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No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are easy to make at home and taste MUCH better than store bought granola bars. They are a great back to school or anytime snack!
How is it already back to school time? The summer went way too fast. I know I don’t’ have to go back to school and Caleb is still too young, but still. I am not ready for fall just yet. I still want to enjoy the summer sun and pretend I am on summer break.
To help make the back to school transition a little easier I have a fun and easy recipe for you today, No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Granola Bars. This easy granola bar recipe is a great back to school recipe. You can pack the granola bars in lunch boxes or save them for an easy after school snack.
I’ve always been a granola bar fan, but they are expensive to buy at the store and some ingredient lists can be long and scary. I prefer to make my own to save money and so I know exactly what is going in them.
I love these No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Granola bars because they are beyond easy to make and they are SO good. They are chewy with a little crunch from the pretzels and crispy cereal. I love the peanut butter, pretzel, and chocolate combo too. You can’t go wrong with sweet and salty if you ask me!
I chill the bars for about 30 minutes before cutting them. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. They might last longer, but they have never lasted longer than a week in our house.
You are going to want to have these No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Granola Bars on hand all school year long. They are the best snack ever! Your kids are going to thank you when they find a granola bar waiting for them in their lunchbox or on the counter when they come home from school.
Adults and parents-I won’t tell if you make a batch just for yourself. I know you are going to want to hide some granola bars from the kids so you can have a tasty snack too! They are great to take on road trips, picnics, or for an easy on the go breakfast or snack!
Start the school year off right by making these easy homemade granola bars. They are better and healthier than store bought granola bars!
You might also enjoy my other easy granola bar recipes:
- No-Bake Sunflower Butter Granola Bars
- No-Bake Almond Granola Bars
- No-Bake Biscoff Granola Bars
- Blueberry Coconut Granola Bars
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Vegetarian
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
These no-bake granola bars are easy to make and kids and adults love them! They are perfect for picnics, lunch boxes, or snack time!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Instructions
Cut out an 8 x 8 inch square of parchment paper. Place the parchment paper in the bottom of an 8 x 8 inch baking pan.
In a large sauce pan, add butter, brown sugar, honey and peanut butter. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to bubble. Once bubbling, cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Stir in the oats, crispy cereal, and pretzels. Stir until well coated. Pour into the prepared pan. Press the mixture evenly into the pan. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over the top and gently press into the granola bars with your hands.
Place the bars in the refrigerator and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Cut into bars and serve.
Note-I store the bars in the refrigerator. I've kept them in the fridge for up to a week and they are still tasty! For gluten-free, use gf oats and pretzels.
Have you tried this recipe?
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FAQs
Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe. Vanilla extract – It amps up the bars' warm flavor.
Is 2 granola bars a day too much? ›
Yes, it is possible to eat too much granola. While granola can be a healthy and nutritious food, it is often high in calories and sugar, especially if it contains added sweeteners or dried fruit. Eating too much granola on a regular basis can contribute to weight gain and other health problems.
What ingredient makes granola stick together? ›
Add an egg white.
The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.
What is the best binder for granola bars? ›
When dampened, chia seeds gel and swell to several times their original size, plus they get very sticky. Since they're already used as egg alternatives in baking, it's not surprising that chia seeds act as the ideal granola binder, but it is strange that they do it better than eggs.
What is the best glue for granola bars? ›
Honey and brown sugar help make a glue for the bars.
The honey and brown sugar really helps with keeping the bars together. Chocolate chips added to the mixture help, too. We add some to the granola mixture while it is still warm.
Why is my homemade granola not sticking together? ›
We've also noticed that clumpier granola seems to have a higher percentage of oats to other ingredients. Oats stick to each other much easier and more firmly than they do with other, heavier ingredients. If it seems like your mix doesn't have a lot of oats, try adding another cup or two of rolled oats before cooking.
Should you soak oats before making granola bars? ›
Fill the bowl up with water to completely cover the mixture – enough that you can stir to combine. This soaking process will help the oats and seeds digest better. After the oat/seed mixture has soaked 8-12 hours, add the rest of the ingredients and combine.
Is it cheaper to make your own granola bars? ›
They save well (wrap and freeze them for up to two months), are more affordable than store-bought bars, and don't contain the long list of unpronounceable ingredients. Plus, your kitchen will smell like a bakery while these granola bars bake. Ahhhh.
What are the disadvantages of granola bars? ›
Possible downsides
Granola bars are often considered a healthy snack, but despite these marketing claims, many are loaded with added sugar, calories, and artificial ingredients. For example, Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Harvest granola bars can contain up to 15 grams of sugar per serving — mostly from added sugar.
Is Peanut Butter good or bad for you? ›
Eating peanut butter alongside other nutritious foods is perfectly healthy — as long as you don't exceed your calorie needs. Peanut butter is high in calories and could lead to excess calorie intake if not consumed in moderation. However, it is still a high-quality food that provides numerous nutrients.
Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don't let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fibre.
What is the main ingredient in chewy granola bars? ›
GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN OATS, BROWN SUGAR, BROWN RICE CRISP [WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT], WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, NONFAT DRY MILK), CORN SYRUP, BROWN RICE CRISP (WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE ...
Why are my granola bars sticky? ›
This should yield the perfect result! If your granola bars are coming out a bit sticky, it may also mean they need to be baked longer, as after baking they should be crunchy on the outside and hold together on the inside.
What should I mix with granola? ›
Granola with milk or yogurt is a great option for a healthier sweet treat at the end of the day, but you can also use it to top ice cream, milkshakes or homemade sweets.
Why is my granola crumbling? ›
Quick oats (also known as instant oats): These oats have been cut into smaller pieces, which makes them cook faster than rolled oats. They can be used in granola, but they will not provide the same texture as rolled oats and may cause the granola to be too crumbly.
How do you make granola bars last longer? ›
Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares // as original recipe is written). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn't necessary.
What do you wrap homemade granola bars in? ›
For the Packaging:
- If You Care Compostable paper sandwich bags.
- Washi tape (or regular scotch tape. I just love washi tape)
