As a kid, granola bars were my go to snack. The peanut butter chocolate chip ones were my favorite and they still are today. Since I’ve made Homemade Granola, I’ve been anxious to make homemade granola bars.
I don’t have to wait anymore. In fact I’m so addicted to these that I can’t wait to make another version of this recipe, using different goodies like nuts and dried fruit. These chewy granola bars will please both peanut butter and chocolate fans. I’m in love with them. I ate two of them while I photographed them. 🙂
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars Recipe
(Makes 12 bars)
Ingredients:
- 1 and 2/3 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup oat bran
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
- 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease an 8 x 8 baking pan and set it aside.
- Whisk together the old fashioned oats, light brown sugar, oat bran, ground cinnamon, peanut butter chips and chocolate chips. Set the dry ingredients aside.
- Melt the butter. Make sure the butter is completely melted and warm. Add the honey, corn syrup, water, and peanut butter and mix them together until creamy and smooth.
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. (Make sure you do this step while your wet ingredients are still warm or nothing will mix properly.)
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Spread it out evenly and firmly press it down.
- Bake it in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. It will look soft when it’s done but it will firm up once it’s cooled.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting into them.
Store in an air tight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Similar to my Homemade Granola, I used rolled oats and oat bran. Rolled oats (also called old fashioned oats) are thick and perfect for making granola bars because they will hold their shape through the baking process. As opposed to quick oats or instant oats, both of which have been pre-cooked and are often rolled thinner or cut into smaller pieces.
Hmm, what goodies should be in granola bars? Whatever you want. 🙂 Since I’m reminiscing about my favorite ones, today is all about peanut butter and chocolate. I doubled up on the peanut butter flavors by using creamy peanut butter and peanut butter chips. I love using mini chocolate chips because you get chocolate in every bite.
These granola bars are so easy to make. Whisk together the old fashioned oats, light brown sugar, oat bran, ground cinnamon, peanut butter chips and chocolate chips.
Honey and light brown sugar are great complimentary flavors with oats so I used them in both my granola and granola bar recipes.
I opted to use light corn syrup here (instead of the maple syrup that I used in my granola recipe) because I didn’t think maple syrup would taste as good with the peanut butter and chocolate.
Butter is so good. What would we do without it? Given that I decided to use it instead of the oil I used in my granola recipe. Since I’m kind of making an oatmeal cookie (with peanut butter and chocolate chips) I thought the butter flavor would better enhance all of the various flavors I have in these granola bars.
Melt the butter. Make sure the butter is completely melted and warm when you add in the honey, corn syrup, water, and peanut butter. It will be much easier to mix these ingredients together if the butter is warm.
Mix the dry and wet ingredients together and the pour it into the prepared pan. Spread it out evenly and firmly press it down. Make sure the granola mixture is firmly packed so that your granola bars stay together when you cut into them (after they have been baked). I use a measuring cup to help me evenly press it down.
You don’t have to use tin foil because you can cut the bars straight in the pan. I only lined it so that I could remove the whole piece to cut it all up at once for pictures. Although I will say using tin foil does make for an easier clean up, and I think they are easier to cut when not still down in the pan. 😉
When they are done baking, the granola bars will look soft and be boiling from the wet ingredients. Don’t worry, that’s what it should be doing. Take it out when it’s slightly browned. It will firm up once it’s cooled. The waiting game is the toughest for me. They do need to cool completely before you cut into them otherwise they will fall apart.
Look at all those fun layers of oats and goodies! Mmm, so delicious. 🙂
The outside is crunchy and the inside is chewy. It’s the perfect texture for a granola bar.
I used Reese’s peanut butter chips, but you can use any brand you like. I couldn’t stop snacking on them while I was making these granola bars. When you think of Reese’s you think of chocolate too, and these have got it. They are mad tasty.
This picture is my husband playing Jenga with the props. Lol. Love you, babe!
Making your own granola bar is fun because you can decide exactly what you want in it. If you don’t care about calories then load them up with sugary fun stuff. If you’re looking for some protein action, use a variety of nuts. See where I’m going with this? The possibilities are endless and you aren’t limited to the flavors of pre-made granola bars available on the grocery store shelf.
Plus, I can easily pronounce all of the ingredients that go into this fun snack. I’m not pretending that this is a healthy snack (although it is healthy in comparison to some others), but there is something to be said about knowing every ingredient that I’ve put into them.
