Apple Peanut Butter Granola Bars (Printable Version)

Soft, chewy bars with apple, oats, and peanut butter. No baking required—just chill and enjoy this wholesome, satisfying snack.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup crispy rice cereal
03 - 1/2 cup dried apple, finely chopped
04 - 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
05 - 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
09 - 1/3 cup honey
10 - 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on sides for easy removal later.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, add oats, crispy rice cereal, chopped dried apple, shredded coconut, peanuts, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well to distribute evenly.
03 - Combine peanut butter, honey, and melted coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second intervals until smooth and pourable, stirring between each. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to fold and press until all oats and cereal are evenly coated with the sticky mixture.
05 - Transfer mixture to the prepared pan. Press down firmly and evenly with a spatula or the back of a measuring cup to compact the bars tightly.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm and completely set. Bars will hold their shape better when fully chilled.
07 - Using the parchment overhang, lift the entire slab from the pan. Cut into 12 equal bars with a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in about 15 minutes flat, no oven required, which means you can satisfy that sudden snack craving without heating up your whole kitchen
  • The texture is somehow both soft and satisfyingly substantial, like something you'd buy from a fancy bakery but actually made in your pajamas
02 -
  • The difference between bars that hold together and bars that crumble is how firmly you press them into the pan—don't be gentle here
  • These really do need that full hour in the fridge to set properly, or you'll end up with granola instead of bars
  • Room temperature ingredients for the wet mixture make everything combine so much more smoothly than cold peanut butter would
03 -
  • If your peanut butter is particularly thick, warm it for 20 seconds before measuring to get an accurate amount
  • A kitchen scale is your friend for consistent results, especially with the oats and peanut butter

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