Peanut Butter Apple Snack Bars
School snack royalty — chewy oats, peanut butter, and honey wrapped around apple chunks and cinnamon. They’re part granola bar, part apple pie, and entirely smug-making when you pull one out at pickup like the snack whisperer you are.
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup crisp apple finely diced (about 1 medium apple)
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter natural or regular
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped nuts or pumpkin seeds for crunch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment, leaving overhang for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, mix oats, diced apple, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm peanut butter, honey, and brown sugar until smooth and just bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oats and apples. Stir until everything is well coated.
- Press mixture firmly into the prepared pan — the tighter the press, the less crumbly the bars.
- Bake 18–20 minutes, until edges are golden and the center is set.
- Cool completely before lifting out and slicing into bars.
Notes
• Make-ahead magic: These keep in an airtight container at room temp for 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Toddler tip: Chop apples extra small for easier bites.
• Apéro energy: Swap cinnamon for pumpkin spice, and drizzle with dark chocolate once cooled.
• Toddler tip: Chop apples extra small for easier bites.
• Apéro energy: Swap cinnamon for pumpkin spice, and drizzle with dark chocolate once cooled.