If your favorite candy bar and nostalgic childhood granola bars had a baby, they would be none other than my healthy Peanut Butter Granola Crunch Bars. These bars come together with just 8 easy ingredients and just 15 minutes of prep, making them the perfect staple recipe to keep in your weekly routine. I love to pack them in my kids’ lunch boxes, or keep them in the fridge for when I’m craving a sweet and delicious snack!
Friends, with school back in full-swing, I am always looking for fun and delicious recipes to included in my boys’ lunch boxes. Maybe it’s just me, but my kids get very tired very quickly of having the same meals, every day. And to be honest, I do too! Which is why I’m always looking for ways to elevate their lunch boxes with recipes that are both healthy AND fun for them (and p.s. if you’re looking for more of these kinds of recipes, then you’ll love my Baked Dill Pickle Ranch Pretzels and my No-Bake Tagalong Cookie Bites).
These Peanut Butter Granola Crunch Bars are a healthy, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly twist on the classic Crunch Bar candy, made into a no-bake granola bar. If you’ve never made your own granola bars before, then let me be the first to show you just how easy it is! This recipe is so low-fuss and fool-proof that even my boys could make it themselves. If your kids are at the ages where they’re becoming more independent in the kitchen, then this is a great recipe to introduce them to – or, make with them!
Three Reasons Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I know, I know: with so many “healthier” granola bar alternatives on the market these days, it’s easy to find a better alternative to the traditional chewy chocolate chip granola bars (you know which ones!) But even so, I still prefer to make my own at home. Why? Let me give you three good reasons…
- These bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly: If you have food allergies or dietary preferences, you’ll love these bars! They are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly, which means that they’re suitable for most diets! Plus, they’re super easy to customize. Want to make them nut-free? Swap out the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter! Can’t do coconut? Swap the coconut cream for dairy cream. I love that this recipe can be easily modified so almost anyone can enjoy it.
- They’re perfect for meal prep: This recipe makes 12 large granola bars, which makes them perfect for prepping ahead. Plus, they come together in the freezer, which means you don’t need to spend time baking them! Simply prepare the bars, freeze for one hour, then slice. Store the slices in an airtight container, in the fridge, and you’ve got the perfect bars ready in minutes. Oh, and here’s a tip: you can wrap the bars in parchment paper so that they’re perfect for grabbing quickly when you’re on-the-go.
- They’re cheaper than pre-made bars: Other refrigerated granola bars can cost up to $50 for a box of 24. This recipe makes 12 bars for under $15, making them perfect for if you’re on a budget.
What You Need to Make These Better-For-You Granola Bars
- 🥜 Creamy Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter makes these bars smooth and creamy, and ensures that they end up the perfect texture.
- 🥥 Refined Coconut Oil: While any type of coconut oil will work well, I recommend using refined coconut oil so that these bars don’t take on a coconut-y flavor.
- 🍁 Maple Syrup: I love the addition of maple syrup, because it makes these bars taste sweet without the refined sugars.
- 🍨 Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract adds the perfect flavor to these bars. Don’t skip this!
- 🥣 Rolled Oats: Be sure to use gluten-free rolled oats, in order to ensure that these bars remain gluten-free!
- 🌽 Corn Flakes: In order to achieve the crunchy texture of these “crunch” bars, you’ll need crunchy crushed up corn flakes.
- 🍫 Chocolate Chips: I like to use dairy-free chocolate chips in order to keep this recipe dairy-free. However, you can use any chocolate chips that you’d like.
- 🥥 Coconut Cream: Thick and creamy coconut cream is the key to making a thick and creamy, dairy-free chocolate ganache. You can buy coconut cream by the can, or simply scrape off the thick layer of cream from the top of a can of coconut milk.
How to Make These Gluten-Free Crunch Bars
To make these bars, start by lining a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
Next, prepare the bars. In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until it’s completely smooth and fully combined. Then, add in the rolled oats and crushed corn flakes and mix until they’re fully incorporated into the batter. It should be thick!
Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan and use a spatula to press it into the pan, evenly. You may need to coat the spatula in oil first, so that it doesn’t stick to the batter. Set it aside while you prepare the ganache topping.
Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut cream to a microwave safe bowl and stir to combine. Transfer the bowl to the microwave and microwave it in 2-3, 30 second increments, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Be sure to stir the mixture in-between each microwave session.
Pour the ganache over the bars and use the spatula to spread it out into an even layer. Transfer the pan to the freezer and allow the bars to freeze for one hour, until solid.
Then, remove the pan from the freezer and use a sharp knife to slice the mixture inside into bars.
Once the bars are sliced, serve them and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to one month.
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
Equipment
- 1 Loaf Pan this loaf pan is perfect for making this recipe!
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- ¾ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- ½ Cup Refined Coconut Oil, melted – I use refined so that the bars don't have a strong coconut flavor.
- ⅓ Cup Maple Syrup
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 ¼ Cups Rolled Oats
- 1 Cup Corn Flakes, crushed
For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 1 Cup Chocolate Chips
- 2 Tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Coconut Cream
Instructions
- To make these bars, start by lining a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Next, prepare the bars. In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until it's completely smooth and fully combined.
- Then, add in the rolled oats and crushed corn flakes and mix until they're fully incorporated into the batter. It should be thick!
- Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan and use a spatula to press it into the pan, evenly. You may need to coat the spatula in oil first, so that it doesn't stick to the batter.
- Set it aside while you prepare the ganache topping.
- Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut cream to a microwave safe bowl and stir to combine.
- Transfer the bowl to the microwave and microwave it in 2-3, 30 second increments, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Be sure to stir the mixture in-between each microwave session.
- Pour the ganache over the bars and use the spatula to spread it out into an even layer.
- Transfer the pan to the freezer and allow the bars to freeze for one hour, until solid.
- Then, remove the pan from the freezer and use a sharp knife to slice the mixture inside into bars.
- Once the bars are sliced, serve them and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to one month.
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
Response
These are so good! I make them in mini silicone muffin tins. I pop them out and store them in the freezer.