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And when I say chewy, I mean chewy.
Think store-bought chewy granola bar meets fudgy no-bake cookie.
Packed with ordinary ingredients like crunchy peanuts, chewy oats, creamy coconut oil, plump raisins, and melty chocolate.
Really really really melty chocolate.
A healthy medley of texture, taste, sweet & salty all in one little snack bar.
Simple and innocent as they seem, these have GOT to be the best granola bar I’ve ever tasted. That’s mighty big praise for a simple little health bar. Storebought have nothing on these.
What makes them so wonderful? Let me count the ways.
It’s a recipe that comes together in 10 minutes flat; you hardly have to expend ANY effort to make these. The ingredients are all pantry-staples. Nothing weird and certainly nothing unheard of.
Start with coconut oil. Coconut oil lends the softest texture EVER to no-bake cookies or granola bars. Combined with some chocolate chips, it creates a luscious and creamy base for the rest of today’s ingredients. Plus, it’s a much healthier fat than canola oil or butter.
Read here for the health benefits of coconut oil
Please note: there is no underlying coconut taste in these bars. So even if you loathe coconut, no fret! You won’t be able to taste it.
We’ve also got a mix of old-fashioned rolled oats and crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies). The oats give the bars an unbelievably chewy texture and the crispy rice cereal gives the bars some bulk.
There is absolutely no added refined sugars in these granola bars.
Much unlike the funky gunky stuff you’ll find in store-bought bars, my granola bars are sweetened with maple syrup and chocolate chips. No fake stuff here. Just wholesome ordinary ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
Holding the bars together is a hefty dose of crunchy peanut butter.
We all know the magic powers of peanut butter & chocolate, so let’s just move right along.
Let’s talk chunks. When it comes to granola bars, the more chunks, the better.
In addition to the chunky peanut butter, I threw honey roasted peanuts and raisins into my granola bars. My pantry is nearly always stocked with both because I eat and bake with them so often. In fact, the ONLY ingredient in my favorite homemade peanut butter is… honey roasted peanuts. Love!
Feel free to use whatever chunks you like – coconut, butterscotch chips, almonds, banana chips, seeds, or dried cranberries. The bars are completely customizable to what YOU like– the sky is the limit here.
The coconut oil makes the bars unbelievably soft. The melted chocolate chips turn into fudge. You have chunky peanut butter and peanuts to give the bars back some crunch. Chewy oats, plump raisins keeping their shape, and crispy rice cereal. TEXTURE OVERLOAD. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Store these no-bake granola bars in the refrigerator. Kept at room temperature, the bars will not hold their shape and get quite melty due to the liquidty components of coconut oil. Served cold, these bars are like biting into a cold candy bar. Exactly what I’m looking for after a long work day or at midnight. It happens.
Have you ever tried a chilled chocolate bar? Cold is how I prefer them!
Molded in an 8×8 baking pan, the bars can be cut into any shape you prefer.
I cut mine into easy squares and got 12. Try cutting them into rectangles, much like storebought chewy granola bars.
Or just go at the whole pan with a fork, knife, and napkin.
Or use your chocolate-y fingers.
The bars are completely vegan. If you follow a vegan diet, make sure to check the ingredients on your chocolate chips to assure they’re dairy-free.
To err on the healthy side, I didn’t use TOO many chocolate chips in the granola bar base. I simply added them back in on top of the bars. 
These granola bars are LONG gone from our kitchen, so today’s post is torture as I sit here typing.
Next batch I’m totally adding M&Ms or sprinkles. (!!!)
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Makes 12 squares, depending on size they are cut. Vegan if using vegan chocolate chips. Gluten Free if using certified gluten free oats and rice crisp cereal.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter (or creamy)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup (or honey)
- 1 and 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup crispy rice cereal
- 3/4 cup add-ins (I used raisins and honey roasted peanuts)
- 3 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and chocolate chips together until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter and maple syrup. Remove from heat.
- Mix in the oats, crispy rice cereal, and add-ins. Press mixture into prepared baking pan. I used the back of a spatula to evenly press. Top with mini chocolate chips if desired.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or freeze for up to one hour. Cut bars into squares. Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Notes
Recipe source: sallysbakingaddiction.com
© Sally’s Baking Addiction. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe.
Do you like granola bars?
I obvs do.
Apricot Pecan Granola Bars – high energy & vegan.
Healthy Peanut Butter Chunk Oatmeal Bars - serious peanut butter lovers only.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola Bars - addicting.
What are your favorite granola bar recipes like?
{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
I love that it has really really really melty chocolate! Mmmm.. Chewy + chocolate + raisins – I think we have a winner here!
baker street recently posted..Blueberry Coconut and White Chocolate Bread Pudding
i’m glad you don’t mind the raisins! people sometimes hate on them… they are my FAVORITE paired with chocolate though!
