Every afternoon around 3pm I break out my mini pretzel-twist/peanut butter/nutella snack.
It’s become such a habit that I don’t even think that I’m actually HUNGRY, I think I’m just eating it because…well, that’s what I do at 3pm.
So I decided that if I’m going to eat something for no reason other than because it’s what I’m used to doing, then I might as well try to make it a little more interesting.
Homemade granola bars seem to be the only logical solution, am I right?
Right.
I actually saw these first on Glamour way back before I knew about the highly addictive hilarity of Jessica’s blog and bookmarked it…so you can imagine my surprise when I opened up my never-ending-recipes-to-make file on my computer the other day and realized that it was actually Jessica’s recipe!
I (as usual) took some liberties on Jessica’s original recipe, but either way the credit goes to her for these delicious things.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Craisin Granola Bars
makes 12-16 granola squares
* 4 cups rolled oats
* 2 tablespoons chia seeds
* 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts
* 3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted
* 1/2 cup honey
* Generous handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips (or any flavor chip you like!)
* Generous handful of Craisins (or any dried fruit you’d like)
Directions: Bake for 20-25 minutes on 325 if you’d like or just pop them in the fridge for an hour and have at it!
I especially love these because they’re a great base that you can then add TONS of variety to! I’d love to add coconuts, almonds, white chocolate chips, raisins, peanut butter chips…the combinations are endless!
If you could make any combination in a granola bar – what would it be?
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Lots of nuts and chocolate!
A girl after my own heart!
I just made myself some granola bars, too! Well…they are in cookie form, but the idea is the same. lol I get the 3 o’clock munchies, too. Everyday around then I start wanting food like crazy! That and coffee!
Haha – I think you win. Anything in cookie form is always best
And yeah, I definitely should’ve mentioned coffee. That’s a constant by my side these days!
I love using chopped up dried baby coconut, cranberries, and dark chocolate chips. Love homemade granola bars and can never go back to store bought ones!
That sounds like such an awesome combo. The ONE thing I felt like these were missing was the coconut! I definitely will add it in next time!
These look so good! I love sweet/salty combos, so I’d make some with pretzels crumbled in them… and chocolate… and almonds… and make a sprinkle of smoked salt on top.
GAH! Adding pretzels is such a good idea! WHY did I not think of that?!?!
Looks great! I would love figs and chocolate in granola bars
Oooh figs! Love that idea!
These look perfecttt!
This my friend is my kinda bar!! Come to me peanut butter…..oh how sweet!!! I love afternoon healthy treats!!
xxoo
Me too! Much better than the candy/junk that’s so easy to grab for because at least things like this will carry me through til dinner without the sugar crash!
I wish so badly that it was 3pm and these were on a plate in front of me. ALLLL of them.
(also, I do the same thing with dessert every night after dinner…big huge spoonful of almond or peanut butter with chocolate chips. It’s just what I HAVE to do after dinner)
I went through that EXACT same snack phase!! (the peanut butter + chocolate chips).
And I wish it were 3pm too and that these were in front of you and that we were hanging out and eating them!!
white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, raisins, golden raisins, and some peanut butter chips. I would basically put everything in my granola bars! They just look so good! Every day when I look at your photos I don’t have time to actually make the food, but I wish I could just have it electronically shipped to my desk at work…instantly that is, so that I could munch on it while I work!
Hahaha – maybe someday we can invent something to make that happen! (And then we’d both be rich and NEITHER of us would have to be at work!
)
Those look AMAZING! Seriously though, you are my hero because these are actually possible to make in my limited uni kitchen! Definitely bookmarking this
Haha – I love it!
Let me know if/when you make them and how you like them!
These look and sound irresistible! YUMMMMM!
Definitely my kind of snack! Delicious!
Guess what just got added to my never-ending “things to bake” list….?
Hahahaha – I love it. Luckily these are super easy!
Homemade granola bars are one of my favorite afternoon snacks. Yours look fantastic!
Thanks! They definitely came out great
oh wow these sound delicious! i love sweet and salty combinations so these around right up my alley! currently i am kind of obsessed with Luna peanut honey pretzel bars and feel those are a pretty darn awesome mix! but anything chocolate and peanut butter is an awesome granola bar!
Agreed and throw pretzels in there and you just can’t beat it!
These sound wonderful, although I think I’d leave out the craisins… Great recipe!
You’re not a Craisins fan!?!?
dark chocolate and dried cherry for me. yes.please.
I like the way you think
just stumbled upon your blog Cait! these granola bars look divine and i’ve seen them on jessica’s site! my favorite combo would be peanut butter, banana, and dark chocolate! not so healthy anymore haha!
Haha – hey you got fruit in there so I say it’s healthy enough
Glad you stumbled upon my blog – going to check yours out now!