I opened up my kitchen baking cupboard the other day and was met with a pile of packets falling on my head. That seemed like a pretty clear sign that it was high time I had a bit of a clearout and used up a few half empty packets of ingredients that had been in there too long. These chewy, no-bake peanut butter granola bars were my attempt to finish off a random selection of odds and ends of nuts, seeds, cereal and dried fruit.
For that reason I have been a little vague with the ingredients in the recipe, as long as you keep the quantities the same you can vary the ingredients to suit. I used a mixture of pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds and some raisins, chopped dates and chopped dried mango - substitute these with whatever seeds and dried fruits you happen to have and the flaked almonds can be swapped for chopped nuts of any variety.
The bars are bound together with a delicious mixture of peanut butter, honey and brown rice syrup (or you can use golden syrup instead though they will be sweeter); they are of the soft, chewy variety and are best kept in the fridge, particularly if it is warm out. They are really quick and easy to make (though do need time to chill before being sliced) and keep well in the fridge. I've been incredibly busy the last few days and it has been so handy to have these in the fridge to grab for a quick snack when needed.
Chewy, No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 50 g (1 ¾ cups) wholegrain puffed rice cereal
- 250 g (2 ½ cups) fine porridge oats
- 80 g (½ cup) mixed seeds (I used pumpkin, sunflower and chia)
- 100 g (1 cup) flaked almonds
- 200 g (1 ½ cups) mixed dried fruit, chopped if large (I used raisins, chopped dates and chopped dried mango)
- 250 g (1 cup) smooth peanut butter
- 155 g (½ cup) honey (or golden syrup)
- 110 g (⅓ cup) brown rice syrup or golden syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line a 25cm square tin with baking parchment.
- Place the puffed rice cereal, oats, seeds, flaked almonds and dried fruit in a large bowl and mix to combine.
- Place the peanut butter, honey, brown rice or golden syrup and salt in a pan. Heat gently while stirring until it is melted and smooth and just starting to bubble.
- Pour the mixture into the oat mix and stir well to combine, there should be no dry patches. This is a little tricky and I found the easiest way to mix it well was to get your hands in there and mix it by hand.
- Tip the mix into the prepared tin and spread level. Use your hands or the base of a glass to really pack it down firmly, you want it to be really packed down or your bars will crumble.
- Place the tin in the fridge for at least a couple of hours then lift the slab out using the baking parchment and use a very sharp serrated knife to cut it into 16 bars. Wrap each bar in clingfilm and store in the fridge.
Elinor aka Beachhutcook
Delicious. Perfect way of how to use up those pesky packets that lurk in your cupboards.
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet
Oooh, peanut butter. These babies look like an excellent addition to my kids' lunch boxes.
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
I know that feeling of packets falling out of the cupboard. I swear I've not bought any non perishable ingredients for 3 years and still there is a cascade when I open the cupboard.
Lovely bars
Linda , Australia
These turned out just great.I had a few recipes lined up to try...yours was the first...I need go no further! I changed a bit but kept measurements the same.I had no flaked Almonds..so chopped whole ones. Added sesame seeds and reduced the sunflower and pepitas.I only had crunchy peanut butter and lastly reduced the honey to a quarter cup and so increased the brown rice syrup. They cut perfectly not too sticky and could be eaten without falling apart. The taste is awesome. All my grandkids liked them too and they are a bit fussy! Thanks so much for a yummy recipe. Theyve all gone now..have to make more!
Natalie
These are excellent. Made them to encourage our students cam-stressed child to have something for breakfast and they have been a hit for breakfast and snacking. Enough sweetness but not too much for those with a sweet tooth, and enough saltiness for those who enjoy savoury. We mix it up by using some muesli or whatever is in the cupboards to add in!