Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
on Aug 01, 2024
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These chewy chocolate chip granola bars are the perfect, delicious, and nutritious snack! With just 6 ingredients, everything comes together in one bowl with no baking required!
These 6 ingredient chewy chocolate chip granola bars are so easy to make – just mix, press, and chill! They are made with rolled oats and peanut butter at the base, making them filling and packed with healthy fats. They’re also so customizable and you can feel free to mix in your favorite add-ins for extra flavor, taste, and crunch.
If you love the idea of no-bake treats, you’ll love these no-bake blueberry bliss balls, soft and chewy coconut balls, and these easy no-bake granola balls!
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need to make these banana peanut butter bars:
- Rolled Oats: Rolled oats are packed with nutritious! Gluten-free rolled oats make these granola bars gluten-free.
- Crispy Rice Cereal: Adds a nice extra crunch and texture to the bars. Make sure to use a gluten-free variety if you want to keep these bars gluten-free.
- Peanut Butter: For added healthy fats, and flavor, and to help the bars stay together. Make sure to use smooth, natural peanut butter.
- Honey: The main source of sweetness for these bars. The thick texture of honey helps create the perfect thick mixture to hold the bars together. Since these bars contain honey, they are not recommended for little ones under the age of 1.
- Vanilla Extract: For added flavor and taste.
- Chocolate Chips: For added bursts of sweetness!
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ingredient Substitutions & Additions
- Crispy Rice Cereal: The crispy rice cereal may be replaced with equal parts rolled oats.
- Peanut Butter: The peanut butter may be replaced with any other nut or seed-based butter like natural almond butter, tahini, or sunflower seed butter.
- Chocolate Chips: The chocolate chips may be replaced with seeds or finely crushed nuts.
Step By Step Instructions
STEP 1: Add the honey, peanut butter, and vanilla to a medium bowl and stir together until just combined (Images 1 & 2).
STEP 2: Add the rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, and chocolate chips to the bowl and mix until combined and all of the oats and crispy cereal pieces are fully coated. It may seem a little dry at first, but keep mixing until it is well combined (Images 3 & 4).
STEP 3: Place the mixture into a granola bar mold or a parchment paper-lined 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to firmly press the mixture into the molds or loaf pan (Images 5 & 6). You’ll want to make sure the mixture is firmly pressed to ensure that it holds together. If you’d like, press in a few more mini chocolate chips on top.
STEP 4: Chill the bars in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Remove the bars from the mold (or slice into bars if using a loaf pan) and store the bars in the fridge until ready to serve. If you prefer a firmer texture, place the bars in the freezer for a few minutes to firm up.
Storage Instructions
Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When storing, I suggest wrapping each bar individually in parchment paper or placing parchment paper between them to prevent them from sticking. These bars are best served right from the fridge. If frozen, let the bars sit out at room temperature for a few minutes to soften before serving.
Tips For Success
- If you are making these bars in a granola bar mold, divide the mixture evenly into 8 sections for thin bars, or into 6 sections for thicker bars. If you are using a loaf pan, slice the bars into 7 or 8 pieces. If using a loaf pan, make sure to line it with parchment paper so that the bars are easy to remove once chilled.
- Make sure to use the back of a spoon or a spatula to firmly press the mixture into the granola bar molds or loaf pan. This will ensure that the bars don’t fall apart once chilled.
- Let the bars fully chill for at least an hour in the fridge before slicing or removing from the molds.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! To double this recipe, press and chill the mixture in an 8 by 8 brownie pan instead of a loaf pan.
I find that honey does a better job of keeping the bars together than maple syrup due to its thick consistency. If you prefer to use maple syrup, I suggest heating the maple syrup, peanut butter, and vanilla in a pan to form a thick mixture before mixing it with the remaining ingredients but keep in mind that the bars may not hold together as well.
More Bar Recipes You’ll Love
Banana Peanut Butter Bars
Strawberry Jam Crumble Bars
Healthy Apple Oatmeal Bars
Strawberry Banana Oat Bars
If you tried these Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup crispy rice cereal
- 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the honey, peanut butter, and vanilla to a medium bowl and stir together until just combined.
- Add the rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, and chocolate chips to the bowl and mix until combined and all of the oats and crispy cereal pieces are fully coated. It may seem a little dry at first, but keep mixing until it is well combined
- Place the mixture into a granola bar mold or a parchment paper-lined 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to firmly press the mixture into the molds or loaf pan. You'll want to make sure the mixture is firmly pressed to ensure that it holds together. If you'd like, press in a few more mini chocolate chips on top.
- Chill the bars in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Remove the bars from the mold (or slice into bars if using a loaf pan) and store the bars in the fridge until ready to serve. If you prefer a firmer texture, place the bars in the freezer for a few minutes to firm up.
Notes
- If you are making these bars in a granola bar mold, divide the mixture evenly into 8 sections for thin bars, or into 6 sections for thicker bars. If you are using a loaf pan, slice the bars into 7 or 8 pieces. If using a loaf pan, make sure to line it with parchment paper so that the bars are easy to remove once chilled.
- Make sure to use the back of a spoon or a spatula to firmly press the mixture into the granola bar molds or loaf pan. This will ensure that the bars don’t fall apart once chilled.
- Let the bars fully chill for at least an hour in the fridge before slicing or removing from the molds.
10/10. I actually won’t make these again though bc I can’t stop eating them. These are fantastic. I subbed the chocolate chips for unsalted raw almonds which I chopped and toasted in a pan quick. Added a hefty scoop of hemp seeds and then a sprinkle of salt.
Haha I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Sarah! And I love the add-ins of almonds, and hemp seeds!😊
Toddler approved! So yummy I could eat them all lol. I added chopped almonds and shredded coconut
I’m so glad that you enjoyed these, Simone!😊