Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars {No Bake!}
Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars are chewy no bake granola bars with chocolate chips, oatmeal, and honey. An easy, no bake granola bar recipe that’s perfect for healthy breakfasts and snacks.
I ran for the bus every single day that I worked in a corporate office. I’d scuffle down the block in my heels, hot coffee in one hand and a grab-and-go breakfast like these no bake Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars in the other, silently praying that the bus was behind schedule. This was my Monday through Friday for four straight years.
You would think that after one year of stressed-out suit sprinting that I would have learned to leave the house earlier, let alone after four years, but it never happened. No matter how early I woke up, I always left the house at the same time: exactly three minutes before Bus #6 passed my stop.
Five minutes would have afforded me a leisurely stroll, but noooooo. I apparently lived for the adrenaline of running in a pencil skirt. If you haven’t worn one lately, imagine jogging with your thighs strapped together with a thick rubber band. Then make that rubber band dry clean only and not at all stretchy. It’s like that, only worse.
What did I learn instead? To store my heels in a box underneath my desk, instead of wearing them in (easier to run in flats) and to make sure I always had a stash of no-bake peanut butter granola bars at the ready. I might be late, but at least I wouldn’t be hungry.
If you find yourself rushing in the morning, struggle to find time for a healthy breakfast or snacks, have picky eaters to feed, or a bus of your own to catch, thee Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars recipe is for you. Because they’re a no bake recipe, they take only a few minutes to make, are made from simple ingredients, and can last for weeks, so you’ll always have them at the ready. Plus, they are super yummy, filling, and healthy too!
Peanut Butter Granola Bar Ingredients — A Triumphant Trio
The base of these peanut butter granola bars is the trifecta of peanut butter, oatmeal, and honey. It’s classic, delicious, and universal. I’m betting you have all three in your pantry right now, just waiting be transformed into these soft, chewy peanut butter granola bars. If you want to, you can even use the trifecta to make Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Energy Bites.
Once you have the base of the peanut butter granola bars mixed together, it’s a chose your own adventure of flavors. This peanut butter granola bar recipe is an ideal way to use up odd bits of leftover dried fruit, nuts, and chips you have hanging around. I opted for chocolate chips (I mean, is chocolate ever really optional?), dried cranberries and raisins, pumpkin seeds, and whole almonds.
The combination of the chocolate chips with the fruit and nuts reminded me of my favorite camping trail mix. It’s salty, sweet, and irresistible.
One of my favorite things about the no bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars is that they stay soft and chewy for as long as you can keep yourself from eating them (ours never hardened). They also have a long shelf life. You can store them in your refrigerator for a few weeks or freeze them for several months.
I tested a few different versions of these Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars, each with varying amounts of peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil. All were duly devoured, but today’s recipe is my favorite. It has just the right amount of sweetness, and the coconut oil helps the bars hold their shape.
You can certainly swap the coconut oil for extra peanut butter, and feel free to change out the nuts and fruits for any flavors you love or have on hand. Unlike Bus #6’s departure time, this peanut butter granola bar recipe is very flexible and forgiving!
Tools I used to make the peanut butter granola bars recipe:
- 8×8 baking pan
- Parchment paper (I love these pre-cut sheets)
How to Make Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars:
Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter*
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cupold-fashioned oats — gluten free if needed
- 3/4 cup crispy rice — or other puffed grain cereal, whole grain if possible (I used this one)
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit — I used 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup reduced-sugar dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup mixed nuts — and/or seeds, I used a mix of toasted pumpkin seeds and almonds
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips — dairy free if needed
Instructions
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Line an 8x8 baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on two of the sides like handles. Generously coat the foil or paper with baking spray. Set aside.
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In a microwave-safe bowl or a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the honey, peanut butter, and coconut oil. Melt gently and stir until smooth and combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let cool for 5 minutes.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, cereal, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt, then stir in the dried fruit, nuts/seeds, and chocolate chips. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the top, then stir until the ingredients are evenly moistened.
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Scoop the mixture into the prepared baking pan, then with a spatula or your fingers, press into an even layer. If the mixture is too sticky, lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the top, then press on its surface. Place the bars in the refrigerator to set, at least 2 hours or overnight. Once fully chilled, remove the bars from the pan with the foil or paper “handles,” then, using a very sharp knife, slice into bars. Enjoy immediately or store in the refrigerator or freezer for later.
Recipe Notes
- *I used Jif Creamy Natural Peanut Butter, which does not need to be stirred at room temperature. If you use a different brand or formula, you may need to alter the amount of liquid/oats/salt to suit your desired taste and texture. This recipe is flexible and forgiving, so feel free to adjust as needed.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Amount per serving (1 bar) — Calories: 163, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 63mg, Carbohydrates: 26g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 17g, Protein: 3gDid you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
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About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
Back in high school I almost missed the bus every single day, you would think I would have learned! Nope, in fact my breakfast was always a granola bar on the bus, the quaker chewy kind! These granola bars are the epitome of the perfect snack! You can never go wrong with these incredible ingredients paired together :)
I’m glad I’m not the only one! Thanks, Bethany!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! These look divine!
Thank you, Renee!
I Realy liked it looks very Healthi but I need the Rcpi to read well and make it
Plse if is posbelty to have a vedow well be gratt sore my spiling
Hi Kay, the recipe is located at the bottom of the post, right above the comments sections. I’m sorry I don’t have a video for this particular recipe, but the step by steps in the recipe are quite clear, so if you follow them carefully you should be good to go.
This is the kind of thing I need before going to the gym (: Nice work!
I could eat these everyday! Also, I like your use of the word trifecta. You never hear people use it too often any more, even though it’s really fun to say.
