Only SIX ingredients! My No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars are quick and easy to prepare. A great make-ahead breakfast or snack!
These no-bake peanut butter granola bars are made with just six simple ingredients and come together in minutes. They’re perfect for packing as a portable breakfast or snack, and they hold up well when chilled. The combination of oats, nuts, cranberries and chocolate chips gives them great texture and flavor, while the peanut butter and honey bind everything together.
I almost wish I’d made a batch to take on a recent family trip — it’s hard to find affordable breakfasts on the road. These bars would have been perfect for travel or busy mornings when you need something filling and easy to grab.
To make the bars, combine rolled oats, chopped mixed nuts, chocolate chips and dried cranberries in a large bowl. Reserve a tablespoon each of the cranberries and chocolate chips to press on top later. Stir in smooth peanut butter and honey until everything is evenly coated and sticky.
Spoon the mixture into an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) square tin lined with baking parchment. Smooth and compact the mixture firmly — the tighter you press it, the less crumbly the bars will be when cut. You can use another tin or a flat board to compress the mixture; pressing down with steady weight works best.
Remove the top parchment and tin, then press the reserved chocolate chips and cranberries onto the surface. Chill the tin in the freezer for one hour to firm the bars. Once set, lift the block from the tin, peel off the paper and slice into 12 bars. A few crumbly edges are normal and make for a tasty cook’s treat.
These bars keep well when refrigerated and are handy to freeze if you want to prepare ahead. Read the recipe details below for ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions.
How long do they keep?
Wrapped and refrigerated, these granola bars will keep for one week.
Can I freeze granola bars?
Yes. Wrap or cover the bars and freeze for up to one month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before eating.
Can I make the bars gluten free?
Yes. Use certified gluten-free rolled oats — oats themselves are naturally gluten free but are often processed in facilities that handle wheat, barley or rye.
Other topping ideas
- Dried fruits such as blueberries, raisins, dates, cherries or pineapple
- White chocolate chips or butterscotch chips instead of dark chocolate
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle on finely chopped nuts or freeze-dried raspberry or strawberry pieces
Other on-the-go breakfast ideas
- Banana Oat Cookies
- Banana Bread Energy Balls
- Rhubarb and Marzipan Breakfast Muffins
- No Bake Berry Bakewell Granola Bars
- Honey-filled Breakfast Popsicles with Greek Yogurt
- Grapefruit Breakfast Donuts
- Peanut Banana Oat Cookies
The No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars Recipe
No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Only SIX ingredients! These no-bake bars are quick to prepare and ideal for make-ahead breakfasts or snacks.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Freezing time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Breakfast, Snacks
Cuisine: American, British
Ingredients
- 220 g (2 cups) whole rolled oats
- 65 g (1/2 cup) chopped mixed nuts
- 65 g (1/2 cup) chocolate chips, plus 1 tbsp reserved
- 90 g (1/2 cup) dried cranberries, plus 1 tbsp reserved
- 270 g (1 cup) smooth peanut butter
- 85 g (1/4 cup) honey
Instructions
- Place the rolled oats and chopped nuts in a large bowl. Add all but 1 tablespoon of the dried cranberries and all but 1 tablespoon of the chocolate chips, and mix.
- Add the peanut butter and honey, stirring until the mixture is evenly combined and sticky.
- Spoon the mixture into an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) square tin lined with baking parchment.
- Flatten and compact the mixture firmly with the back of a spoon or by placing another tin on top and pressing down.
- Remove the top tin and parchment, then sprinkle and press the reserved cranberries and chocolate chips onto the surface.
- Cover and place in the freezer for one hour to firm up. Remove from the freezer, lift out of the tin, peel off the parchment and cut into 12 slices.
- Serve immediately, or wrap and refrigerate. Chilling helps keep the bars firm.
Notes
Nutritional information is approximate and per serving.
Nutrition (per bar, approximate)
Calories: 273 kcal | Carbohydrates: 33 g | Protein: 9 g | Fat: 13 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 1 mg | Sodium: 123 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 16 g
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