No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Super easy gluten free No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars! These bars perfect for an easy snack!
A brand new year! How do you feel about new beginnings? I have always been partial to them. I love a fresh, clean planner full of possibilities.
In school I loved the beginning of the year with brand new notebooks, empty folders, it just felt like anything could happen. New is nice, it is exciting!
I don’t generally make New Years resolutions but I know many people do. Probably the most common resolution is to eat a bit healthier.
These No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are a great way to eat a bit healthier without giving up your sweet tooth! These simple granola bars are packed with gluten free oats, pecans, peanut butter, honey and of course a healthy dose of chocolate chips!
I usually make a double batch on Sundays to have as a quick snack when your sweet tooth is calling or something easy to pack in lunches.
This is also very easy to adapt to your own preferences. For example, adding in white chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, coconuts, raisins, or anything else in your cabinet would work!
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Peanut butter
- Honey
- Coconut oil
- Gluten-free old fashioned oats
- Pecans (or walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc.)
- Chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips, M&M’s, crushed candies, dried fruit, etc.)
- Protein powder (optional)
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How to Make Gluten Free Granola Bars
These are super easy–Just mix & freeze to set! No cooking required whatsoever! Just follow these steps below:
- In a microwaveable bowl or small sauce pan melt peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey and stir well.
- Add in protein powder (if you’re using it) and blend well. When mixture is combined, add oats and stir until oats are coated.
- Line an 8×8 pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking oil. Spread mixture into pan (it will be very thick).
- Top with pecans and chocolate chips and place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes until well-set. Then peel foil off, cut into bars, and store in fridge.
What kind of oats should you use in no-bake granola bars?
You’ll see four major types of oats at the grocery store–Which should you pick? For this recipe, I recommend old-fashioned rolled oats. In my opinion, these lend just the right chewy texture: not too soft, not too coarse. Here’s a little guide to help you choose which to use in different recipes:
- Steel Cut Oats: These are the least processed. Instead of being “rolled” or flattened, they are coarsely chopped. They require a decent amount of cooking to become soft and they don’t absorb as much liquid as rolled oats, so these are great in stews and stuffings.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: These are the second-least processed. These are steamed, rolled, and flaked. These oats are loved in baked goods and overnight oatmeal because they soak up a bit of moisture and become soft and chewy.
- Quick-Cooking Rolled Oats: These are highly processed as they are steamed, dried, cut, and rolled thin. They cook faster than the two types above and soak up tons of moisture, often resulting in them “disappearing” into soft baked goods (sometimes making them too soft to pick up in one piece). Many people prefer these in their no-bake cookies, though!
- Instant Rolled Oats: These are the most processed as they are made to be cooked extremely quickly. These can become very mushy, and the gummy texture is not recommended in baked goods or these no-bake treats.
Other No-Bake Snacks
There are tons of snacks you can prepare without needing to cook a thing! These No-Bake Toasted Coconut and Almond Granola Bars (no oats required!) are great for breakfast.
This Healthy Chickpea Salad is a great option for a no-bake lunch or dinner! Dips are another easy, no-cook way to snack! Try this Easy Feta Hummus or this Lima Bean Salsa!
For dessert, try this gluten-free, oat-free, low-carb twist on the No Bake Cookies (and this peanut butter version!). There’s also No-Bake Peppermint Mocha Pie, and this impressive, layered No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Lush!
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 1/2 cup gluten free old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon protein powder, optional
Instructions
- In a microwaveable bowl or small sauce pan melt first three ingredients and stir well.
- Add in protein powder (optional) and blend well. When mixture is combined, add oats and stir until oats are coated.
- Line an 8×8 pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking oil. Spread mixture into pan (it will be very thick).
- Top with pecans and chocolate chips and place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes until well set. Then peel foil off, cut into bars, and store in fridge.
Notes
These look DELICIOUS! I love no bake things 🙂 especially when they have peanut butter and chocolate! I have to give these a try!
Amanda
AnchoredtoSunshine.com
Haha, my resolution is always to eat healthier! This year I really need it though — man I went overboard with the holiday baking last year! That’s the problem with being a blogger I guess. A batch of these would be perfect for post work out snacks. Happy New Year Annie!
Did you say no-bake? Perfect! When I’ve made baked granola bars in the past, I always like the dough better than the finished product. Other benefit…..you don’t have to wait to eat them.
Yes! No bake is the best! 🙂 Thanks Annie!
I used to make a similar recipe to this back in college because it was one of the only things I could make in the microwave, haha! These are so good – I must try your version to keep around as a healthy snack!
Oh yes this is good “dorm room” food! lol!
These look awesome, Annie! And with the PB and Chocolate, it’s probably a homemade bar that my kids will actually eat! They remind me of the Quaker chewy bars…but with a lot less ingredients! 🙂
Yes! They kind of taste like those no bake peanut butter cookies that have loads of butter and sugar. But these are actually healthy! lol!
These granola bars look amazing! Love the minimal ingredients and that they’re no bake 🙂
Thanks Medha!
I love the start of a new year too, it’s always such a good feelings. I love making homemade granola bars, especially when they’re no-bake! These look like such a great snack.
Thanks Danielle!
I am all for healthier snacks this time of year! Never mind the fact that we had to stay late at work and order take-out yesterday and today. 🙁 I need to make up a big batch of these and keep them on hand – they look amazing!
Oh that is no fun at all! 🙁 You definitely deserve a big batch of these!
Happy New Year, Annie! These granola bars are the perfect way to start off a healthy new year! I love that they are no bake! The protein powder and chopped pecans make them perfect for fueling up after a workout!
Happy New Year! You’re right these are a great post workout treat!
I practically LIVE on granola bars at snacktime this time of year! These ones look SO easy and so darn amazing I just might have to make them today!
You will just love them!
Even though it’s in low 20’s here, I love no bake recipes ALL THE TIME!! So much easier and you can make at any odd hour without letting the whole house know that you are cooking hehe!! These look delicious Annie 🙂
I’m with you Ami! I loooove no bake recipes! Thanks girl!
Every year I see no bake granola bars and every year I think “I need to make those!” I think THESE are the ones I need to make!!
Yes! These are the ones! 🙂 Thanks Dorothy!
These look awesome! I love all the real ingredients in them. Store bought granola bars can have some funky ingredients. These look like a great way to kick off the new year!!
I agree! I like knowing exactly what we are eating! Thanks Jess!
Happy New Year! I am so looking forward to 2016…it’s going to be a great year! I haven’t made my own granola bars in too long, and these are calling my name in a big way. Yum!
Yes! Granola bars for everyone!
I’ve been wanting to make homemade bars for the longest time! Will have to try these. 🙂
You will love them Christin! 🙂
Yum, these look fantastic and oh so simple, too! Love the idea of making a double batch on the weekend, too! You really never can make enough food for the week ahead. Come mid-week I know I’m always extremely glad I put in the time on the weekends, because I just don’t have the energy once the week is in full swing. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
It looks amazing. I love out in e country and have all ingredients except for the coconut oil. Can I substitute something else?
Hi Carly I did some research but I can’t find a replacement that I think would work for the coconut oil. If I come up with something I will let you know! 🙂
How many calories are in 1 bar? I’m sorry if I missed that information – I didn’t see it posted