Sally they look awesome, job well done! Love that you made them with coconut oil and there’s tons of choc, PB, and coconut oil…and texture! Yes, texture is a must. They look soft yet chewy, the perfect combo! And I know what you mean about typing posts and editing pics of food that’s long gone that you wish you still had!
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..Banana Zucchini Pudding Cake with Vanilla Browned Butter Glaze
thank you Averie! the texture is unbelievable. soft yet crunchy, chewy, sticky, and salty/sweet. So many flavors/textures and so very rich tasting from the coconut oil. I swear by coconut oil!
Those do look really good! Great idea to use the coconut oil to give it an even healthier punch! Soft, chewy, and fudgey is just how I like to eat bars. And every time I post a recipe, it makes me crave it again. I almost never post something that is still in my kitchen too. Too much backlog…
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes
I have a HUGE backlog! It’s nice to be ahead Jocelyn!
This look amazing!!!! Yummers Sally!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted..Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Struesel
Definitely making a batch this morning…fuel for my half marathon on Sunday. These sound so good, and a snap to make. Thank you
Sara recently posted..Need Advice/Tips…Anything
Sara, you’re going to LOVE them! I ate them before many workouts. Perfect texture, lots of energy. GOOD LUCK in the half marathon! You’re going to rock it girl.
It’s my first and I’m getting nervous…pace pace pace… and enjoy the race
Sara recently posted..Need Advice/Tips…Anything
Ooo, the coconut oil caught my eye — that stuff automatically makes anything delicious, it’s some sort of magical ingredient. Definitely add the M&M’s next time!
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Candy Corn Recipes
I swear by coconut oil! Paired with chocolate, it makes the base of these pairs SO creamy. And sticky!
I’ll take one batch, please.
Would honey work in place of maple syrup?? Sounds awesome!
Hey Nichole, yes honey is a great sub for the maple syrup.
Hey Sally!
Just found your blog and I am DROOLING. I have a serious baking addiction myself, and I appreciate your recipes so much! Just did a similar granola bar this week, which was my first time using coconut oil. HOOKED! Thanks for sharing, and I’m excited to connect.
Cheers,
Erin
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted..How to Caramelize Onions
Hi Erin
thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you like my site! I am very hooked on coconut oil too, it does wonders to granola-like reipes. 
These sound like perfect granola bars! I like how you use coconut oil in them!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Southwestern Stuffed Pepper Casserole
I swear by coco oil
Oh my gosh I LOVE chewy granola bars!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie recently posted..Guacamole Seasoning
Mm. These granola bars look righteous, miss Sally! Love that they’re vegan and so simple to make. And I always do that–bake before I blog, so it’s simply torturous writing the post without said snack to munch on
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..The ULTIMATE Halloween Spooktacular Roundup!!
I just made and shot some pumpkin cookies and I’m too giddy to wait too long to post them! sometimes I get too excied and need to post things right away hehe. Thanks Hayley! TGIF.
These bars look absolutely perfect! I’ve been wanting to make a homemade granola bar that was more chewy, kind of like the storebought variety. Adding coconut oil seems like the answer! Pinning this one!
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted..Life Lately
coconut oil will solve the chewy problem meghan – it does wonders, I swear! thanks for the pin!
I love using coconut oil in recipes! Mostly because I bought a HUGE jar of it and my husband made me promise I’d actually use it so it was not cheap haha
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted..Hot Corn and Cheese Dip
it’s expensive yes! but SO worth the $$
I’ll never have to buy granola bars again after this recipe. They look hands down amazing!
Nicole @ Lapetitebaker recently posted..How I LOVE you Los Angeles
Oh no! Coconut oil?! I adore using that stuff. The problem is I have a hard time deciding what to put it in because I don’t want to use it up too quickly…What a dilemma I have.
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen recently posted..Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Stuffed with Andes Mints
lol! I agree with you Loretta, I only use it for certain recipes. but thankfully it has a long shelf life!
I have never used coconut oil. Do you melt it first or use it solid?
Those Gbars look incredible! I love honey roasted peanuts. They make the best homemade PB!
luv what you do recently posted..A Squash Tale-Chapter II
i love coconut oil! it gets melted with the chocolate chips in this recipe.
