Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Why settle for store-bought granola bars when you can make this peanut-buttery scrumptious version?!
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup natural, no-sugar-added applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup roasted, salted peanuts, chopped
- ¼ cup chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on either side for easy removal when the bars are done. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, honey, applesauce and vanilla. Stir with a rubber spatula or spoon until everything is well combined. It will look stringy at first, but will become smooth and velvety with continued mixing.
- Add in the oats, cinnamon, salt, chopped peanuts and optional chocolate chips and stir until everything is evenly dispersed and you create a stiff batter (you’ll give your arms a bit of a workout!).
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan, and using your spatula or spoon, distribute the mixture evenly over the bottom. Then, take an extra piece of parchment paper and place it over the top so you can use your hands or the bottom of a glass or mug to pack the mixture down firmly and evenly.
- Peel off the top parchment paper, then reposition it loosely over the top and stash the baking pan in the freezer to allow them to firm, at least 1 hour to overnight. When they’re ready to slice, lift the parchment paper (and bars) out of the pan and cut into bars (make one slice down the center and 6 slices across).
- To store, wrap each bar individually so they don’t stick together and keep in the freezer (they will not freeze, they simply become more firm and remain deliciously chewy!) Of course, you can keep in the fridge if you prefer them softer. See note below for more specifics on storage.
Notes
Ingredient swaps
• You can swap the peanut butter with any other creamy nut butter to accommodate allergies or taste preferences (sunflower butter, soy nut butter, cashew, almond, and so on). Storage details
These no-bake peanut butter granola bars will soften significantly at room temperature, so it’s best to keep them stashed in the freezer or fridge, taking them out right before eating. If you're planning to travel with them, I highly recommend packing them in a cooler with an ice pack to ensure they stay intact and keep their deliciously chewy texture. Don’t worry—freezing doesn’t make them too hard. Instead, it firms them up into a wonderfully chilled, chewy bite. In my house, we love eating them straight from the freezer because the texture is so satisfying! Of course, you can also keep them in the fridge if you prefer them softer. Dietary considerations
If you’re following a gluten-free diet, be sure to carefully read the packaging for each ingredient, especially the oats (look for brands that are certified gluten-free). While these foods are inherently gluten-free, gluten can sometimes be added during processing for a variety of reasons, including for flavor and consistency.
• You can swap the peanut butter with any other creamy nut butter to accommodate allergies or taste preferences (sunflower butter, soy nut butter, cashew, almond, and so on). Storage details
These no-bake peanut butter granola bars will soften significantly at room temperature, so it’s best to keep them stashed in the freezer or fridge, taking them out right before eating. If you're planning to travel with them, I highly recommend packing them in a cooler with an ice pack to ensure they stay intact and keep their deliciously chewy texture. Don’t worry—freezing doesn’t make them too hard. Instead, it firms them up into a wonderfully chilled, chewy bite. In my house, we love eating them straight from the freezer because the texture is so satisfying! Of course, you can also keep them in the fridge if you prefer them softer. Dietary considerations
If you’re following a gluten-free diet, be sure to carefully read the packaging for each ingredient, especially the oats (look for brands that are certified gluten-free). While these foods are inherently gluten-free, gluten can sometimes be added during processing for a variety of reasons, including for flavor and consistency.
Nutrition Information per serving
Serving Size: 1 barCalories: 215Carbohydrates: 23gProtein: 7gTotal Fat: 12g— Unsaturated Fat: 10g— Saturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 160mgPotassium: 170mgFiber: 3gTotal Sugar: 10g— Natural Sugar: 2g— Added Sugar: 8gIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.