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This peanut butter granola bars recipe is so EASY! The best no bake peanut butter granola bars recipe without honey, that tastes just like honey roasted peanuts.
Try the cookie version here.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
How do I take a tried ‘n true snack and make it even better? That’s what I asked myself when I started working on this peanut butter granola bars recipe.
The answer? Make these peanut butter granola bars with the fewest ingredients possible, dramatically decrease prep time, and make them impossibly delicious.
Wanna see how these no bake peanut butter granola bars are all that and more? Let’s make this!
3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Can it be any easier? My homemade peanut butter granola bar recipe only requires 3 ingredients: all vegan, gluten free & healthy! Check it out:
- Peanut Butter
- Rolled Oats – gluten free if needed 😉
- Pure Maple Syrup
How to Make Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Learn how to make peanut butter granola bars the easy way, then let me know what you think! 🙂
Line a baking pan
Line a square baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Set it aside for later.
Make the peanut butter mixture
Add peanut butter and maple syrup to a mixing bowl. Then, whisk the two ingredients together until thickened. This is your sweetened peanut butter mixture!
Heat until warm
Heat the bowl of sweetened peanut butter until warm and just a few bubbles form.
Look for just a small amount of tiny bubbles to cook the syrup and peanut butter together—not to worry, this isn’t a super finicky thing. You just want to warm the two ingredients cohesively together because it will be the glue for your granola bars. Mine took 4 rounds of 30 seconds each.
Add oats
Add oats to the warm, sweetened peanut butter mixture. Use a rubber spatula to fold it all together to create the dough for your peanut butter granola bars.
Check out the texture in this peanut butter beauty!
Pour granola bar mixture into the pan
Transfer this granola bar mixture into the lined pan you set aside earlier. Using a rubber spatula, press down and smooth into an even layer.
Chill, Slice, and Enjoy!
Chill the pan in the freezer until firm. Then, slice and eat the very best peanut butter granola bars! And don’t forget to… enjoy! 🧡
TL;DR: Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars
My 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars are:
- super easy to make, ready in minutes
- deliciously firm and chewy, satisfyingly thick
- made with just 3 ingredients (like these amazing 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Cups and these Cereal Bars Recipe.
- satisfyingly nutty and sweet, like honey-roasted peanuts
- bursting with gluten free oats
- made with deliciously healthy ingredients
Sending you lots of love…
I’m so happy about creating delicious, homemade treats with you. I can’t wait to hear what you think. ‘Til next time…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
Peanut Butter Recipes
Also try my family-favorite peanut butter granola.
3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars (GF)
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 ½ cups gluten free rolled oats
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside. You can also use a granola bar pan set on a small cookie sheet for stability. Clear some space in the freezer for this pan—you will need it later.
- In a medium, microwave-safe bowl (large enough to add oats later), add peanut butter and maple syrup. Whisk together until well mixed. Heat in 20-second increments in the microwave until warm, fragrant, and bubbles begin to form. Whisk in between heating increments. *Stovetop instructions in Notes.
- Add oats to the peanut butter mixture. Using a rubber spatula, stir and fold until thoroughly combined. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking pan. Using the rubber spatula, smooth into an even, tightly packed layer. If using a granola bar pan, evenly distribute mixture into the crevices in the pan. Using a small spoon, press down into a very tightly-packed layer.
- Freeze for 25-35 minutes, or until firm and completely chilled. Slice into 18 bars (3 columns by 6 rows), or release bars from granola bar pan. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
- ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you so much for this recipe, I love it! But for the storing instructions, do you mean store at room temperature the first day, and then refrigerator the following 1-2 weeks?
Hi Ellie, sorry for the confusion (also, great question!). I meant to list two separate options, one for those who prefer to store it at room temperature, and one for those who prefer refrigerator. I just edited these instructions. So glad you love them! 🙂
Do you know how long they will last at room temperature?
Hi Ash, after the first day, you should be able to store them at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. Just make sure they’re store in a cool, dark environment. 🙂
Hi, I love your recipes, I’m far from an experienced cook, which is why I wanted to ask a question. I added a banana to this recipe, which resulted in the bars, not ever firming up. What can I do to save this batch? Could I add some coconut flour and bake them?
Hi Demetrios, thank you! Hmm… adding the banana definitely made things a bit more complicated. That’s kitchen testing for you! 🙂 I’m not exactly sure how to save these. Perhaps you could fold in 2-3 tablespoons of coconut flour and place them in the freezer to harden. Then slice and enjoy! Good luck!
I made this with Kirkland Signature’s almond butter because my little ones have allergies to peanuts. The recipe worked great! However, the almond butter and maple syrup mixture did not bubble. The granola bars were AMAZING anyway. ..I also added in in some coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Yummy! .
I’m so glad you enjoyed these! The combo of coconut flakes, sunflower seeds and flax seeds sounds super delish! Thanks for letting me know how these turned out! 🙂
Just made these with Wow Butter because my son’s school is peanut free. I also used 1/4 cup maple syrup & 1/4 cup honey because I was low on maple syrup and subbed 1/2 cup of the oats for 1/2 cup toasted coconut. These were so easy & super yummy! Thanks for the recipe! I’ll definitely be making these for our school’s hot lunch program .
