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    Home » Recipes » Brownies/ Blondies/Cookie Bars

    Chewy Granola Bars

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Mar 18, 2022 · Modified: Mar 18, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe

    Chewy Granola Bars are packed full of flavor. The combination of peanut butter, chocolate, oats, and peanuts satisfies hunger and sweet tooth cravings. This no bake recipe is easily adapted to whatever cereal and add-ins you have on hand.

    Granola bars surrounded by peanut butter, honey, oats, corn flakes, and cranberries.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    When you buy a packaged bar, you have to choose from the flavor combinations on the shelf. That can be very limiting, especially if you have food sensitivities or allergies.

    With this easy, no bake recipe you can make homemade granola bars with your preferred flavors and none of the ingredients you don't like or can't eat.

    This is a chewy bar with crunchy ingredients. The flavors and texture continue to improve after a few days, which makes them ideal for care packages, lunch boxes, and as grab-and-go snacks.

    Consider this recipe a granola bar blueprint. Following the quantities indicated in the recipe, you can make these bars with whatever nut/seed butter, cereals and add-ins you like.

    Bars lined up on a square white serving plate.

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    Step by step image collage cooking wet ingredients in sauce pan until combined.
    1. Combine the quick cooking oats and cereal in a large bowl.
    2. In a sauce pan over medium heat, mix together the honey, golden syrup, and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat.
    3. Stir in the nut butter, until melted and smooth.

    Step by step image collage combining granola mixture.
    1. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture and stir until combined.
    2. Mix in all add-ins such as chocolate chips and nuts.
    Step by step images pressing mixture into the pan.
    1. Spread the granola bar mixture evenly in a greased baking pan.
    2. Cover with a sheet of wax paper and press down very firmly to compress the ingredients. Using a smaller baking pan on top to press is helpful.
    3. Allow the mixture to cool and firm before cutting into bars with a sharp knife.

    Storage

    Store the bars at room temperature in an airtight container in layers separated by wax paper.

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    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! Plus, you’ll get more great recipes and tips from us each week!

    For great grab-and-go packaging, wrap each bar in wax paper and place in a ziplock plastic bag or wrap individually in plastic wrap.

    Granola bars will stay fresh for up to 10 days.

    Granola bars, wrapped in wax paper then cellophane bags, packed for shipping in a cookie tin.

    Tips and variations

    • Golden syrup is sugar syrup with a caramel flavor that is very popular in the United Kingdom. In the US it is available at some supermarkets (usually in the pancake syrup or baking aisle), World Market, and online. Though it can be replaced in this recipe with corn syrup or honey, the flavor of golden syrup is especially good.
    • For the ½ cup total of liquid sweetener, you can substitute any combination of corn syrup, Golden Syrup, and/or honey.
    • Use 2 cups of your choice of cereal. One batch of the bars in the photographs were made with rice krispies cereal and another batch was made with corn flakes. Other possibilities include Cheerios, Chex, corn puffs, or quinoa puffs.
    • The ½ cup of nut butter can be varied with peanut butter, tree nut butter, sunflower seed butter, soy butter, or Biscoff butter.
    • Variations for the ½ cup of add-ins include: chopped or slivered nuts, dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped fruit bits), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or shredded coconut.
    • Use your favorite flavor for the ½ cup of chips or mini chips, such as dark/semisweet/milk chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter.
    • This is the glass baking dish that I use when making these bars. I use glass so that I can easily cut the bars directly in the dish without scratching the pan.
    Stack of granola bars showing the cut edges .

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you get granola bars to stick together?

    The honey, golden syrup, and nut butter are the glue that holds this bar together. The recipe amount are balanced so that the correct amount of "glue" can hold the dry ingredients together.
    It is essential to press the mixture very firmly into the pan to compress the ingredients into bars that stick together.

    Can I use rolled oats instead of quick cook oats in granola bars?

    Quick oats are cut in smaller pieces and steamed longer than rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) during processing. This creates a softer oat that is best for no bake recipes. Rolled oats would be overly chewy no bake granola bars.

    More no-bake treats

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are bite sized cookies with just 4 ingredients!

    Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Cookies are chewy treats with crunchy bits of freeze dried banana.

