
I’m so glad your family loves them Zoie!
Cindy Warren says
I love this recipe. I always use the peanut butter and have really good results with the bar holding together. I have substituted mashed banana for the butter and that seems fine. Thank you for sharing this; my husband frequently requests theses!
MOMables says
The banana sounds like a good idea! I’m glad you both loved this recipe!
Tammy says
If I use cheerios should I cut them smaller or should they be fine as is.
MOMables says
I’d do a coarse chop. I don’t know that they would hold as well hole.
Michelle says
Did anyone try freezing these yet? very curious to find out if they will freeze as I only have one child and we will not go through the whole batch before they start to grow penicillin! also wondering if you can freeze your banana chocolate bars.
thanks! love this site.
MOMables says
I freeze them in single sized portions wrapped in plastic wrap and then inside a zip bag. Up to a month.
Lindsey says
I made these today and they are super easy and yummy! I’m also having the issue of them falling apart though. I wonder if adding one egg would help with that?
Marisa says
Can peanut butter chips (morsels) be used instead of chocolate chips? I’m trying to imitate Trader Joe’s Peanut a Butter Granola Bars
MOMables says
of course!
travis says
Thank you for sharing this recipe, great idea and very tasty.
carolina says
Hi,
I tried this recipe yesterday and it tastes delicious!
Although I think it’s a bit overcooked and maybe too thin. But we will repeat for sure!
Crystal says
I followed the recipe perfectly and it was more of a granola crumble? It does taste really good, but isn’t there something else I could add that will make it stick together? Thanks
MOMables says
Crystal, were any substitutions made? these come out perfect every time in our kitchen and many others.
kabena says
Hello, I did try this twice the first time in a freestyle fashion and the next day to the letter,still crumbly , I put them in the fridge, I even used parchment paper. Is there snything else I can use as a sticking agent ? Wd like to have a chewy bar..they do taste good as a granol crumble. I used coconut oil to replace butter.thank u
Ashley says
These are our new favorite granola bars! I use coconut sugar, coconut oil, and brown rice syrup with 1 cup raisins, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. My husband and kids love them! They are so filling and a perfect “sweet treat” without being loaded with sugar. Thank you for all your great recipes. We’ve found several new family favorites since I discovered your site. I homeschool my kids, so I don’t have to pack lunches everyday, but I still love all of your ideas and recipes. :-)
MOMables says
Awesome Ashley! So glad your family loves them as much as Alison’s and mine.
Shautel says
So would you substitute 6 TB of coconut oil for the 6TB of butter? I think the first time I make them I make do 3/3 and see..But I think I will make them tomorrow while kids are at school, although we have a few Annies Bars left…I want to move away from buying them, since they are so easy to make..I actually think the chocolate rice krispies might be a welcomed difference :-)
Laura says
Absolutely. You can substitute the coconut oil for butter on this one. :)
Wendy says
How many calories per bar
Laura says
Wendy- We are more concerned with the use of “real” ingredients than caloric intake. Although that said, we would never post something where you are eating a stick of butter per serving! lol
There are many websites that calculate calories, you could plug the information in. Of course, it depends on how big one cuts the bars.
Michelle says
I have Quaker instant oats and old fashion oats. Would one of those work instead of rolled oats and can either of those be used for the oat flour???? Thanks for the recipe, I am excited to try it ASAP:-)
Laura says
Hi Michelle! “old fashioned oats” are the same as traditional rolled oats (give or take) use the old fashioned for the oat flour. it’s the most complete. you’ll love the bars!
Betsy C. says
I live in Spain and do not have access to Rice Crispies (well, I think I can get chocolate ones!). Any other ideas? Can I increase the oats (maybe pulsing them for a second or two for a different texture) or do you suggest another cereal? Also, when the edit was made someone forgot to add “vanilla” after “1 teaspoon”…just an FYI. Thank you for a great recipe!
Laura says
Hi Betsy! Funny thing is that I am from Spain! ha! yes, I know you get the chocolate crispies there but not the plain ones. You need an “air puffed” cereal. some natural stores (tiendas ecologicas) have air puffed rice. If not, something like the smacks or plain cheerios will work. their ‘puffiness’ separates the textures. if you add more oats the “bar” will be very dense.
Emily says
The vanilla wasn’t listed in the ingredients and how much. Looking forward to making these soon :))
Laura says
oops! thanks for noticing! just edited the recipe. 1tsp. enjoy!
Ben says
I would advise not using vanilla not good
MOMables says
I don’t see an issue with using real vanilla.
Sarah says
How much vanilla and do you think coconut oil could replace the butter? Thanks!
Laura says
1tsp vanilla (sorry, just edited recipe) and yes, I make mine with coconut oil instead of butter. enjoy!
Sarah says
These are so good! I’m making them a second time today and the coconut oil worked beautifully!
Brittany says
Can these be frozen? Do they thaw okay or do they get soggy?
Laura says
Hi Brittany! I’ve never frozen the granola bars. after 3-4 days they are typically gone! ;) if you make them and freeze them, will you let me know how they turn out?
betsy - SwimZip Sun Safe Swimwear says
please let me know too! I was thinking this might be a good idea to do before we decided to have a second baby – make many and freeze! Yummy Health homemade snacks I can pull out for a week or so! Thanks!