Description

These Homemade Granola Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack made with creamy natural peanut or cashew butter, honey, and rolled oats. Sweetened with a touch of vanilla and sea salt, and studded with mini chocolate chips and crunchy pepitas or nuts, they are easy to prepare and perfect for on-the-go energy boosts or healthy treats.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup very smooth creamy natural peanut butter, or cashew butter
⅔ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

Heaping ½ teaspoon sea salt
2½ cups whole rolled oats
⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
3 tablespoons pepitas, or crushed peanuts or cashews

Instructions

Combine wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the creamy peanut or cashew butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Add sea salt and oats: Sprinkle in the sea salt and then gradually add the rolled oats to the wet mixture. Use a spatula or spoon to fold the ingredients together until the oats are evenly coated and the mixture is thick but cohesive.
Mix in chocolate chips and nuts: Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips and the pepitas or chosen nuts, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture without melting the chocolate chips.
Press mixture into pan: Line a square baking pan with parchment paper. Transfer the granola mixture into the pan and press it firmly and evenly into the corners and edges to ensure the bars hold their shape when cut.
Chill to set: Place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until the mixture is firm and set enough to slice easily.
Cut and store: Once set, remove from the refrigerator and lift the granola slab out using the parchment paper. Cut into bars of desired size and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for longer storage.

Notes

For a nut-free version, substitute nut butters with sunflower seed butter and use seeds like pumpkin seeds (pepitas) only.
Honey can be replaced with maple syrup for a vegan alternative.
Use gluten-free oats if you require a gluten-free snack.
Press the mixture firmly into the pan to ensure the bars hold together well after cutting.
If you prefer chewier bars, reduce chilling time slightly; for firmer bars, chill longer.

Keywords: granola bars, homemade granola bars, peanut butter bars, healthy snacks, no bake granola bars, energy bars, easy snack recipes