Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Hi Everybody! One of my new year's resolutions this year was to cut back on store bought snacks that contain crazy amounts of sugar, salt, preservatives and fat, and substitute them with homemade food, where I can regulate exactly what I put in. Although it's not always easy to prepare quick and healthy meals and have healthy snacks on hand to satisfy those terrible midnight cravings, a little bit of planning and preparation at the beginning of the week helps me stick to my resolution! I started making homemade granola bars a couple of weeks ago, and now I make a batch every week to have ready for breakfast every morning. I'm not a big cereal eater, and these granola bars, whether eaten in the car in the morning or crumbled over yogurt, honey and fruit for a bigger breakfast, are very satisfying and filling! I've made different variations of these granola bars and have posted two other versions on my blog (Raisin and Peanut Granola Barsand Coconut, Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars), and wanted to share these Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip ones with you today!

Crunchy Peanut Butter and

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

*Makes 10 - 12 Granola Bars*

YOU WILL NEED:

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter (you could use smooth, the crunch gives it better texture though)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

*You can add peanuts for extra crunch

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar and salt and mix well. Preheat your oven to 3250 deg F. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture now (honey, egg, oil, vanilla and peanut butter) and make sure that everything is well incorporated. Add in 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.

2. Next, prepare your baking pan. Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with parchment paper and transfer the granola mixture onto it. Pat it down with your hands to form an even rectangle, and leave about an inch around the edges of the pan.

3. Bake for 15 - 18 minutes (usually I bake the granola bars for 18 - 20 minutes, but the peanut butter has a tendency to make them a little more crumbly, so I decreased the baking time). Take them out once the edges are browned a little bit.

4. Let cool for 5 minutes, then using a sharp knife, cut into bars. Don't wait to cut the bars once they have cooled completely, it is much easier to cut them up when they are still warm! Store them in an air tight container so they stay soft and chewy!

If you love granola bars, I hope you give these Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Granola Bars a try! I promise you won't be disappointed! They are the perfect breakfast on the go! If you'd like to try my other granola bar recipes, you can find them here:

Raisin and Peanut Granola Bars and Coconut, Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars.

Happy Baking, Everyone!

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