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!
Pin it:
These look great! PB and maple sound so good together and I definitely always need more healthy recipes. I love to have healthy baking ideas on hand. I know what you mean – I travel a lot for work and I have to spend time prepping snacks and food or I’ll just grab any old thing to eat. Not ideal! Haha. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Thanks so much Sarah! Peanut butter and maple are a surprisingly awesome combo! And these granola bars are super easy to make and are great to have on hand when you need a quick snack.
My family loves peanut butter and I love them to eat healthy snacks so I am definitely going to try these. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
YUM! These have so many of my fave flavors and ingredients in them, so I’m sure I would love, love, love these granola bars! Thank you so much for linking up at Snickerdoodle Sunday- hope to see you again on Saturday with your latest makes & bakes!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
These look great and I KNOW my family would love them… they go through a LOT of snacks.
Thank you for the recipe.
These look soooo good (maple pb?! nom nom nom) but I’m actually even more tempted by your energy balls. I can usually get balls to hold together better than bars so that’s my default homemade snack these days.
All of these looks delicious!!! Would love if you linked up to our party as well, Mommy Needs a Timeout Thursday over at http://twintestedpinapproved.wordpress.com.
-Lauren, TTPA
We love homemade granola bars or any homemade snack. Saving this so we can make it. Love what you do. Thank you!
Yum! I adore all things peanut butter, and these look delish! Just pinned and thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!
Alison
Nancherrow
Anything peanut butter has my attention! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Great healthy recipe and I love that you used such a healthy peanut butter. I had never heard of that brand before but might try it. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & twitted.
I love homemade granola bars and these look delicious! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Looks delicious! I have to try these!
I will have to make some of these! Yum. pinned. Lou Lou Girls
I haven’t seen the PB with Maple. Yum! I love wholesome snacks and just pinned.
I love your Granola Bars! This is a fantastic recipe and thanks so much for sharing it with us. Hope to see you again real soon at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen