Description

These easy homemade peanut butter granola bars are soft-baked, gluten-free, and packed with chocolate chips for a delicious healthy snack. Perfect for a quick energy boost or a grab-and-go treat, they combine oats, natural peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and eggs to create a chewy texture that you can customize with nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. Easy to prepare in under 20 minutes, these bars are ideal for those seeking a wholesome, homemade alternative to store-bought snacks.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use verified gluten-free if needed)
3/4 cup natural peanut butter (preferably with a drizzly consistency)
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
2 whole eggs (or 2 flax eggs for vegan-friendly option)*
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Optional Add-Ins

Pinch of salt (omit if peanut butter is salted)
Walnuts, pecans, or almonds (to taste)
Chia seeds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds (to taste)
Dried fruit (to taste)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350℉ (175℃) to ensure it’s at the right temperature when the mixture is ready to bake.
Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, peanut butter (warmed if solid to make drizzly), honey or maple syrup, eggs (or flax eggs), and optional salt and add-ins. Stir thoroughly until everything is evenly mixed.
Prepare Baking Dish: Line a 9×9 inch baking dish or pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier after baking.
Press Mixture: Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Firmly press it down evenly with your hands or a spatula to compact the mixture, which helps the bars hold together well. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top if using, and press them gently into the surface.
Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes. Begin checking at 14 minutes to avoid overbaking. The bars are done when the center is set and the edges start to brown lightly.
Cool: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, which is crucial for them to set properly and be easy to cut.
Cut: Once cooled, use a sharp, non-serrated knife to cut the bars into 16 squares. Press the knife straight down without dragging to maintain clean edges.
Serve & Store: Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container for snack later. Leave a review to share your experience!

Notes

Use nut butter with a drizzly consistency to prevent dryness; substitute another nut or seed butter if peanut-free.
To make flax eggs (vegan alternative): mix 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed with 5 tablespoons water and let sit for 5-10 minutes before use.
For best cuts, use a sharp, non-serrated knife and press down rather than dragging.
Bars can be cut into 12-14 longer bars but nutrition facts correspond to 16 squares.
If bars don’t bind well with maple syrup, honey may improve stickiness.
Add 1/2 cup protein powder (vanilla, unflavored, or chocolate) for extra protein, reducing oats by 1/2 cup accordingly.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Category: Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: peanut butter granola bars, gluten-free granola bars, healthy snack, chocolate chip granola bars, homemade granola bars, soft-baked granola bars, easy granola bars