Chewy Gluten-free Peanut Butter Granola Bars
From the author: No-bake, gluten-free, peanut butter, chocolate… what more could you want?
These Chewy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars are quick and easy, and keep well in the fridge, and even longer in the freezer. Mix and match ingredients and have some fun making up some wacky combinations!
From Plant-Based on a Budget: Life is busy, so we can never have too many easy grab-and-go snack recipes in our repertoire. These delicious Chewy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars are one of them, and we think you will absolutely love them. Don’t be fooled, these are not only a kids favorite, there’s no age limit for falling in love with these.
What Are These Peanut-Butter Granola Bars Made Of?
Mixing the perfect amount of crunchy, chewy, and moist ingredients, these bars are made with some of your favorite breakfast staples like peanut butter, oats, cereal, dried fruits (like raisins and cranberries), maple syrup, and, our favorites, chocolate chips.
What Kind of Chocolate Chips Do I Need?
You want to look for a dairy-free variety like Guittards, Simple Truth’s semi-sweet, Wegman’s semi-sweet, Enjoy Life, Whole Foods 365 brand, and Lily’s. Look out for the brands and varieties which contain whole milk powder, but many semi-sweet and dark chocolate options should be free of dairy. Happy baking!
Can I Freeze Granola Bars?
Yes, you can! If you made too many for your family to finish in one week then you can pop them in the freezer to enjoy later and they could last up to 2 to 2 ½ months. We recommend wrapping them individually in foil or parchment paper and then place them in a freezer-friendly bag or container (make sure you note the date of when you made them on the outside of the bag or container). You’ll be thrilled to remember you have them when hunger strikes and you have run out of snacks. Bingo!
How Can I Store Granola Bars?
If you don’t want to freeze them to enjoy later, then you have the option of keeping them either in your refrigerator or in your pantry. We do also recommend wrapping them individually in parchment paper to avoid them sticking together and to avoid moisture getting in and make them soggy. If you place them in your pantry, they can last for a couple of weeks and up to a month in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Any Tricks to Make These Energy Bars Turn Out Perfect?
Always mix the wet ingredients first and then add the dry ingredients. This is a great rule when it comes to some baking recipes, it’s always good to keep in mind.
Make sure you choose a rather neutral-tasting cereal. We recommend gluten-free O’s or rice krispies for the best texture and flavor and to keep them gluten-free. We don’t think the result would be the same if we used fruity loops, so let’s remember to keep it neutral.
Adjust the sweetness to your liking. We all have a different sweet spot (pun intended), so play around with it and reduce the maple syrup the next time you prepare them if you thought they were too sweet the first time.
You can use any dried fruits you like but make sure you chop them small if they are larger than cranberries and raisins. Some finely chopped dates or apricots might be a good switch up.
Make sure you use quick oats instead of Old Fashioned Oats. You want them to be smaller and easier to chew.
If you have a peanut allergy, feel free to replace the creamy peanut butter with creamy almond butter or tahini. The flavor will still be amazing and the texture will be the same.
When to Enjoy Homemade Granola Bars?
The simple answer is any time, but we do have some favorite occasions when these bars can come in handy and save you some hunger pangs:
- On a hectic morning when you didn’t have time to prepare breakfast for yourself or the little ones. The entire family can enjoy these with a glass of plant milk or a cozy tea.
- Take them on that long road trip. If there’s one thing we know for sure is that road trips need lots of snacks to avoid too many stops along the way, or to keep the little ones calm and content. These bars would be perfect to enjoy in the car while singing some good tunes and daydreaming about our destination.
- Mid-Afternoon Snack: When the clock strikes 3 or 4 we tend to crave something sweet and filling to make it until dinner time. These Chewy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars would hit the right spot and give us the energy to keep on going with our busy day.
We hope you give these granola bars a try and make them weekly going forward. It feels so good to have a homemade snack to reach out to instead of buying them at the store.
Let us know how you like these and let us know in the comments your favorite way to enjoy them!
Please take the time to rate this recipe and leave a comment! Don’t forget to tag us (@plantbasedonabudget) on your photo on Instagram! We’d love to connect with you!
Other quick breakfast ideas:
Chewy Gluten-free Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup of creamy peanut butter
- ⅔ cup of light corn syrup or maple syrup
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups quick oats
- 2 cups cereal I used gluten-free O's, but rice krispies work great
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries or raisins sub in any dried fruit you like
- ⅓ cup vegan chocolate chips I use semi-sweet Guittard as they are vegan
Instructions
- Line a 9x9 dish with parchment paper.
- Mix together the peanut butter, syrup, and brown sugar. Microwave for one minute, mix, and microwave for another minute.
- Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon.
- Stir in the oats. Stir in the cereal.
- Stir in the fruit and vegan chocolate. Pour into the prepared dish, place parchment paper over it, and press down hard into the pan until it’s evenly spread.
- Place in the freezer for an hour to set.
- Remove the mixture from the pan and cut it into granola bars. Keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.
Video
Notes
- On a hectic morning when you didn’t have time to prepare breakfast for yourself or the little ones. The entire family can enjoy these with a glass of plant milk or a cozy tea.
- Take them on that long road trip. If there’s one thing we know for sure is that road trips need lots of snacks to avoid too many stops along the way, or to keep the little ones calm and content. These bars would be perfect to enjoy in the car while singing some good tunes and daydreaming about our destination.
- Mid-Afternoon Snack: When the clock strikes 3 or 4 we tend to crave something sweet and filling to make it until dinner time. These Chewy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars would hit the right spot and give us the energy to keep on going with our busy day.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
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About Toni
Welcome to Plant-Based on a Budget! Here you’ll find affordable and easy-to-make recipes, and an inclusive, supportive approach to plant-based eating.
Nancy Wu says
love the adding peanut butter. super tasty
Andrea White says
The best kind of snack!