5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars.
Sunday morning, I woke up with an unreasonable craving for granola bars. It probably had a bit to do with the statement Mr. How Sweet made on New Year’s Day… something along the lines of wanting to buy Fiber One bars in bulk? I raised an eyebrow.
He does not need any more fiber. Trust me.
Why won’t he eat my own granola bars?
I’m sure if I could create a granola bar out of chicken and steak, he’d go to town on that.
But now that I’ve left you with that digusting image in your head , let me tell you about the deliciousness that is these peanut butter granola bars.
They may just be the simplest bars you’ll ever make!
You only need five ingredients to begin. They will create a simple, perfect peanut butter granola bar, but I also like to think of it as a base for a packed peanut butter granola bar.
Since I’ve made six batches of these bars since Sunday, I can tell you what works: chocolate chips, dried cherries, almonds, wheat germ, dried figs, and dried banana.
Yes, dried banana. A peanut butter, honey and banana granola bar! Mmmmm. I think I’m in heaven.
Into this particular batch went a boatload of chocolate chips, because well… we all know nothing is better than chocolate and peanut butter.
I know I don’t need to explain myself to you guys. You know me.
And since you know me, many of you are probably wondering when I’ll cave and add bacon. Honestly, I just thought about it for the first time as I was writing this post. Perhaps I need to make an Elvis granola bar? I am giddy at the thought.
I might need to be committed after that one.
The best part? You don’t even have to bake these bad boys. I baked 3 batches and left 3 other batches as no-bakes. I can’t decide which I like better, but I do love that the chocolate gets a bit melty in the oven.
Have you ever bit into a warm granola bar? You need to experience this.
The funniest part of these granola bars is that before I perfected this easy concoction on Sunday afternoon, I had 3 failed attempts – all more complicated and full of fluff. Sometimes simple is better, no?
At least I’m off to a good start with 2011 recipe disasters. Nothing like getting ahead.
5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds, these are optional, I just love the texture they give
- 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown rice syrup, honey works too!
add ins:
- chocolate chips
- wheat germ
- flaxseed
- dried fruit, I made some with cherries!
- other nuts
- seeds
- coconut
Instructions
- Preheat over to 350.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, chia seeds and peanuts. Add brown rice syrup (or honey) and mix to combine. Add melted peanut butter and mix until moistened. This works as a perfect, simple granola bar, but you can also throw in any add-ins at this time. Fold them into the dough. You may need to get in there with your hands and work the granola dough! If dough is still too dry (this can depend on your ingredients) add more peanut butter or syrup (or honey) 1 tablespoon at a time until moistened.
- Press dough in a greased (non-stick spray) 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.
- These would also work as a great no-bake granola bar, but I liked how they came together and the chocolate chips melted as they got warm. If you want to make no-bakes, simply press the dough into the pan and refrigerate for 60 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Off to dream of bacon granola bars. Don’t hate.
298 Comments on “5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars.”
Whoa – bacon granola bars would be amazing! Bacon and cheddar cheese bars would be the BOMB! :-)
They look fabulous! I make granola bars pretty much ever week and am always looking for a new recipe! We used to be big fans of the fiber one bars until I realized they’re laced with HFCS. Now some things are worth HFCS (like sweet baby rays bbq sauce), but not granola bars!
We love Sweet Baby Rays!
I 2nd the sweet baby rays. I have about 6 bottles in the pantry. Gotta love the bogo deals. Gonna make these granola bars tomorrow…
Jessica, I LOVE YOU! I was searching for granola bar recipes last night and the recipes I found called for ingredients i didnt have on hand.
Just 1 question – are they chewy or crunchy? :)
Very chewy! :)
Exactly what I wanted, thank you! :)
Yum! So excited to try these!!
I love how simple these are. I’m all for simple food tasting great! I’m a fan!
WOW! How quick and easy?! Those pictures are amazing-I just want to swoop my finger through the peanut butter and give it a taste! I too wondered if they are chewy or crunchy?
They are chewy!
Looks AWESOME! And I love that these only have 5 ingredients.
Thanks for your post on Facebook! :)
Make bacon ones too! :D
Oh, I’m going to dig out my candy stash and make candy granola bars. :)
That is brilliant!
These look lovely. I’m such a fan of homemade granola bars!
