Peanut-free snacks recipe: Chewy SunButter Granola Bars

A homemade nut-free SunButter granola bars recipe that is chewy, filling and lasts a few days has become the Holy Grail in our kitchen.  It is easy to make and there is no baking required!

Like so many of you, we have active kids (and parents!) who appreciate grabbing on-the-go peanut-free snacks that are nutritious and delicious.

Not granola or concrete

Until now, the homemade nut-free SunButter granola bars recipes we’ve tried end up as either granola (they don’t stick together), concrete (too crunchy for all the orthodontic stuff in the kids’ mouths these days) or they get stale within a day.

….until now. After much adaptation, here’s a foolproof Chewy SunButter Granola Bars recipe:

Ingredients

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread oats on pan and toast for 5 minutes. Stir, add coconut, and toast another 5  – 8 minutes until all is browned just a bit.

Meanwhile, in large saucepan, combine honey, SunButter and brown sugar and heat on medium until SunButter melts and brown sugar dissolves.

Stir in vanilla and salt and remove from heat.

Place oats and coconut in large bowl. Pour SunButter mixture over and combine. Cool for a few minutes, than add cranberries, raisins and chocolate chips and stir together.

Press mixture into 9″ x 13″ pan that has been lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Press mixture VERY FIRMLY into pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove, then slice into granola bars.

Wrap up individually or however you will best enjoy these SunButter Chewy Granola Bars!  They are perfect for a gift, or for camp, theater practice, sports, games and other activities!