These homemade peanut butter granola bars are soft, chewy, lightly crisp, and filled with just enough chocolate to make them feel like a treat.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

I love having simple homemade snacks ready for the week, especially ones that require very little prep. These peanut butter granola bars come together in one bowl and do not require any baking.

The combination of crunchy peanut butter, honey, oats, and crisp rice cereal gives them the best texture. They are chewy without feeling too dense, while the mini chocolate chips add a little sweetness in every bite.

We like to grab them straight from the fridge or freezer for lunchboxes and afternoon snacks. They are especially helpful on busy days when everyone seems to be hungry at the same time.

Main Ingredients & Swaps

Crunchy natural peanut butter: Crunchy peanut butter adds little pieces of peanuts throughout the bars, but creamy peanut butter will also work. For peanut allergies or nut free schools, replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter. Just make sure you choose one with a similar thick consistency.
Honey: sweetens the bars and helps hold everything together.
Vanilla extract: adds a little extra warmth and flavor.
Salt: balances the sweetness and brings out the peanut butter flavor.
Rolled oats: create the hearty, chewy base. I prefer old fashioned rolled oats for the best texture.
Crisp rice cereal: keeps the bars from becoming too dense and adds a light crunch. I like One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps.
Flaxseed meal: adds fiber and helps bind the mixture. You can purchase flaxseed meal or grind whole flaxseeds yourself.
Mini chocolate chips: adds just enough chocolate without overpowering the peanut butter. Regular chocolate chips can also be used, but I recommend roughly chopping them first.

How I Make It

Add the peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Stir until the mixture is completely smooth and evenly combined.

Add the rolled oats and mix until they are thoroughly coated. Fold in the crisp rice cereal, flaxseed meal, and mini chocolate chips. Mix gently so the cereal keeps some of its crisp texture.

Line two 9 × 4 inch loaf pans with parchment paper. Divide the granola bar mixture evenly between the pans.

Fold the parchment over the top of the mixture and use your hands to press everything down very firmly. Compacting the mixture well is what helps the bars hold together once sliced.

Freeze for 30 minutes, then lift the chilled mixture from the pans and cut it into bars.

Tips & Storage

Press the mixture into the pans as tightly as possible. If it is not firmly compacted, the bars may crumble when sliced.
Natural peanut butter varies quite a bit between brands. Stir it thoroughly before measuring so the oils are completely incorporated.
Keep the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for the best soft and chewy texture. For longer storage, freeze them and take out individual bars as needed.
If stacking the bars, place parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking together.

Watch my YouTube video below to see just how quickly these soft and chewy peanut butter granola bars come together.

These bars have quickly become one of my favorite snacks to keep on hand. They are simple, filling, and just sweet enough to keep both the kids and adults coming back for another one.