I LOVE homemade granola bars, and they are a great healthy snack to have around to feed my kiddo (um, and me). These look great, Sally! Happy Friday!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Spiced Pumpkin Seeds and Friday Wrap-Up
Happy weekend Ashley and thank you my dear!
you can tell that these are super chewy..i LOVE chewy granola bars. i love the texture and the consistency. these look super good and something i could eat for breakfast – hey, chocolate for breakfast isn’t a bad thing
Julie @ Table for Two recently posted..Chicken Tikka Masala {Crockpot}
Oh Sally these look sooooo good. Why must you always temp me with the coolest looking bars. On these type of bars, fave is my absolute fave too! Do you get Tracker bars in the US? If so, how do these combare to them? They look quite similar.
Also, I managed to pick up some coconut oil recently too after a recent quest where no-one sold it so am super happy to have some and use it to make these.
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} recently posted..Gothic Rose Vampire Cupcakes
I’m not familiar with Tracker Bars, Lisa! I love coconut oil – swear by it. Definitely “makes” this recipe so unbelievably chewy and soft!
Chewy granola bars are the only way to go!! Especially when melty chocolate is involved!
I used to eat granola bars all the time. I wish I’d had these instead of the grocery store ones that filled my lunch box.
Laura Dembowski recently posted..Writing and Learning
I lived off of the store-bought granola bars! I’m happy we can make our own – so much cheaper and healthier!
sally, these look so great! i’ll definitely have to give ‘em a whirl. too bad my husband finished the rice krispies this am!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef recently posted..30 Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup
Grrrr! didn’t he know you had big granola bar plans for the cereal?
You can leave out the rice krispies and do all oats instead though Sarah!
A 10-minute healthy bar recipe using coconut oil? You are my hero, Sally!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious recently posted..Quinoa Veggie "Fried Rice" and a Giveaway!
Just put a batch of these in the fridge! Look so good. My baby boy was licking the spatula…. He kept pulling on my pants for more licks
Sara recently posted..First Half Marathon Oct. 21st, 2012
So, if you don’t have coconut oil, could you use something else instead? vegetable oil? stuck in hurricane weather and would love to make these to pass the time.
Thanks!
Hi Trish, you need the coconut oil’s creamy texture (even after melted down) in order to replicate the gooey chewy factor I reference in the recipe. I would try using butter instead. REgular oil is much too thin. I hope this helps! Thanks Trish!
Okay, great. Thank you. Same amount of butter as coconut oil? Thanks again.
yes, same amount!
Can I just say…….WOW. Holy goodness. I just put these in the refrigerator to cool, but I could not stop eating spoonfuls of this heavenly mixture!! I made them using honey instead, but I added dried cherries, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, raisins and goji berries. I don’t know if I have the discipline to wait until they are hardened….I may be digging in within the hour! I’m sure these will be fabulous, and this is one way to get my little ones to eat goji berries! Thank you for this easy and modifiable recipe! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Stephany!! Thanks so much for the comment and your review of how much you love these! I actualyl just made another batch of these this morning! I wish I had all the add-ins you used. I would love them with pumpkin seeds and dried cherries. Oh well, maybe next time. Oh and the mixture BEFORE pressing them into the pan is addicting. Definitely.
Wow these are amazing! Just made some and can’t believe how tasty and easy they are. Thank you Sally for this awesome recipe and website!!
Thanks for reporting back about these granola bars, Lori! These are a definite favorite of mine. In fact, I made them again this past weekend. A wonderful snack to have around the house and they are so easy to make. Thank you!
Is there any substitute for the peanut butter?
hi amy – there is no substitute for peanut butter, besides another nut/seed butter. almond, cashew, pecan, nutella, or sunflower seed butter would work.
These look and sound delicious! Any suggestions on using less chocolate and more fruit (apple or banana)? I’m looking for a healthier option for my 3 year old instead of the 100 ingredient preservative store bought variety! But they have to remain chewy which it sounds like the coconut oil is for. Thanks!
Hi Meagan! I would suggest using more peanut butter (about 3/4 cup all together) to replace the chocolate chips. I’ve done this before and love it!
Do you think I could add some applesauce or mashed bananas too? Without it turning to mush?!
I don’t suggest mashed bananas or apple sauce. Try these bars instead, they are just as chewy: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/01/01/peanut-butter-banana-oatmeal-bars-2/
Thank you so much! Those look great!
Made these today…. WOW, YUM!
Sally, you’re going to both make and break my running habit! Glad I tried them after a run, or I would have felt guilty eating them! They are delicious and taste more like a candy bar than an icky store-bought granola bar! Amazing!!
I used Cocoa Pebbles for the crisp rice cereal, Kirkland (Coscto) natural creamy peanut butter, 1/2 cup raisins and 1/4 cup coconut for the add-ins, and honey instead of maple syrup. I will be making these many variations! Good thing I bought a monster size jar of coconut oil from Costco!
Anyone know if these freeze well?
