5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars

5 ingredients is all you need to make a batch of these easy Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars. They’re gluten-free, soft-baked, studded with chocolate chips, and perfect for healthy snacking. You’ll never need or want to buy a store-bought granola bar again!

Skip the grocery store and make granola bars right in the comfort of your own kitchen!

Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be 100% in control of what’s going into the granola bars. Many of the store-bought granola bars come with a lengthy list of ingredients, are made with refined sugars, and include an array of pesky preservatives (so they’re able to hang out on the shelves for a longer duration of time). These 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars are simple to make, made with only real food ingredients, and are refined sugar-free. Best of all, you know exactly what goes into them! Peanut buttery, chocolatey, subtly sweet, and soft baked! You can’t beat that.

How to spruce them up with what you have on hand

I left this recipe pretty lean with only a few ingredients, but by all means, feel free to customize the bars and make them your own by adding a few extra ingredients. Simply take a quick scan of what’s floating around in your pantry and get creative with what you have on hand. Some of my favorite additions include dried cherries or cranberries, raisins, chopped dates, dried blueberries, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, pecans, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice. Let your kids use their creativity and have them choose a couple of additional ingredients.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars Ingredients

• Rolled Oats – simple, old fashioned rolled oats.
• Natural Peanut Butter – I like the drippy kind of peanut butter made with only peanuts and maybe a little salt, but use what you have on hand. Feel free to sub any kind of nut or seed butter.
• Maple Syrup – could also substitute honey.
• Chocolate Chips – because chocolate and peanut butter is a pair that can’t be beat.
• Eggs – looking for an egg-free or vegan-friendly option? You got it, feel free to substitute 2 flax eggs. Instructions below.
• BONUS Add-in’s – get creative with what you have on hand. See suggestions above.

Can I add protein powder?

If you’re looking for a boost of protein you can certainly add your favorite protein powder. Simply substitute 1/2 cup of protein powder for 1/2 cup of the oats. I would suggest an Organic Whey Protein or an Organic Plant Based Protein.

Can I make the Peanut Butter Granola Bars peanut or nut-free?

Absolutely! Feel free to use any nut or seed butter of your choice.

This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.

How to make Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Toss the ingredients in a bowl. Mix until well combined. Transfer the dough to a 9×9 pan. Pro tip: for easy removal you could line the pan with parchment. Press the dough firmly into the pan. Bake for 14-17 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool and then cut into granola bar shapes or squares.

How to meal prep Peanut Butter Granola Bars

I almost always include some sort of energy bite or bar recipe with my weekend meal preps. They make for easy on-the-go fuel. These Peanut Butter Granola Bars are perfect for meal prep. Simply make the recipe as written. Once bars are cooled completely store in an airtight container in the fridge for 7-10 days. My guess is they won’t last that long.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars are freezer-friendly, too!

I also like to stock my freezer with homemade granola bars and bites so that I have something on backup during those times when a meal prep doesn’t happen. To freeze: Once the bars are done baking, let them cool completely and then cut into squares. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container separating each layer with parchment paper.

Other Bars and Bites to try:

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
• Key Lime Pie Energy Bars
• No-Bake Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
• No-Bake Fruit and Nut Peanut Butter Granola Bars
• 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Bites

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Let's Get Cookin'

5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars

5 ingredients is all you need to make a batch of these easy Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars. They’re gluten-free, soft-baked, studded with chocolate chips and perfect for healthy snaking. You’ll never need to or want to buy a store-bought granola bar again!

• Author: The Real Food Dietitians
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 14 mins
• Total Time: 19 mins
• Yield: 16 squares 1x
• Category: Snack
• Method: Bake
• Diet: Gluten Free

Print Recipe

★★★★★ 5 from 8 reviews

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
• 3/4 cup natural peanut butter (substitute nut or seed butter for peanut-free version)
• ⅓ cup maple syrup (may sub honey)
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• 2 organic whole eggs (or flax egg for vegan-friendly*)
• Optional add ins: walnuts, pecans, almond, chia seed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or dried fruit.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Combine all of the ingredients in one bowl and mix well.
3. Transfer to a greased 9 x 9 inch baking dish and firmly press into pan. Pro tip: for easy removal, line the pan with parchment.
4. Top with additional chocolate chips if you wish. Press into the dough.
5. Bake for 14-17 minutes or until center is baked through. Start checking at 12 minutes as all ovens are different.
6. Let cool completely before cut into 16 square or 12-14 bars.

Notes

*Flax egg: 2 Tbsp. flax meal + 5 Tbsp. water. Let set for 5-10 minutes.

**For a boost of protein, add 1/2 cup of your favorite protein powder and reduce oats by a 1/2 cup.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 square
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 6 g

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!

Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter. 

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