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These Chewy Granola Bars are just right. Flavorful, Firm, Chewy, and they hold together. This bar has it all, plus a peanut butter topping you’re gonna love! We love it. I hope you will too.

When our daughters were younger, we vacationed nearly every summer in the mountains. One year, I wanted to make most of the food myself. I dried fruits. Made jerky. And I worked months on this recipe to get it just right, wanting something that was flavorful, firm, yet chewy, and that would hold together when snacking on it.

I now make these granola bars on a regular basis to go with my husband’s lunches, for special outings, and also to give as Christmas food gifts. They are always appreciated and eagerly welcomed. Yes, they do take a lot of ingredients and some time, but once you get the hang of it, they are easy to make with little effort.

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Ingredients for Chewy Granola Bars

(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)

Old Fashioned Oats
whole wheat flour
sweetened coconut flakes
dry powdered milk
wheat germ
brown sugar
sunflower seeds
baking soda
kosher salt
vegetable oil
honey
light corn syrup
vanilla extract
Dried Fruits and Nuts
dried apricots, blueberries, cranberries, figs, raisins, etc.
roasted peanuts, almonds, cashews, English walnuts, pecans, etc.
mini chocolate chips (optional)
Topping
light corn syrup
creamy peanut butter
brown sugar

Things I Learned Making Granola Bars

Sprinkle Chopped Nuts on Parchment Lined Baking Sheet

Through my experimentation, we determined that we liked having chopped nuts on the bottom of the bar. Usually I’ll combine dry roasted peanuts with almonds, but at Christmastime (because I often give these as gifts) I’ll add in pecans, cashews, English walnuts, or pistachios. Use whatever nuts you like best.

Combine Fruits for Various Batches - Raisins, Dates, and Apricots

Pick two or three of your favorite dried fruits to use in these bars. Again at Christmas, because I make so many batches, I’ll often pair my nuts with fruits.

For example, one batch may have English walnuts and pecans with apricots and figs. Another might include cashews, pistachios, and chocolate chips with blueberries, and a third batch might have golden raisins and cranberries with peanuts and almonds. Experiment and combine whatever mixture you like best.

The Peanut Butter Mixture Hardens and Holds the Bars Together

We also decided the bars needed a peanut butter topping. This topping helps hold the bar together, which is an added bonus. Not to mention that it just puts these granola bars over-the-top yummy!

Instructions for Making This Recipe

Preheat oven to 375°F. Gather your ingredients so that you have everything on the counter or table.

Prepare the Ingredients

Using a nut chopper, coarsely chop the peanuts and almonds (and any other nuts you desire).

Chop the raisins, cranberries and any other dried fruit into small pieces with Chef’s knife and cutting board.

Combine the Ingredients

In a large bowl, mix together the old-fashioned oats, wheat flour, shredded coconut, dry milk, wheat germ, brown sugar, sunflower seeds, baking soda and kosher salt.

Mix Liquids Together in a Measuring Cup or Bowl

In a glass measuring dish combine the vegetable oil, honey, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Add to the oat mixture and MIX WELL so that all is blended and sticky. I use my hands for this part to incorporate all of the ingredients. Add in the prepared dried fruit, and again mix well.

Get Your Hands Dirty

When it’s time to mix ingredients for this recipe, I have found that it works best to get right in there with my hands and work it all up with my fingers. This is the easiest way to incorporate everything, so that the honey mixture fully binds with the oats, flour, and dried fruits. Yes, it’s a messy business. But it works. Your hands will wash.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cover the bottom of pan with the prepared coarsely chopped almonds and peanuts. You may also sprinkle in mini chocolate chips, if desired.

Sprinkle granola mixture over nuts and press firmly with a spatula.

Press the Mixture Down During the Baking Process

Bake 10 minutes in preheated oven. Take out of oven and again press mixture firmly with a spatula. (Granola will be puffy and soft.) Bake another 7-8 minutes until golden brown. Once more, press bars firmly with metal spatula.

Cool 10 minutes and cut into bars with a metal bench scraper. I divide the pan into 3 rows, with 11 bars in each row.

Press Them Down, Down, Down

Press Mixture Down Once Last Time Before Adding the Peanut Butter Topping

A Final Tip: This might be the most important tip I share with you about this recipe. Repeatedly press the granola mixture down with a firm spatula. I do this once they are in the pan, and again halfway through the baking process, then a third time after they have finished cooking.

A fourth press comes after cutting them into bars before the peanut butter topping goes on. All of this helps ensure that the bars will hold together and not fall apart when you’re eating them. It works, and you will appreciate the extra effort.

Prepare the Peanut Butter Topping

Heat Peanut Butter, Corn Syrup, and Brown Sugar to Make Topping

Now it’s time to make the peanut butter coating. In a small saucepan combine the corn syrup, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Cook over medium-low heat. Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a light boil, which may take up to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour over the granola bars.

While the peanut butter mixture is still warm, spread to edges, creating a thin coating. Cool completely. Turn out onto waxed paper or a plastic mat.

I like to turn the granola bars out onto a large plastic pie baking mat, which allows me to lift each end up to detail the cut line easier, without damaging the bars. One day I’ll try to post a video of this, to help you see what I mean.

Using a metal bench scraper, cut bars once more through the peanut butter coating.

Store the finished product in a covered container for up to two months–although I doubt they will last that long. I also like to individually wrap them in either waxed paper, or little plastic snack sacks. This helps keep them fresh and is a nice way to make them grab-and-go-friendly. I’ll send some in my husband’s lunch (He loves them), or I’ll offer them to our daughters when they visit. Sometimes, I’ll throw one in my purse before a long day’s shopping trip.

All-in-all, most folks would probably consider this a complicated, time-consuming recipe. But, once you’ve made these Chewy Granola Bars a time or two, the process will become easier. And it’s so worth it. Your family will thank you. I know mine does–every single time I make them.

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Chewy Granola Bars

Here’s a recipe I worked months on to get just right. We love it. I hope you will too.

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 20

Cooling Time: 1 10

Total Time 2

Serving Size 33 bars

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Equipment

Ingredients

Granola Base

4 cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup dry milk
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Nuts and Fruits

1 1/3 cups dried fruit, chopped (apricots, blueberries, cranberries, figs, raisins, etc.)
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (chopped)
1 cup roasted almonds (chopped)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Peanut ButterTopping

1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup brown sugar