Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate Chips and Pepitas Recipe
These Homemade Granola Bars are a deliciously chewy and nutritious snack made with creamy natural peanut butter, honey, oats, and a touch of vanilla. Enhanced with mini chocolate chips and crunchy pepitas, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweetness and texture, making them ideal for on-the-go energy boosts or a healthy treat at any time of day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup very smooth creamy natural peanut butter, or cashew butter
- ⅔ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Heaping ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2½ cups whole rolled oats
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons pepitas, or crushed peanuts or cashews
Instructions
- Prepare the Wet Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the creamy natural peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Stir well until all ingredients are fully blended into a smooth, slightly runny mixture.
- Add the Dry Ingredients: Add the whole rolled oats to the wet mixture, folding gently to ensure the oats are evenly coated. Then, fold in the mini chocolate chips and pepitas until they are well distributed throughout the mixture.
- Press into Pan: Line a baking pan (about 8×8 inches) with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture into the pan and press it down firmly and evenly with a spatula or your hands to create a compact, uniform layer.
- Chill to Set: Place the pan into the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the bars to firm up and hold together when cut.
- Cut into Bars: Once set, remove the mixture from the pan using the parchment paper as a sling. Place on a cutting board and slice into bars or squares of your desired size.
- Store Properly: Store the granola bars in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to one week or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, substitute peanut butter and pepitas with sunflower seed butter and sunflower seeds respectively.
- Mini chocolate chips can be replaced with dried fruits like cranberries or raisins for a less sweet alternative.
- Press bars firmly to ensure they hold together after chilling.
- Use natural peanut butter without added sugars or oils for a healthier option.
- If bars are too sticky, briefly refrigerate the mixture before pressing into the pan.
Keywords: homemade granola bars, peanut butter granola bars, no bake granola bars, healthy snacks, easy granola bars