    Peanut Butter Krispie Bars are cereal bars speckled with chocolate candy and sprinkles.

    If you love breakfast bars with oats, next time try these baked Oatmeal Fruit Bars!

    Ready to bake? Join the free membership group to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’d love to stay in touch!

    Chewy Crunchy Granola bars surrounded by ingredients.

    Chewy Granola Bars Recipe

    These homemade chewy granola bars are full of peanut butter, chocolate, oats, and peanuts that satisfies hunger and sweet tooth cravings.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 15
    Calories: 215kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups quick cook oats
    • 2 cups crispy rice cereal or brown rice cereal
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup Lyle’s Golden Syrup or corn syrup or additional honey
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup nut butter such as peanut butter, almond butter, etc.
    • ½ cup chopped nuts
    • ½ cup chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Use butter or non-stick spray to coat a 9”x12” pan for easy removal.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine oats and rice cereal. Set aside.
    • In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add honey, syrup, and brown sugar. Stir constantly, until the sugar dissolves.
    • Remove from heat and mix in nut butter.
    • Immediately, pour the honey mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir to coat and combine.
    • Add the nuts and chips and stir to distribute. The granola will be very stiff and hard to mix.
    • Spread the granola into the prepared pan.
    • VERY IMPORTANT: Place a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper over the pan and firmly press the granola into the pan. The mixture must be compressed or you will end up with granola snack mix and not granola bars.
    • Allow the bars to cool and become firm for about 30 minutes. (15 minutes in the refrigerator).
    • Use a sharp knife to cut into bars.
    • Store the bars at room temperature in an airtight container in layers separated by wax paper. For grab-and-go packaging, wrap each bar in wax paper and place in a ziplock plastic bag or wrap individually in plastic wrap. Granola bars will stay fresh for up to 10 days.

    Notes

    • Golden syrup is sugar syrup with a caramel flavor that is very popular in the United Kingdom. In the US it is available at some supermarkets (usually in the pancake syrup or baking aisle), World Market, and online. Though it can be replaced in this recipe with corn syrup or honey, the flavor of golden syrup is especially good.
    • For the ½ cup total of liquid sweetener, you can substitute any combination of corn syrup, Golden Syrup, and/or honey.
    • Use 2 cups of your choice of cereal. One batch of the bars in the photographs were made with crispy brown rice cereal and another batch was made with corn flakes. Other possibilities include Cheerios, Chex, corn puffs, or quinoa puffs.
    • The ½ cup of nut butter can be varied with peanut butter, tree nut butter, sunflower seed butter, soy butter, or Biscoff butter.
    • Variations for the ½ cup of add-ins include: chopped or slivered nuts, dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped fruit bits), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame), or shredded coconut.
    • Use your favorite flavor for the ½ cup of chips, such as dark/semisweet/milk chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter.
    Packing tips
    Wrap the granola bars in plastic wrap, individually or in pairs separated with a piece of wax paper. Self-sealing cellophane bags can also be used. Place the wrapped bundles snuggly in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    First Published: June 2012. Last Updated: March 18, 2022. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.

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    Comments

    1. Linda

      June 25, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      If I’m out of honey, just substitute with additional syrup??

      Reply
      • Wendy Sondov

        June 25, 2020 at 6:15 pm

        Hi Linda! Yes, you can use all golden syrup! Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Sue

      June 25, 2020 at 8:48 am

      Another super idea for care pAckages Wendy!

      Reply
      • Wendy Sondov

        June 25, 2020 at 6:16 pm

        Thanks, Sue. They may not be ideal for hot weather shipping, but they are great the rest of the year.

        Reply
    3. Miz Helen

      August 20, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      I love a great Granola and this one looks soooo good! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a fantastic week!
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    4. Gail

      August 01, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      Why buy when you make these at home. so great

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        August 01, 2017 at 9:23 pm

        Thanks, Gail! I couldn't agree more! My son is in town this week for work and these grab-and-go bars were the first thing I made for his quick breakfasts and snacks. 🙂

        Reply
    5. edye

      May 01, 2016 at 11:43 am

      These look so yummy! Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Blessings,
      Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        May 01, 2016 at 12:24 pm

        Thanks, Edye! No-bake is especially wonderful in the summer!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

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