Awesome substitution ideas, Candi! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how these turned out. 🙂 The school’s hot lunch program is so lucky to have you making treats for them! 🙂
These sound really yummy 🙂 I was thinking, to add an extra crunchy texture, maybe I should toast the oats (and any additional nuts or seeds or coconut).
All of your ideas sound fantastic, Tammi! The oats would lend such a delicious, nutty flavor. 🙂 I’m working on a few nutty & coconut-y combos as we speak. Hope you get to experiment too and just love it. Happy no-baking!
Bahahahah- I so so love that y’all trick PB into thinking that a strawberry peanut butter smoothie is a milkshake!!! I used to trick my daughter (when she was a toddler of course) into thinking that yogurt was ice cream – then she went to a party once (when she was around 3.5) and I had my back to her and she was tasting someone else’s ice cream…. womp womp!!!!
Btw – I see whay these bars are Grams and PB’s fave!!! Demeter these No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars look wonderful and sound absolutely fabulous – so so sweet of ya to send your folks care packages of goodies like these! Looking forward to that brownie recipe! Happy FriYAY to you and Erik!
Lol. He falls for it, every time!!! 😉 Honestly, he really can’t tell the difference between a smoothie and ice cream at this age. It’s pretty awesome! Aw… womp womp indeed! What were you thinking, turning your back for a second? Lol. They sure do grow up fast! Happy FriYAY to you too, Shashi! Thanks for the kind words. xo
I would definitely give these bars two thumbs up, too! I mean, what’s not to love about pb granola bars that are SO easy to make?! This is definitely my kind of snack right here. You are reminding me that it’s been FORVER since I’ve made my own granola bars, so I’ve got to try these. And just three ingredients? Count me in! Such a pretty treat, Demeter! Pinned! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Aw, thanks Gayle! 🙂 There’s everything to love about these! Haha. But I might be a bit biased… 😉 Hope you try them and love ’em! Have a great weekend, my friend!
3 ingredient bars, 3 year old approval, 3 bars minimum for a proper serving, now if only I had them one of these delicious nutty guys in front of me I bet I could polish it off in about in about 3 seconds. Tops! It’s pretty impressive that when you scale a granola bar back to just it’s basic necessary elements it doesn’t take much for perfect peanut butter snack creation. And although mix-ins would kinda blow the whole 3 ingredient thing, can option 4 be All of The Above? Between fruit and chocolate I just can’t choose, so throw them all in please. Or coat them in chocolate and I would be tricked right along with under 5 crowd, because chocolate + pb = candy bar no matter if there are oats involved or not. Hopefully maybe we can finally catch up this weekend❤️ xo
So many 3’s, it must be something good! 😉 The Trifecta of YUM, right? 🙂 Seriously, if I scaled these back any further, we’d just have a jar of PB. Good, but not too creative. Haha. You can have any option you’d like, my dear! <3 Oh Nat, you KNOW I've got some serious chocolate plans for this guy! 😉 Looking forward to our epic chats! ❤️ xoxo
It is the cutest thing ever that you send your family edible care packages and then face time as they open them. I really need to be adopted into your family… like yesterday! 😉 And PB is absolutely the cutest kid EVER. I was already convinced of that, but every time you write about him I become MORE convinced. Anyways, I am so glad the beaming no baker came out to play today with these heavenly granola bars!! Did you know I’m OBSESSED with honey roasted peanuts?! In case you didn’t, I AM OBSESSED! I try to refrain from eating all the honey roasted peanuts, because CALORIES and lots of FAT. But, you can often find me hiding in a closet eating a super secret stash of honey roasted peanuts. Because DELICIOUS (and my closet doesn’t judge me). So the fact that these taste EXACTLY like honey roasted peanuts has me jazz hands type of happy! PLUS they are no bake? Ummmm. SOLD! Seriously, can’t wait to make these. And not share. 🙂 Pinned, obvi! Cheers, my sweets! Love ya! xoxo
P.s. How have I never heard of Chick-o-Sticks.! Googling that now!
Seriously, why are the papers taking so long to process??? 😉 He’s unbelievably smart and adult-like. It’s sweet and astonishing just interacting with him. Honey roasted peanuts: LOL. I’ll be sure to give you your much needed privacy during those special moments. . Hope you love them! Also, chick-o-sticks are like a combo of peanuts and coconut. SO. Good! Love ya! xoxo
These look great! I would want to eat the whole try!
They’re SO good! Thanks Patrick! 🙂
I find it so fascinating what you are able to make with so few ingredients, yet they end up SO delicious! I mean, 3 ingredients and you have these beauties – yum! And you know I love my peanut butter 😉 xo
It’s becoming quite the tasty, personal challenge of mine. Lol. Thanks so much, Marsha! 🙂 xo