Granola bars are a fun snack to have around the house or to grab on the go. I know these will certainly come in handy on our next road trip.
Do you have a favorite granola bar flavor?
Source: www.tinaschic.com
If you’re a fan of granola bars then you’ll love this Homemade Granola.
Homemade Peanut Butter is another great snack.
Do you love oats and/or peanut butter? Try these amazing Peanut Butter Oatmeal M&M Cookies that have both ingredients!
These granola bars looks absolutely perfect, and I love the flavor combination! I love making granola bars and haven’t in a while. These are my inspiration!
That’s so awesome to hear! Thanks so much. 🙂
I love making granola bars at home! I haven’t had the best of luck with it yet, but I feel good about controling exactly what goes into them. These look great!
Thanks Kelly! 🙂
Oo, these look sooo good! I’ve only made no-bake granola bars, but these look so much better! I have got to try this, yum! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’ve not tried a no-bake version yet as I’ve been skeptical as to how well they’d stay together. Let me know if you try these. 🙂
I’ve tried making my own granola before, and it’s never turned out. I love you added elements to make it cookie like, and that even the granola is 100% homemade. These wouldn’t last long around here!
Thanks so much Faith. 🙂 I honestly couldn’t stop eating them when I was photographing them! Yum-tacular!
Hmmm…peanut butter leaves me speechless! (Usually, cuz I have a mouthful of it!) These bars look like they need to be packaged and sold! They’re beyond perfect!
LOL. That’s awesome…I’m always eating a spoonful of peanut butter here and there. What a compliment! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Homemade granola and granola bars are the best! These look so pretty and dense and like the perfect breakfast! Love pb chips in anything and everything.
Thank you so much! PB chips are my new favorite chips. If I manage to not eat what I have left over from making these granola bars, I’ll have no problem finding other ways to bake with them. 🙂
I love homemade granola bars, always a hit in the house and with friends!
Sweet!
These granola bars look delicious! I love making them for my boys 🙂
That’s so sweet that you make granola bars for your boys. 🙂 I can’t wait to make some for my 2 young nephews when I next see them. I know they’ll love them!
Say pb and chocolate and I come running! I’ve made granola bars before, but mine didn’t stay together as well as yours did. I love how thick and firm these are! I MUST try this version. Pinned!
Haha, I’m the same way with PB and chocolate! Thank you so much! I appreciate you pinning…isn’t pinterest great?! Let me know if you end up trying this. 🙂
You know, I’ve seen similar things like this else where…and yours is the only one I’m interested in. Because, looks easy and very delicious! My kids would definitely gobble these up after school. I’m printing and pinning as I type! Love your pics!
Thank you so much Gloria! You’re very sweet. 🙂 They really are simple and delicious and I know your boys would love them.
Now this is what I’d call the perfect granola bar. Love, love all the ingredients..and they are heads and tails better than the cardboard versions found in the grocery stores!!
Store cardboard versions…lol! Good one and you are right. These homemade granola bars are way better. 🙂
Good thing I love both PB and chocolate then. This would be so delicious with homemade PB!
Peanut butter + chocolate = awesome! 🙂 I love finding different ways to have fun with this classic combo.
Wow! Your granola bars look amazing. I am a die-hard PB+Chocolate lover and can’t wait to try these
Thank you so much! I too adore peanut butter and chocolate. I’m always thinking of different ways to bake with these two awesome flavors. 🙂
I used to buy so many granola bars to bring to work! Ever since I made them homemade though I’ll never go back – they’re just so much better! These sound awesome – peanut butter and chocolate is one of my very favorite combinations : )
That’s awesome! Homemade always tastes better. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by. 🙂
Yum, these look yummy. You can never have too many granola bar recipes, especially if they include peanut butter and chocolate! Thanks for checking out my blog too!
I completely agree! Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
I love any granola bars with peanut butter in them….so something like these! 🙂
It’s hard to go wrong with granola and good old peanut butter. 🙂
I’m not that fond of granola, but granola bars? Yes, please. Yours looks terrific – so nice. Great recipe – thanks.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Snack time = best time. I eat granola bars almost every day around 3 o’clock and definitely prefer the homemade. PB+choc is a CLASSIC, but my fave is probably dark chocolate cherry. These look addictive!
These really are addicting! Ooh, dark chocolate and cherry sounds delish. 🙂
I certainly don’t know what I would do without butter, that’s for sure!! 😉 These bars look amazing! I love that they only have a few ingredients!