These 4 Ingredient Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars are my favorite snacks, hands down. I think it’s the chewy combined with the crunchy nuts. I think it’s the salty mixed with the honey sweetness. I think it’s the carbs. Oh, it’s all of that. That’s why this recipe is the one I’ve made the most in my life.
(the drizzle is for my son:)
Did any of you grow up with those packaged chewy granola bars? I don’t recall a day going without them once I got hooked. Then one day early in our marriage I was reading, Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy, about how she made her own granola bars. Woh. No way. ‘Granola bars were only something you could buy’, I thought. But I thought wrong. I was quite intrigued but didn’t try to make any granola bars just yet. It wasn’t my time. I wasn’t ready for such a big jump, going from all processed and prepackaged food to homemade. Not just yet…
Well, for a many years I thought I was eating healthy when I was eating those prepackaged granola bars. Then I started learning a little about real, whole foods. Boy was my thinking wrong with all of those artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and ingredients developed in a science lab than you can’t even pronounce.
I finally took the dive and haven’t looked back since. For years I made a granola bar recipe from All Recipes.com (which I can’t find now) that had several ingredients. The recipe was great, but after several years I decided it was high time to start experimenting. I wanted a healthier version. I also wanted a recipe with as few ingredients as possible. I tweaked and tweaked. The original recipe had honey. Why did it need brown sugar, too. Baking soda? The bars were just fine without, thank you very much. And butter? Well with peanut butter, there was no need (although we do like butter, don’t get me wrong). I finally came up with this recipe: the 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars Recipe, and we’ve been making it for years. Chewy, moist, real wholesome goodness. Honey sweetened. What’s not to love?
I think in the last 2 to 3 years we’ve only ran out of our peanut butter granola bars once. I keep these stocked all of the time. And I usually make them in tandem with my 4 ingredient almond butter granola bars.
We love these granola bars so much, we love sharing them as gifts too. Many people are hard to buy gifts for and most don’t need more stuff. Many years ago, I figured everyone needs to eat and just started giving people these granola bars for gifts.
**Pics updated 1/16.
4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned oats gluten-free if needed
- 1 cup honey use agave for vegan *see note below
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter *see note below
- 1/2 cup peanuts
- optional 3 T TriMix (1 T Wheat Germ, 1 T Wheat Bran, 1 T Oat Bran) omit for g-f
- optional 1 T each of ground flax seed, hemp seeds, chia seeds
- optional 1/4 cup peanut butter chips or chocolate chips
- *now I make the recipe with 3/4 cup of honey and 1 cup of peanut butter
Instructions
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Grease the bottom and sides 9x13 pan well.
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
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Combine all ingredients VERY well in a bowl. Use an electric mixer if possible like a Kitchen Aid Mixer.
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Mash the granola bars into the pan well. This is the most important step!! If you don't mash it, they won't hold together well. We use a potato masher to solidify this peanut butter goodness.
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Bake for 17 minutes or until the edges barely start browning.
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Cool for 10 minutes, and cut into bars.
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Store in a cool dry place for up to a month.
Have you tried Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Granola Bars?
And then here is a version of this No Bake Chocolate PB Granola Bar that was the best culinary mistake I’ve ever made.
Do you need other healthier snack ideas?
- Raw Vegan 3 Ingredient Lara Bar Ball Recipe
- My Favorite Way to Eat A Banana
- Easy Trail Mix Recipe
- Easy Granola Recipe
- Homemade Fruit Leather in the Oven
Parrish (Life With The Crust Cut Off) says
This looks awesome!!!
Carissa Houston says
These look great for me – my kids hate peanut butter for some weird reason. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Sonja says
Hi Carissa, I also make almond butter granola bars that I like better than these peanut butter granola bars. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for visiting!
LEXIE ROBINSON says
MY MORNING HAVE BEEN SO BUSY LATELY AND SOMETIMES BREAKFAST DOESN’T HAPPEN. I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GETTING SOME QUICK BREAKFAST IDEAS. I THOUGHT I’D HAVE TO BUY GRANOLA BARS. HAHA THANKS FOR SHARING!
Sonja says
Hi Lexie. Perfect! These would make a great quick breakfast! Thanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoy!
Jessica says
I am making these today for my kids! They look great! 🙂
Sonja says
Thanks, Jessica. We always make sure we keep these granola bars stocked. So easy to make and much healthier than what you get in the stores.
Milehimama says
These look delicious! I’m going to try them out in our solar oven because I can’t wait until it’s cool enough to bake to make them!
Sonja says
That sounds neat! I hope you enjoy, and thank you for visiting!
Kim says
I can’t wait to make these for my peanut butter loving kids! I love that they are so natural. Thanks so much for linking up to the Weekend Potluck with us last week. Can’t wait to see what you bring this week! ~Kim
Janel Gradowski says
My son loves peanut butter and granola bars. I’ll make these for him soon. So much healthier than the store-bought version!
Emily Cook says
Great idea! I pinned it for later- this goes great with our recent health kick!
Tara @ Simply Made Home says
This recipe deserves a pin on pinterest to try later!
Mackenzie says
These look great! Thank you for sharing on Saturday Show and Tell. I hope you’ll join us again this week with some more great ideas! -Mackenzie http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com
Carole says
They sound pretty simple to make. I found this through Turning the Clock Back’s What’s Cooking Wednesday. I have linked in an attempt at meatballs. Have a lovely week.
Amee says
Love this recipe!!!! You are a feature on my Fit Inspirations post today at Amee’s Savory Dish! 🙂
Sonja says
Thanks so much!! I always keep this on hand because they are such a great healthy quick snack.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Just saw your recipe on Amee’s Savory Dish. Sounds so easy and yummy. I want to make these for my little guy!
Sonja says
Oh good! I actually was on your sight yesterday looking at your banana ice cream! I am trying it with almond butter. I froze my bananas last night! Thanks for visiting, and I hope your little guy enjoys this recipe like mine does!
Ricki says
Thanks for the adaptation! They look great! 🙂
Sonja says
You are welcome, and thanks for stopping by!
Sophie says
Thanks so much for linking these up to Sweet Saturdays last week! They were featured this week, so be sure to stop by! Hope to see you again:)
http://lacreativitedelafille.blogspot.com/2012/05/sweet-saturdays-3.html
-Sophie
Sonja says
Thanks for featuring the granola bars!!! I really appreciate it! Thanks for stopping by.
Jen says
Yum, this recipe looks like peanut heaven! I’ll be giving it a try 🙂
Terry says
These look yummy. Who doesn’t love peanut butter granola bars and with these healthy and pure ingredients, you can’t go wrong. Thanks for sharing at our party this week. Also, I am a big proponent of getting rid of word verification because it’s so cumbersome, but this verification of yours is smart. A simple checkmark. Brilliant. Where did you find that gadget?
Vicky says
These look lovely! What a simple recipe!
Amy W says
What a super easy recipe! Looks super yummy too! Thanks for sharing!
Natalie says
yum! how long do they bake?
Sonja says
Bake for 18 minutes or until the edges barely start browning. I am sorry I forgot to include that. I did just add that. Thanks for the heads up!!
jolie hall says
Thank you Sonja!!!! I am looking forward to these!
Keri says
These look yummy! I will have to try an almond butter version!
Sonja says
Last night I was just telling Jolie that I would try it with almond butter, too! Let me know how they turn out!