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Only SIX ingredients! My No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars are so quick and easy to prepare. A great make-ahead breakfast or snack!
“This is one of the best recipes i have seen for peanut butter granola bars It tasted really good. 5/5 star rating from me.”
Nicky’s Notes
These oaty granola bars are just the thing when you need a quick make-ahead breakfast or a grab-and-go snack that feels a bit more exciting than a plain cereal bar.
They’re chewy, nutty and packed with oats, cranberries and chocolate chips – with plenty of peanut butter to hold everything together.
What makes them so good:
- Only 6 ingredients – oats, nuts, peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips and dried cranberries
- No need to turn on the oven – just mix and REALLLLY squish together in a tray, then slice (you can freeze for an hour before slicing for a less crumbly bar).
- They’re brilliant for making ahead. Once chilled, they’re easy to slice, wrap and keep in the fridge for the week.
Table of Contents
📋 Ingredients for No Bake Granola Bars
***Full recipe with detailed quantities in the recipe card below***
Oats
Use rolled oats, not instant oats. Rolled oats give these peanut butter granola bars the best chewy texture and structure. Instant oats or very fine porridge oats can make the bars softer and a bit claggy, while jumbo oats can be harder to bind. Rolled oats sit nicely in the middle for a nice chewy finish.
🧑🍳 Abbreviated Recipe
***Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card below***
Mix the oats, nuts, cranberries and chocolate chips with the peanut butter and honey mixture. Press very firmly into a parchment-lined tin, using a second same-size tin to compact it. Freeze for an hour to firm, then slice into bars.
Recipe Tips
- Press the mixture down much more firmly than you think you need to.
- Use a second tin, or your hands over a sheet of baking parchment to really compact it. This is what helps the bars hold together when sliced. A gentle pat will not do it. These bars need a proper squash!
- For neat slices, freeze the bars for an hour, or chill until really firm, then use a sharp knife and cut straight down rather than sawing back and forth. A few crumbly edge bits are completely normal with no-bake bars.
These bars work because the peanut butter and honey act as the “glue”, binding the oats, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate together without needing to bake them.
The oats give chew, the nuts add crunch, the cranberries bring a little tangy sweetness, and the chocolate chips make them feel like a treat!
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Make ahead and Leftovers Guide
- Wrapped and refrigerated, these granola bars will keep for one week.
- Wrap the bars and place in an airtight container/bag, then freeze for up to a month. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before eating.
No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 220 g (2 cups) whole rolled oats
- 65 g (1/2 cup) chopped mixed nuts
- 65 g (1/2 cup) chocolate chips
- 90 g (1/2 cup) dried cranberries
- 270 g (1 cup) smooth peanut butter
- 85 g (1/4 cup) honey
Instructions
- Place the rolled oats and chopped nuts in a large bowl. Add in all but 1 tbsp of the dried cranberries and all but 1 tbsp of the chocolate chips and mix together.220 g (2 cups) whole rolled oats, 65 g (1/2 cup) chopped mixed nuts, 65 g (1/2 cup) chocolate chips, 90 g (1/2 cup) dried cranberries
- Add the peanut butter and honey, and stir until combined.270 g (1 cup) smooth peanut butter, 85 g (1/4 cup) honey
- Spoon the mixture into an 8×8 inch (20x20cm) square baking tin that has been lined with baking parchment.
- Flatten the mixture with the back of a wooden spoon, then place a piece of baking parchment on top.
- Place another same-sized tin on top and squash the tin down so the mixture is well compacted. The more compacted it is, the less likely the granola bar will fall apart when cut into slices.
- Remove the top tin and baking parchment that’s on top of the mixture and sprinkle on the reserved cranberries and chocolate chips. Push them in with your fingers.
- Cover the tin and place in the freezer for one hour. Remove from the freezer, take out of the tin and peel off the parchment paper. Place on a chopping board and cut into 12 slices.
- Serve immediately, or wrap and place in the refrigerator (you can store them at room temperature, but keeping them in the fridge will help to keep them firm).
Notes
Can I make these granola bars gluten free?
Yes, simply replace the oat with gluten free oats (oats are in theory gluten free, but they’re often packed in environments where wheat, barley and rye is present. So you need to get certified gluten free oats).Other topping ideas for granola bars:
- Other dried fruits such as blueberries, raisins, dates, cherries and pineapple
- Replace the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips or butterscotch chips
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle on finely chopped nuts and/or freeze dried raspberry or strawberry pieces
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This granola bar recipe was first posted in June 2019. Updated since for housekeeping reasons.
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Hi, can the rolled oats be substituted for porridge oats? Thanks
Your work is so full of useful information.
These look fantastic, Nicky! Granola bars are definitely my go-to snack and I love the no-bake aspect of these bars. Plus – isn’t peanut butter just the best flavour? Can’t wait to try this.
I just made these for my camping trip this week. I switched up the mix-ins and did peanuts, almonds, goji berries, freeze dried fuji apples, dried cranberries, and edamame. They smell like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I can’t wait!
Made these last night and they are amazing. Although I think the 22g of oats is incorrect on the recipe, I used 5.5 oz. I’ve had one for breakfast and it’s now 1.15pm and I’m still full. Really lovely and well worth a go. I’m loving kitchen sanctuary. Thank you.
This is one of the best recipes i have seen for peanut butter granola bars It tasted really good. 5/5 star rating from me.
Awww! You guys are the bestest parents ever! 🤗 I truly hope you all had the most wonderful time at Disney! ❤️ xx
Thanks Lavina
We all had an AMAZING time 🙂
Chris