4-ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate {vegan, gluten-free}

This recipe for 4-ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate is quick and easy to make, vegan and gluten-free,  and is loved by all who try it!

Heads up! This recipe was first published in January 2014. The text of the post is the same; some photos have been updated. 

When I was reflecting on the direction of Happy Healthy Mama for the New Year, one thing came to mind:  simple. Less ingredients, less hassle, less time in the kitchen.

It’s not that I don’t love spending all day cooking or creating elaborate meals.  I do.  A lot.  I’m just not at a time in my life that affords such a luxury.  When, exactly, that time of life will come, I’m not sure.  Retirement?

Anyway, so as I thought about what I want to happen in this space in 2014, I realized there are a lot of moms, dads, and busy individuals who are in the same position I am.  Wanting the meals and snacks we make to be from nourishing, real-food ingredients, but only having so much time to accomplish that goal.

And of course there are those of you who don’t really like spending that much time in the kitchen.  You don’t love cooking or baking much, but still have a desire to provide the best foods you can for yourself or your family.  I’ve got you in mind, too.

You will see a lot more recipes like these 4-ingredient peanut butter granola bars this year on Happy Healthy Mama. Quick, simple recipes for healthful snacks that won’t take all day to prepare.  Easy and healthy dinners that can be prepared and cooked in 30 minutes.  These are the types of recipes I’m working on.

I can’t promise every recipe will be simple, but you will see a lot more of the quick and easy variety, usually with minimal ingredients.

For today’s peanut butter granola bars, all you need is four ingredients and one bowl and you are in business with a quick and healthy snack.  If you want to add the chocolate (who doesn’t want to add chocolate?!) that’s just one more bowl.  

The granola bars, without the chocolate, are fantastic.  You don’t need the chocolate for these to be good.   The chocolate just elevates them to, well, almost candy bar level.  At least this is my kids’ version of a candy bar.

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4-ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate {vegan, gluten-free}

These 4-ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate are vegan, gluten-free, and SUPER EASY to make!

• Author: Happy Healthy Mama

Ingredients

For the Bars

• 2 cups old fashioned oats (use certified GF oats if necessary)
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup peanuts, lightly crushed
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

For the chocolate topping

• 1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, melted
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted (optional)

Instructions

1. Put the oats, peanut butter, crushed peanuts (to crush my peanuts, I put them in a small sandwich bag and use a rolling pin to break them up.  Easy!), and honey or maple syrup into a large bowl and mix well.
2. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.  Transfer the mixture to the dish and use your hands to spread it out to the edges.  Take another sheet of parchment paper and lay it on top of the mixture.  Press it firmly down.  Use something heavy to do this.  I use a large can of tomatoes. Don’t skip this part!  When making homemade granola bars, I’ve found this step to be crucial for them to hold together well and have the best texture.  
3. Pull the parchment paper off of the top and bake the in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. Don’t throw the parchment paper away-you will need it again!
4. When the bars are finished baking, pull them out of the oven and put the parchment paper back on top of them.  Once again, press them down firmly into the dish.  I use the big ol’ can of tomatoes again to do this.  Put them in the fridge to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
5. Pull the mixture out of the pan with the parchment paper and use a sharp knife to cut them into bars.
6. Meanwhile, melt your chocolate chips and coconut oil and mix them together.  (The coconut oil is optional.  I find it spreads better and leaves a nicer finish with coconut oil, but it’s fine without it, too.)  Spread the chocolate over the bars evenly using a rubber spatula.
7. Return to the refrigerator to let the chocolate firm, and then cut into bars again.  Store bars in the refrigerator.  Enjoy!

Notes

I’ve used both honey and maple syrup to make these, and even though the picture shows maple syrup, I prefer the honey

 

I’m starting to loathe recipes that make only 6 or 8 bars as they will only last a day in this house.  This recipe makes a full 18 bars, but feel free to half the recipe and make it in a 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan if that better suits your needs.

I did a quick calculation of the cost of making these bars in comparison with buying a box of granola bars.  I found that, based on the prices I pay for ingredients, this whole recipe cost approximately $5.16 to make, putting the cost per 6 bars (a typical box of granola bars) at $1.72, or 28 cents per bar.  That is considerably cheaper than buying a box of pre made granola bars, and you are in control of your ingredients.  (Even organic granola bars have added ingredients like tapioca syrup)  Win!

If you make this 4-ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars with Chocolate recipe, or any Happy Healthy Mama recipe, I would LOVE to see it! Please take a pic and share it on Instagram or the Happy Healthy Mama Facebook page and tag me @happyhealthymama 

Also, if you try it, would you mind rating the recipe? It’s VERY helpful for me and other readers if the recipes have ratings and reviews. I appreciate you!

If you’d like to save this recipe for later, here’s an image to save to your Pinterest recipe board!

 

 

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