These easy from scratch granola bars are even better than the popular kid favorite Chewy Bars! They’re made with honey, peanut butter, rice cereal, oatmeal, and packed full of chocolate chips! They’re the perfect back to school snack to throw in your kids lunch boxes, or for an afternoon snack.

These peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars are the perfect easy, homemade snack. They’re no bake, and they only take a few minutes of cooking time on the stove.

These chewy granola bars are kid and adult friendly, they’re a great grab and go breakfast, afternoon snack, and even school lunch friendly. If your kid’s school doesn’t allow peanut butter then you can substitute the peanut butter for something nut free like sun butter instead.

How to make Granola Bars?

Line a 9x13inch baking tray with parchment paper, and set it aside. In a large bowl, combine the crisp rice cereal, and quick oats. Stir them together and set it aside.

In a small sauce pan, add the brown sugar, honey, and heat them pan over medium heat. Stirring the pan often until the sugar is totally dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the peanut butter, vanilla extract and salt.

Pour the mixture over the top of the cereal mixture and stir until the cereal is evenly and fully coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press the cereal evenly to fill the pan.

Allow the granola bars to cool for about 10 minutes, then sprinkly the mini chocolate chips evenly over the top of the bars. Let the bars continue to cool at room temperature for about 1 hour. Then slice them up and enjoy.

How to store homemade Granola Bars?

After you’ve let the bars cool and sliced them up, wrap each of them individually in parchment paper, or plastic wrap, then store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 1 week, at room temperature. (If the parchment paper doesn’t stay shut you can tie it closed with a little string, or tape the paper shut.

Tips to make homemade Granola Bars?

Spray your hands with nonstick spray, then use your hands to press the cereal mixture into the pan. This will keep the cereal from sticking all over your hands.
These bars are thinner, like Quaker Chewy Bars you’d get from the store. If you want them thicker you can use a smaller pan. I wouldn’t use a pan smaller than 9x9inches.
Instead of chocolate chips you can try a variety of different mix ins. You could add in raisins, butterscotch chips, white chocolate, or m&ms!
If you add in mix-ins that won’t melt you can mix them directly into the warm cereal mixture, like raisins, coconut, toffee bits. You can add up to 1 cup.
You can substitute maple syrup instead of the honey as called for in the recipe. You can also use pancake syrup.
If you need the recipe to be nut free, you can use sun butter instead of peanut butter.

I can’t stop making these delicious chewy, peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars! And as soon as you make them once, I don’t think you’ll be able to stop either. My kids and I both love them, for our favorite afternoon snack!

Looking for more Back to School Snack Recipes?

Monster Cookie Granola Bites
Sweet and Salty Popcorn Balls
Apple Nachos
Fluffernutter Cheerio Bars

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