Go Back

Pretzel Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Servings 12 granola bars
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup oil i used avocado oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt see note under other thoughts
  • 1 cup pretzels crushed
  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. Note: you want the parchment paper long enough to hang out of the sides of the pan. Almost like a sling, so you can pull the sides up to remove the bars after baking. Or, grease your granola bar pan.
  • In a microwave safe bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, and oil. Microwave for 30 seconds. Whisk together.
  • Add vanilla. Whisk again.
  • Gently crush your 1 cup of pretzels. Add to a medium bowl.
  • Add flour, salt, soda, and oats to the pretzels. Mix together with a large spoon.
  • Add peanut butter mixture to medium bowl with oat mixture. Stir until combined. Mix in chocolate chips.
  • Press granola bar dough into prepared 8x8 baking pan or granola bar molds. Press REALLY well - really get in there. This helps keep them from crumbling when you cut them.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes in 8x8 pan. Bake for 14-16 minutes in granola bar pan. Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan before removing.
  • Once cool, pull out granola bar square by lifting the parchment paper on opposite sides or pop the bars out by pushing the silicone mold from below. If using 8x8 pan, cut into 12 bars or 16 squares. Store in an air tight container on the counter or in the refrigerator for a week. (Longer is safe but they may get stale.)

Notes

Other Thoughts:
  • The pretzels we had on hand were 'lightly salted' - for reference, they had 120 mg sodium per serving where 'regular' pretzels have more like 300-450 mg. So, I decided to add 1/4 tsp of salt to the recipe. If you are using 'regular' pretzels - you may not want/need to add the additional salt.
  • Highly recommend using Crazy Richard's chunky peanut butter for this recipe. The consistency and flavor is perfect. The only ingredient in this peanut butter is peanuts. Just like it should be. (Also part of the reason I added some salt)
  • You could certainly use smooth peanut butter if you want too. The extra crunch for the crunchy peanut butter is pretty fantastic with the crunchy pretzels though.
 
How-to-Use:
Athletes: Great for that afternoon snack before your evening workout. Try eating it about 2 hours before your workout. Or, use it as a post exercise snack to fend off the hunger until you can eat your next meal.
Healthy Eating: Homemade granola bars really allow you to tailor them to your nutritional preferences. Local honey important to you? Choose that. Organic oats important to you? Use those. Dairy free chocolate needed? Yep - you can swap that too. Make the changes and choices that help meet your nutrition needs.
Kids: One of these can easily take the place of half a PB&J sandwich in packed lunches. Sent this with kefir, an apple, and some carrot sticks in my kids lunch. And, tada! something new and different to get him excited at lunch.