I cannot stand it when I’m hungry, but I don’t have snacks readily available. I’m sure you’ve been the in the same boat before. Sure, I could run down to the grocery store and buy a box of crackers or a bag of potato chips, but it’s so easy and so much healthier to make snack a home.
That’s why whenever I’m traveling or just want a quick snack, I’ll grab one of these healthy homemade granola bars.
You only have to cook once to have snacks for an entire week with these delicious maple peanut butter granola bars. They’re super convenient, and are an absolute must for busy school days or whenever you just need a quick snack.
I used Peanut Butter and Co. Mighty Maple Peanut Butter for this recipe and it totally amped up the quality of the granola bars. But the awesome thing is—you can use any flavor of peanut butter you want to easily adapt the recipe to your taste!
I love these granola bars. I have tried so many recipes trying to recreate the crunchy and toasty granola bar from the store that. But out of all of the recipes I’ve tried in the past year, none have compared to how amazing this recipe taste. There’s a big difference between a chewy, flavorless granola bar and a crunchy granola bursting with flavor and character.
Your kids will love you if you make these for them and pack it in their lunch. These granola bars are filling, and they’re full of flavor that kids love. Who doesn’t love peanut butter?
Here’s the recipe:
- 6 cups old fashioned oats
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup organic pure honey
- ¼ cup organic apple juice
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ cup Peanut Butter & Co. Mighty Maple Peanut Butter
- 3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup puffed brown rice
- 1 cup wheat germ
- 2 tablespoons flax seeds
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut shreds
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a bowl, toss the oats with the coconut oil, melted butter and salt. Spread the mixture out on 2 baking sheets and toast in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, making sure they don't burn. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey, apple juice, molasses, and peanut butter. Heat the mixture slowly, stirring until all combined. Stir in the vanilla.
- Toss together the toasted oats, puffed brown rice, wheat germ, flax seeds, and coconut shreds. Pour in the sugar mixture, stirring as you pour. Toss to combine; it will be sticky!
- Press into 1 baking sheet (lined with foil or a silicone baking mat) and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut pieces with a sharp knife and remove from the pan.
Inspired by The Pioneer Woman
And if you’re a lover of the peanut butter/chocolate combo, feel free to sprinkle a 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips on top of the bars right after they come out of the oven. You’ll be glad you did.
Try my chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting next!
Or my peanut butter chocolate energy bites!
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Just found your site the usual way, you know, click one link and another and so on. Glad I kept clicking. Looking forward to finding some healthy recipes and snacks. Really well done site.
Thanks!
Love granola bars! looks so good!
Visiting from Thursdays favorite things blog hop.