I’m not generally a huge granola bar fan, but these Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are quite delicious if I do say so myself. My kids have been on a real Energy Bites kick lately for a fun snack, and I started remembering that I used to make homemade granola bars sometimes. I decided to whip up a batch, and no surprise, they were a huge hit with the kids!
Why do kids need to eat so often? Asking for a friend…I feel like I have never cooked more than I have cooked in the last year. As a person who generally loves cooking, I’ve been surprised by the immense burnout I’ve felt. I can only imagine that being intensified if cooking isn’t typically your favorite way to spend your time. Two things I’m doing to help push through the burnout are to let my kids help in the kitchen more and try new recipes.
In some ways having the kids help takes a little more work, but it also gives them something to do that isn’t video games or watching a show. I love that it is teaching them a life skill, and I try to remind myself of that when there is a bigger mess than I would like in my kitchen.
This recipe does involve using the stove and also starting a 2-minute timer, but other than that, it is easy as pie! Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are a great recipe that older kids can make independently.
More Great Recipes Kids Can Make Independently
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Mango Lassi with Buttermilk
- Easy Baked Chicken Taquitos
- One Bowl Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner
- No-bake Cherry Cheesecake
Step-by-Step pictures for how to Make Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola bars
Tips for making Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Use quick oats instead of regular oats.
- Chop regular-sized chocolate chips, if you don’t have mini chocolate chips.
- Get creative with add-ins: Mini M&M’s, raisins, craisins, chopped nuts, flaxseed meal, chia seeds…
- Use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy to easily add small chunks of peanuts.
- If desired, substitute brown rice syrup or Karo syrup in place of honey.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into bar-sized pieces.
- Keep covered in the fridge.
- Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and refrigerate to keep fresh. Wrapped bars are a great snack to throw into lunch boxes.
More Kid Friendly Snacks
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 cup rice crispy cereal
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ mini chocolate chips, divided
- Prepare an 11x7 or 8x8 glass baking dish by buttering it or spraying it with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the quick oats, rice crispy cereal, and salt.
- In a small saucepan, combine the honey, butter, and brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, turn to medium-low to keep it simmering. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- After two minutes, remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla. Immediately pour over the oat/rice crispy mixture and stir together. Once mixed together add half of the mini chocolate chips, stir to combine, and then pour the granola mixture into the prepared pan.
- Press down evenly in the pan. (I use a piece of plastic wrap on my hand to keep my hand from getting messy.)
- Sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips on top of the bars and press them in.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting.
- Cut bars into granola bar-sized strips and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy!
These granola bars tasted so good! Thank you!
#marchgiveaway
Thank you, you are welcome!
I love granola bars. I eat them a good bit. My kids love them too. I am def going to try to make this.
Awesome, glad you found this recipe!