Better than Chewy Bars: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

By Alexandra Caspero on February 25, 2013


I have a hard time keeping a straight face when someone tells me they enjoy granola bars as a ‘healthy’ snack.

Healthy, eh?

Let’s look at the ingredient list of Chocolate Chip Chewy Bars

GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, BROWNSUGAR, CRISP RICE [RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, MALTED BARLEY EXTRACT],WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED WHEAT, SOYBEAN OIL, DRIED COCONUT, WHOLE WHEATFLOUR, SODIUM BICARBONATE, SOY LECITHIN, CARAMEL COLOR, NONFAT DRYMILK), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOABUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), CORN SYRUP, BROWN RICE CRISP(WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE, SUGAR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, SALT), INVERTSUGAR, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, GLYCERIN, SOYBEAN OIL. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SORBITOL,CALCIUM CARBONATE, SALT, WATER, SOY LECITHIN, MOLASSES, NATURAL ANDARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, BHT (PRESERVATIVE), CITRIC ACID.

 Sugar sources have been highlighted for your pleasure. A common trick of food companies, they add multiple sources of sugar so you don’t see that sugar, by weight, really is the biggest ingredient. A single bar contains 3.5tsp of sugar.
 
Other questionable ingredients include Artificial Flavorings, BHT & Caramel Color.

Are we still calling this a healthy snack?

Ditch your packaged bars and make these instead. Not only do you have control over the ingredients, they taste much better than traditional granola bars.

And you save money. And wasteful packaging.

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Hopefully you don’t need any more convincing.

Yes, these still contain chocolate chips (I still had to get BL to choose these over regular bars), and they contain a little sugar. Not nearly as much as the packaged kind though. Your choice of liquid sweetener; I used maple syrup but you could experiment with honey or agave.

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Mmm. Chewy, chocolate peanut butter granola bars. And around 100 calories per serving as well.

Wham! Bam! These are kicking those quaker bars butts.

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These will keep for two weeks in the fridge. Make a pan, slice them and eat as needed. They make a pretty good on-the-go breakfast as well.

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DK’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chewy Peanut Bar

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown rice crispy cereal
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup maple syrup (or other liquid sweetener, see above)
2 tbsp. brown sugar
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
⅓ cup chocolate chips
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine rolled oats, flour, baking soda, brown sugar, salt and brown rice crispy cereal in a large bowl. Combine peanut butter and agave nectar in another bowl. Add the peanut butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir together, add the chocolate chips, and pour into a lightly-greased 8X8. Place a piece of parchment paper over the bars. Use a can or heavy object like glass measuring cup and gently beat down the mixture until it is compact and fills the pan.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Cut into 12 bars.

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Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Chef, and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.

(4 comments) leave a comment

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    1. Max Pan
      August 3, 2015 AT 1:24 am

      Hi,the bars look great and delicious! I wonder if you have any need for the bar machines? we are expert on snack machines,hope we have the chance to do business in future. http://www.papamachine.com

    2. DK
      March 1, 2013 AT 8:19 pm

      Thanks Hannah! I hope you enjoy them. While I love raw lara-bars, sometimes you want more of a true “granola bar”. I loved chewy bars growing up and these are the next best thing!

    3. Hannah
      March 1, 2013 AT 8:14 pm

      I haven’t made my own bars in a while, but I’m so excited to see your recipe! It seems like all the homemade version are either cereal/granola bars, or raw larabar-type bars. I crave the chewy sort that fall somewhere in between… Just like this!

      1. Max Pan
        August 3, 2015 AT 1:24 am

        hi,how are you?

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