Homemade no-bake granola bars that are absolutely packed full of peanut-y flavour and covered with a delicious peanut butter coating. Made with only 6 ingredients! Are these really granola bars… or something a little more decadent?
I’ve had it in mind to make something like these sweet and salty peanut granola bars ever since I tried something similar on a hike (incidentally, in a beautiful national park area of the UK called The Peak District). Because, you know, hikes equal perfect opportunity to stuff one’s face with granola bars – especially of the smug homemade variety!
Before I go any further, I’d better just say this: peanut butter haters stop right here, because there’s quite a bit of it hanging out in these bars! Not only do you use peanut butter (and honey) to bind together the oats, rice krispies and peanuts, but you use it to make a chocolate coating to dip the bars into.
These bars are no-bake, and contain only six ingredients, which makes them ridiculously easy to make. Simply warm the peanut butter with the honey, then pour onto oats, rice krispies and peanuts. Mix well, press into a tin, and freeze for half an hour before cutting up into bars.
Mix up the ingredients, then press into a pan!
Then comes the fun part. Melt a bit of peanut butter into white chocolate, then dip the bars into the mixture so that half of them are coated.
As granola bars go, I would say that these are a bit sweeter and richer than the average. They almost taste like a much more decadent cookie/cake bar if I’m honest. I think they’re delicious like this, but if you’d rather make them a bit lighter, feel absolutely free to skip the white chocolate and peanut butter coating.
Just a quick note about the coating. You only need to use about 100 grams of white chocolate – but make sure you melt it in a bowl or dish that’s small enough so that the white chocolate is deep enough to dip into but big enough so that you can dip the whole of the bar in it. If you only have a bigger bowl, just use a bit more chocolate – I’m sure you’ll be able to cope with licking out the bowl afterwards!
With or without the peanut butter coating? Your choice!
Whether you decide to go with the coating or not (I say yes!), you’ll still end up with that irresistible ‘sweet and salty’ quality from the combination of salted peanuts and honey.
I like to wrap these up individually in greaseproof or baking paper and store them in the freezer until ready to eat. This isn’t essential, and don’t worry, it doesn’t actually ‘freeze’ them – it just keeps them nice and fresh and chewy.
So now next time you go on a hike, or get hangry at work, or just need an emergency snack, you’ll have something yummy to scoff. Really hope you give these a go!
Sweet and salty peanut granola bars
Ingredients
For the bars
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup rice Krispies
- 1/2 cup salted peanuts
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter (or almond butter, or a mixture)
- 1/2 cup honey
For the coating
- 3.5 ounces white chocolate
- 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
Instructions
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Combine the rolled oats, rice Krispies and peanuts in a bowl.
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Heat the peanut butter and honey together slightly in a smaller bowl (I did this by microwaving for 20 or 30 seconds*).
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Pour the peanut butter and honey mixture over the oats and peanuts, and mix until the dry ingredients are well combined.
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Press into a 9 x 9 inch (or similar) tin or dish (press down and right into the corners!), then freeze for around 30 minutes before cutting into about 10 bars.
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Melt the white chocolate and peanut butter together in a small(ish) flat bowl or dish, then dip the top side of each bar into it. Place the bars non-coated-side-down to set.
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If you like, wrap bars individually in baking or greaseproof paper and freeze until ready to eat.
Recipe Notes
*If you don’t have a microwave, heat the peanut butter and honey together slightly over a bowl of simmering water (taking care not to let the bowl touch the water). You don’t really have to heat it, but it just makes it a bit easier to mix into the dry ingredients.
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Samina - The Cupcake Confession says
I love peanut butter, Helen! I love how it is included in the bars and the chocolate coating on the top! These would be so perfect for breakfast on the go or snack – time. Love this!!!!!!
Helen says
Hello Samina! Isn’t this just the perfect excuse to eat chocolate and peanut butter for breakfast?
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Ooh have I mentioned how much I love peanut butter and drippy icing Helen? 😀
Helen says
Yay for PB and drippy coatings!
mira says
So creative, love these bars! Peanut butter is my favorite! Pinning to try them!
Helen says
Thanks, dear Mira. Hope you’re doing well! 🙂
[email protected] says
You had me at melted white chocolate and peanut butter. These granola bars are peanut heaven and I can’t wait to try them
Helen says
Hope you do, Janette!
Eva says
Elles sont carrément irrésistibles ces petites barres de céréales ! eh oui, comme je suis gourmand je le préfère recouvertes ! Bon weekend Helen 😉
Helen says
🙂
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I will never ever complain about too much peanut butter, you can be sure of that 😉 These look absolutely delicious!
Helen says
Thanks Denise! I agree – let’s pile in that PB!
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
I am no joke, eating a granola bar as I read this. Unfortunately it’s the supermarket variety and not one of these awesome homemade delights! I LOVE sweet and salty desserts/snacks – best combo EVER! And I love that they’re no bake! Great for someone like me who doesn’t have AC. Can’t wait to take these on our next hike!
Helen says
Ha – I just can’t imagine needing AC right now, Kathleen. It’s actually cold here! No summer at all so far… 🙂
Jess @ What Jessica Baked Next says
These granola bars look delicious, Helen! Love the sweet and salty flavours – so good. Loving the sound of the white chocolate peanut icing too. Can’t wait to give the recipe a try sometime! 🙂
Helen says
Hi Jess! Do give these a try – you’ll love them!
Lisa C says
Yummy!! Thanks, Helen, for sharing this a recipe, we all love the store bought sweet and salty and this is so much better, I know everything that’s in it!
Helen says
Hi Lisa, and you’re welcome! I’m really glad you like these. They really do taste like the store-bought ones!
Korey says
Do you know the shelf life for these bars? I’d like to make a big batch but wouldn’t want them to go bad.
Helen says
Hi Korey! Really happy you’re going to give these a go. I always keep mine wrapped individually in the freezer – they stay lovely and fresh that way. They don’t seem at all frozen when you take them out, just cold and firmer. I’m afraid I’m not too sure exactly how long they last out of the freezer, but I’d say you’d be absolutely fine with at least a week. Good luck!
Kenna says
Is there a difference between using instant oats vs. rolled oats? Or is there a difference at all? THanks!
Helen says
Hi Kenna. You can use instant oats in this recipe if you like – they are just a ground-up version of the bigger rolled oats.