Definitely saving this recipe!!
LOVE all the PB goodness you’ve been having.
nothing is better than peanut butter and chocolate? Amen Sistah.
Oh, brilliant! Never thought of putting chia seeds in my granola, so I certainly have ot make these. Particularly as I’m a die-hard pb fan ;)
I only wish I’d had this recipe when I had dried bananas in the kitchen. Funnily enough, I made dried banana peanut butter granola, but stupidly left the honey on the counter. Your recipe would clearly by the tastier of the two :P
Another one I can’t wait to try this weekend. Craig goes ‘ooooooo football snacks’ when he saw the pictures :)
These look delicious Jessica! We love homemade granola bars!
I love making my own granola bars. They are so much better homemade (like everything else!) These looks so good and I love that they only have 5 ingredients.
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I just bought some brown rice syrup and was looking for a new way to use it. YUM!
These look amazing! I’m always on the lookout for a good homemade granola bar recipe. I love that these have five ingriedients!
Chia seeds? As in the Chia Pet? I just saw that you can eat those on “The Doctors” the other day! Can you buy those at a health food store?
Yep – and they have them at Whole Foods… I actually saw them in my local grocery store the other day too. Love them!
These do look awesome. The only problem with me making my own granola bars is that I eat the whole pan in a day. They’re too good :)
I know!
these sound awesome! i have to say bacon sounds a little amazing…you need to send me some of those :)
I always add chia seeds when I make granola. Love it! PB and chocolate chip granola bars sound awesome.
Simple is DEFINITELY the best sometimes!!
Bacon would just up the protein right? I can only see that as a positive.
Excellent point!
These look so delish! …but the minute you figure out how to add bacon, please let me know :)
Oh wow, I need these right.now. I’ve been eating peanut butter like it’s my job lately and I will eat granola at any time of day without complaints. Great recipe! :)
Idea:
Bacon + Honey Roasted Peanut bars.
And please send me some if you make them! :)
Yuuum! I’ve actually been looking for a granola bar recipe!!!! thanks!
Love these. I really needed a simple granola bar recipe, since the long ingredient lists of other recipes make me tired just looking at them!
yes, please add bacon and report back ;)
I totally laughed and choked on my tea when you said you’ve already made 5 batches. because I know. I love to make my own granola bars, but I can also eat the whole pan before Jason even gets home :)
I love that these are so simple! The possibilities are endless.
My kids LOVE homemade granola bars…I will definitely have to try them :)
These look DELICIOUS! PB & granola!? Really – we love.
5 ingredients = awesomeness
What a request from Mr. How Sweet! haha
Those granola bars look amazing. I shall be trying my own hand at these :D And I love incorporating chia seeds into my bars – love the texutre and hold they give (man I sound like I’m talking about hair gel…)
Hahahah! No, I know exactly what you mean!
Yum! I always have problems getting my granola bars to stick together. These look pretty darn sticky, if you ask me :)
“He does not need any more fiber. Trust me.”
Bahahahaha
Delicious! I agree, simple usually is best, but my mind likes to overcomplicate everything.
I know… it’s terrible isn’t it? So does mine.
At our house we absolutely love granola/museli bars! They vanish as soon as they’re out of the oven. I’m impressed that your bars only have 5 ingredients.
just saved this recipe in my recipe bookmark page!! :) love it!
these sound so awesome!
YUM! These look awesome and I love how few ingredients they have. I have all of them on hand!
xo
these look amazing!!!!
I love how simple & healthy these granola bars are! So many homemade versions call for oil, butter, and sugar… this recipe is right up my alley :).
Yes! I can’t wait to make these! Gluten-free, too…you’re a yummy-food-genius.
These look great Jessica, I love your blog!
Thank you!
These look delicious! I love making homemade granola and granola bars. They are so much better than store bought! Growing up, we used to make an oatmeal cookie with bacon and cheese in it. It sounds strange, but it was really good. You should definitely add the bacon!
Doesn’t sound strange to me – sounds amazing!
as always, another genius recipe! I found chia seeds (finally) but they are so flippin’ expensive!! I did try the xmas bark you made………..I don’t think I can make those again if I want my jeans to continue to fit! lol
They are expensive, but I find that they last a long time – a little goes a long way! Glad you liked the bark. :)