Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Level
- medium
- Cuisine
- American
Soft, chewy granola bars combining peanut butter, oats, and semisweet chocolate chips. The binding mixture of peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup creates bars with excellent texture that hold together without baking powder or eggs. Perfect for lunchboxes, snacks, or quick breakfasts. This version balances nutty richness with chocolate in an accessible, no-mixer recipe.
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Method
11 steps- 1
Preheat oven to 350F.
- 2
Grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan.
- 3
Combine peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until smooth.
- 4
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- 5
Add oats and stir until well combined.
- 6
Mix in chocolate chips.
- 7
Transfer mixture to prepared pan and spread evenly, pressing down with back of a metal spoon.
- 8
Optionally top with additional chocolate chips.
- 9
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until set and lightly golden.
- 10
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
- 11
Once fully cooled, slice into 8 bars.
Tips
Press the mixture firmly into the pan for denser, chewier bars. Loose packing results in crumbly texture.
Don't overbake. Bars continue firming as they cool, so remove at 20-25 minutes for optimal chewiness.
For uniform bar sizes, use a sharp knife dipped in hot water between cuts.
Good to Know
Airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days. Refrigerate in hot climates to prevent chocolate bloom.
Prepare through cooling step up to 2 days ahead. Store unsliced slab wrapped tightly. Cut before serving.
Room temperature or slightly chilled. Pairs with cold milk, coffee, or tea. Portable for travel.
Common Mistakes
Underbake to avoid hard, brittle bars. 20-25 minutes yields chewiness.
Skip pressing firmly to avoid crumbly, falling-apart texture.
Skip cooling in pan to avoid bars breaking when transferring to rack.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
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FAQ
Can I use natural peanut butter?
Yes, but stir it well first to incorporate separated oil. Natural butter may yield slightly less cohesive bars since it lacks stabilizers in conventional brands.
How long do these keep?
Airtight at room temperature, 4-5 days. Refrigerated, 1-2 weeks. Freeze individually wrapped up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes.
What if my bars turned out crumbly?
Underbaking or insufficient pressing causes crumbling. Ensure batter is pressed firmly into the pan and baked full 20-25 minutes. Bars firm as they cool.