They feeze exceptionally well, Marsha. I have some in my freezer right now. And the cocoa pebbles – that’s a fun idea! And coconut, I need to add that next time. SO glad you love these and that you took the time to report back to me.
Great job with the run Marsha!
So excited to hear they freeze well! Gosh, I don’t know where to start with new combinations. Saw your post above about using all PB instead of chocolate – that’s on the list!
Thanks for the awesome recipe, and congrats on your engagement!
Thank you SO much Marsha!!
I was so bummed initially seeing the recipe and then seeing the needing peanut butter part since I’m allergic to nuts (and flaxseed) – the former of which seems to be in the majority of no-bake things! (Actually, flax, in some form seems to be in a lot, too!)
I was thrilled to see your suggestion of nutella to someone else in the comments because that I CAN do! And, it’s something I could try subbing in other no-bake things, too, for recipes that might work for activities with kids where I work when we need to avoid peanut butter. So thanks! I love nutella and it has NEVER crossed my mind to sub that – though it sits on my counter and I use it almost daily!
Hi Hope! I am SO very glad to hear that. I love Nutella as well and I’m glad you’re able to eat it despite your allergies to nuts. It’s a great replacement for the PB here. You could also sub sunflower seed butter for the PB as well, if you are not allergic to anything in that as well.
Interesting…I’ve not seen that before! I’ve also not seen that Biscoff butter stuff until one of your other recipes, but I’ll have to track that down at Trader Joe’s and try that, too!
What would you suggest using as a flax substitute? That’s something else that I can’t have and is often in granola and such recipes? Have any great ideas for that?
Thanks so much!
(A fellow sprinkle lover – which is why I ended up on your website initially – someone pinned something on pinterest with one of your sprinkle-filled recipes and I knew I’d found a site I’d love! ha!)
Hi again Hope! There is no flax in this recipe. And a sub for flax would depend on where you are adding flax and what kind of other ingredients are in the recipe you are making, I love sprinkles too.
Obviously!
I realize there’s not in this recipe, but something like your Banana Nutella Granola, what would you sub in for the flax?
(I run into it in so many breads, granola type things, etc. and I’m never sure what’s good for subbing, so I just never do those recipes – but many are ones that otherwise look like ones I’d love…I guess I just need to get more adventurous and just mess around with various things and try and not worry about them flopping if it doesn’t work!)
I have tried quite a few “no bake recipes” and none of them compare to this one. Trail Mix Granola Bars – it makes like 24 of them and we eat them all in one day.
http://whisktogether.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/trail-mix-granola-bars/
Mary Ellen recently posted..Pizza Rolls!
Thanks Mary Ellen! I’ll never eat another storebought granola bar because of these. I love them!
After making your delicious skinny peanut butter brownies I’m looking for another of your recipes to try. These look great but I’m allergic to coconut. Any ideas on good substitutes for that? And thank you for this delicious, mouthwatering site!
Hi Biddy! The coconut oil is necessary for the consistency of these bars. So you can’t leave it out unfortunately. Give my Healthy PB Chunk Oatmeal Bars a try instead. Thanks Biddy! http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/10/11/healthy-peanut-butter-chunk-oatmeal-bars/
Thank you Sally, those look great. Then I also found your Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars and I will try making those soon too! It’s a shame there’s no good alternative for coconut oil, but there’s plenty for me to make from your site luckily.
Fabulous Biddy! Hope you enjoy any my healthier peanut butter goodies. Let me know if you make them!
I made these and they were such a hit. Going to try with almond butter next and add a scoop of protein powder. Thanks for sharing
Now that just sounds fabulous! I need to try them with almond butter one time. Thanks for the suggestion Michelle!
I’m not sure how I came upon your blog but I am so glad I did. These chewy fudge granola bars are so yummy. The first time I made them I used dark chocolate, and toasted coconut and chia seeds for add ins and they were delish. My family loved them too. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes. Thanks!!
Hey Becky!! Woo hoo… so glad you found my website as well.
I love the idea of adding coconut. I’ve made these bars so many times with new add-ins, but not coconut yet. That’s a must try. Thanks for sharing!
Just made these & stuck them in the freezer! I didn’t do the extra 3/4 cup add ins and now I’m wondering if I should have added more oats & rice krispies, hope they set so my kids can take them in their lunches
Hi Erica! I expect them to set up just fine despite having no add-ins. Enjoy!
Hi Sally,
I made these bars on Sunday to bring in for my coworkers. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve gotten asking for the recipe. Of course I gave you mad cred. Expect higher traffic on this page this week! Love following your site!
Wow! Thank you so much for letting me know AND for giving my website out to your coworkers. That’s awesome to hear! I love these granola bars. I make them frequently. I don’t feel as guilty getting my chocolate fix. Thanks Maggee!
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