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Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars {and road trip snack ideas}

By 89 Comments

Need the most delicious homemade granola recipe? I’ve got you covered with these peanut butter banana chocolate chip granola bars, and I’m sharing some of my favorite road trip snacks, and there’s a giveaway, such a fun post today!

Peanut butter banana chocolate chip granola bars from @sweetphi

I love homemade granola bars. I love combining different ingredients and the hearty flavors that one can create at home. Anyone who has ever made granola bars at home will tell you that they are 10 times better than anything one could image buying at the store.

Granola bar ingredients

One can get carried away adding in healthy ingredients though, and then be left with a pan of super healthy granola bars that one just doesn’t even want to look at. That has happened to me quite a few times. They’ll be so over the top healthy (and taste that way) that when offered offered are quickly declined. Granola bar making is definitely an art. You want the right taste, the right texture, the right ingredients.

Mashed bananas

With these granola bars, I think I have perfected the art.

Homemade-granola-bars

They’re chewy (no more breaking of teeth trying to take a bite, I like to use bananas and mash them with a fork), they have a little crunch (from the crispy rice cereal used) and they have the perfect balance of sweet and tart (from the chocolate chips and dried cranberries). These bad boys are so good, they’re the granola bar I make for road trips, and ones that I get requests for!

banana peanut butter chocolate chip cranberry granola bars

As I was thinking about what I all wanted to prepare for an upcoming road trip, I came home and realized I had an Instacart delivery coming, yay, those are always fun days. Instacart delivers your grocery cart, right to your door (clever name, right?) and is something that saves me oodles of time each week. As soon as I saw the delivery waiting, it reminded me that not only do they have produce, but they also have all kinds of other organic pantry items and groceries that I would find right in the grocery store.

Organic homemade granola bars

I perused their selection and found not only all the ingredients to make my granola bars, but also many great road trip snacks! Here are some of my favorites-what are some of yours?

Organic road trip snacks

Do you want to try the wonderful Instacart service? Use code PHILIAK125 to get $10 off your first order for new customers!!

The next time you’re looking for the most delicious homemade granola bars, look no further than these peanut butter banana chocolate chip granola bars!

Granola bars with mashed bananasOther recipes you might enjoy:

Yield: 20 bars

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars {road trip snacks}

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars {road trip snacks}
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 bananas, ripe and mashed
  • 2 Tbs honey (I use Clover honey)
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cup oats (rolled oats, quick cooking)
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup walnut halves/pieces
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (you could also used dried cherries)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a bowl microwave peanut butter, honey and vanilla for 30 seconds.

In another bowl mash bananas with a fork.

Combine bananas and peanut butter mixture and stir, then add in the brown sugar and stir.

Next, add in the remaining ingredients and stir to combine, it may be a little hard to stir. I like to fold the ingredients together (folding under and over with a spatula).

When everything is mixed together spread it into the prepared baking dish and flatten the top so that it is even.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until edges are golden brown, you may need to bake for a few more minutes (I've had to bake these all the way up to 30 minutes one time).

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, then, using a sharp knife cut into 20 bars.

These granola bars store really well in the freezer. Simply individually wrap them in plastic wrap and put in a freezer bag and remove when ready to enjoy, or store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 40mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 4g

Nutrition shown is for one bar

© Sweetphi

Peanut butter banana chocolate chip granola bars from @sweetphi

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laurie says

    Looks so delicious! Can you use crunchy peanut butter? Also can you use the mixed nuts (pecans, peanuts, pistachios, etc) ? Leave out the cranberries? Sorry, I’m just trying to use what I have on hand. Lol

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Hi Laurie,
      I totally have substituted different things in this recipe to use what I have on hand and have had them come out great. I’ve used almond butter instead of peanut butter, so I assume crunch peanut butter would be a-ok. Also you can use mixed nuts and leave out the cranberries – obviously they might taste a little different depending on what you add/leave out, but I’m sure they’d still be delish! I’d love to know how you like them and what you ended up substituting!
      Phi

      Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      I loooove cheetos! I always forget I love them, but if I didn’t bring snacks with me and I go into a gas station, that is exactly what I’ll grab 🙂

      Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      I’m the same way – lots and lots of coffee 🙂 Also, cherry Lara bars are one of my favorite flavors, that and the apple pie ones are my two top faves 😉

      Reply

  6. Denise E. says

    I think I will be making these granola bars for the grandkids. I know they will love them; me, too. I’m a big fan of nuts for a road trip…they keep you full longer so you don’t eat so much other junk food (like chips or Funyuns :D)

    Reply

  8. Laura M says

    These look great and are in the oven baking right now! The last granola bar recipe I tried had so many ingredients that i had to buy specifically for the recipe (wheat germ?), but I had all of the ingredients for these! I love having homemade snack mix for the kids, but now homemade granola bars may be the new go to snack.

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      I think you’re going to love these Laura – I’d love to know how they turn out for you! And i’m the same way-i tend to get deterred if there are too many ingredients lol. These granola bars also can be cut into little square bar-sized bites 🙂

      Reply

  9. Jamie says

    Yum, I am going to have to try these! I love taking homemade kettlecorn on road trips, just enough sweet and salty and it’s pretty healthy!

    Reply

  10. Mary Zelli says

    I like to make my own trail mix with nuts and craisins. I used to add chocolate chips until I started dropping them and having them melt on my clothes. Can have a few or several. I also like to pack grapes and apple slices.

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      You are definitely on to something, I’ve had chocolate chips melt on clothes or car seats before lol. Apples and grapes are perfect for road trips.

      Reply

  11. Jess says

    I need to have salty & sweet – usually some kind of mixed nuts, peanut butter crackers and brownies or cookies are my go-tos. My husband likes beef jerky and my twins like goldfish and animal crackers.

    Reply

  12. shannon says

    I can’t wait to try these – I think they’ll be a new favorite road trip snack; but for now, it’s homemade ‘energy balls’ if I’m feeling healthy & peanut butter cups if I’m not :):)

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Thank you so much for your compliment, I truly appreciate it!! And you’re right, these are definitely perfect for camping or a road trip 🙂

      Reply

  14. hroyal10 says

    I love granola bars AND I love snacks. Especially homemade snacks on the road. I’m taking a road tip this weekend and now I’ll have a healthy and filling snack for the ride. Win win!

    Reply

  17. Lexi Bites (@lexi_bites) says

    Whoa! These look delicious. My favorite snacks for road trips are beef and turkey jerky (I know…love it or leave it), popcorn and nuts. I’ll have to bake up a batch of these for our road trip in July!

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      My hubby love jerkys and I always laugh at the names they have, I like sausage sticks- have you ever had those? Looove them lol! And I think you’d love these for your upcoming trip 🙂

      Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Isn’t Door to Door amazing? I remember when you posted about them a while ago and they weren’t in WI yet, I was so jelly lol! And girl, road trip snacks are the best!

      Reply

  26. Jeffrey says

    These look awesome…Pinning for sure. I like to take along granola and fresh fruit. I’m not one for fast food restaurants so I always make sure I have something with me (I haven’t had McDonalds in 20 years!). I actually have all the ingredients to make these in my cupboard with exception to the rice cereal which is chocolate but would probably work just fine.

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      I like having homemade snacks so I don’t get tempted either… But I can’t say I’ve been as good as you… No McDonnalds for 20 years?!? That’s super impressive!, and I think chocolate rice crispies would be amazing in these! I’d just add a little less sugar so that they’re not too sweet 🙂 I’d love to know how they turn out!

      Reply

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