I eat granola bars constantly, they’re so easy and perfect for when you are in a time crunch. Thanks for this recipe!
Oh dear, the photos are great! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe !
These look and sound fantastic!
Hey girl- love the post! These bars look amazing! yummy!
Thanks, Shawnna! I really appreciate it!
I just made this recipe last night and WOW….. these are so easy but yet turn out so delicious. My entire family loves them, which is so unusual because they never agree on anything. This literally took all but 5 minutes to make…… and another 2 minutes to devour. I will be making this daily.
Hi Kerry, thank you so much for trying the bars out and reporting back! I’m so excited to hear that they were enjoyed by all!
These bars are easy and delicious! I mixed in dried cherries, coconut flakes, almonds, and chocolate chips. I LOVE the crunch from the cereal too! Thanks, Erin!
Caitlin, I am so happy that you liked these and the coconut + cherries sounds DELICIOUS. I am going to try it that way myself next time!
Made these yesterday and they are gone!!! Everyone loved them. Going to make more for breakfast during the week. Maybe they will last longer while kiddos are at school, they didn’t stand a chance on a weekend. I used up raisins and dried cranberries that were leftover from a trail mix that apparently had too many in them, glad I didn’t throw them away:)
Hi Denise, what a great idea to use leftover raisins and cranberries from trail mix! I’m so happy to hear everyone loved them. Thanks so much for leaving this great review!
Hi Erin,
What can I substitute if I do not have or want to use puffed cereal?
Thanks!
Hi Allison, you can add more oats if you’d like. I would use 2–3 tablespoons less than the puffed cereal measurement, see how well the mix is holding together, and then add more only if it seems way too sticky. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi Erin, thank you so much for the recipe. It smells divine and we can’t wait to try them. I am just wondering if you sprinkled extra chips, seeds n dried fruit on top? Mine does not look like yours, but I am sure it will taste great.
Hi Anna! I didn’t add any additional chocolate chips, seeds, or fruit on top of mine, but you are welcome to if you like! Either way, they will be delicious. :)
These are so good! My husband said the same thing half way through his first bite! I had exactly enough cocoa Krispies left so figured it would be a nice balance to the chocolate chips. I had one for breakfast today and wasn’t even hungry at lunch time. I will definitely be making these again!
Thanks so much for leaving this great feedback, Colleen! I’m so glad to hear you and your husband enjoyed the bars!
Hi Erin, just made these, they look great and taste great, but when they come out of the fridge, they go soft, am i using too much liquid, thanks
Hi Julie! These do soften at room temperature, so you didn’t do a thing wrong! If you’d like them to be firmer, you can add more oats. Just be careful not to add too many so that the bars don’t turn out dry. Glad you are happy with their look and flavor!
I just made these and they are super duper yummy. So much so that I am currently chomping on my second one with a cup of tea (at home in London). My melted mix must have been a little hot as the chocolate melted into the bars a bit, but it only adds to the flavour. Thank you for all your amazing recipes Erin. I love the balance of deliciousness and healthiness. Also, I can never fail to be amused and boosted by your humor and sunny optimism. Thank you! Enjoy the wedding! Louise
Louise, thank you for this sweet comment! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the bars.
I made these last night and my whole family enjoyed them this morning, even my very picky two year-old… I was thrilled at that! Mine don’t look half as pretty as yours, but they sure taste good. I used All-Bran Buds for the cereal component for a punch of fiber, and they still taste great. Thank you! I love your recipes.
Jessica, I’m so happy to hear that these granola bars were a winner with your whole family! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review!
I made this last summer for a family camp out and everyone has been asking for them since.
Pam, I am so so happy to hear that. I hope you love your next batch too!
Hi, made these yesterday + added ground ginger as well as cinnamon – brilliant. Conscious it’s a lot of honey, which is great as it keeps them moist + gooey…do you think maple syrup would be ok too? Anyhow, going to make another batch, freeze some (if they last that long!) + pack them as a treat when we’re out walking + biking :) Thanks for the fab recipes, will post on IG next time!
Hi Heather! I’m thrilled to hear you love these bars – one of my faves, too! I have not tried the recipe with maple syrup – it might not hold together as well as honey, but might be worth a try! If you do try it this way, I’d love to hear how it goes! Enjoy!!
Oh man I did something wrong. Tastes wonderful but won’t hold together at all. Any suggestions? I followed the recipe to the T!
Hi Brittaini, I’m glad the flavor is good! It’s hard to know what may have happened with the consistency without being in the kitchen with you, but you might try adding a bit more honey and peanut butter next time.
I made these in my son’s preschool class today as our weekly cooking project and they LOVED it! They loved measuring all of the ingredients, watching the coconut oil “disappear” into the warm pb and honey, showing off their “super strong muscles…SEEEEE?!?” when it came time to mix everything together, and of course the teachers and parents loved that they got to enjoy a healthy snack after naptime today. Thank you for a(nother) fabulous recipe!!!!
Rachel, that sounds like a wonderful activity! I’m glad the recipe was a hit.
I made this recipe and it is excellent, especially adding one’s own substitutions. However, you can leave the bars in the refrigerator for a month and they will still fall apart when taken out and attempted to be eaten when they become warm no matter how pressed together. I found that if the pan is baked on low temp (200-250) for about 20 minutes, then cooled and cut and put into little individual plastic bags, that they become crispy, are much easier to eat without a spoon and keep well in the fridge until they are all consumed.
Thanks for sharing your notes! I’m glad to hear you enjoy the bars.
Loved these! But found them a tad too sweet. Is there a way to lower the amount of honey and still be able to have them stick together?
Hi Anna! You can swap some of the honey for extra peanut butter. So glad you loved them!