This Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola is a simple homemade treat with chewy clusters, a little crunch from sunflower seeds, and mini chocolate chips tucked throughout. The peanut butter adds just enough richness without overpowering the chocolate.
I especially like that this recipe is easy to customize. Use sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or a combination of your favorite add-ins. You can also spread the mixture into a larger pan for thinner, crunchier granola or use a smaller pan for thicker, chewier pieces.
It makes a wonderful breakfast with milk or yogurt, but we also enjoy grabbing a handful for an afternoon snack. Once you have a jar of homemade granola sitting in the pantry, it seems to disappear pretty quickly!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Granola
- Easy to make: Just mix, press, and bake.
- Simple ingredients: Most of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry.
- Customizable: Add seeds, nuts, dried fruit, or other favorite mix-ins.
- Great for snacking: Break it into small crumbles or larger clusters.
- Perfect for breakfast: Sprinkle it over yogurt, oatmeal, or fresh fruit.
- Make it your way: Adjust the baking time and pan size for your preferred texture.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 Cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1/3 Cup Honey
- 1/4 Cup Butter melted
- 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar packed
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 Cup Roasted Sunflower Seeds or any kind of seed/roughly crushed nuts, dried fruit, optional add-ins
- 2 Tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
Instructions
How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Prepare the pan with a spray of cooking oil. It will help the parchment paper stay in place. Line a 9 x 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. The size of your pan will affect the finished granola. A larger pan will spread the mixture thinner and give you more crispness, while a smaller pan will result in thicker, chewier granola.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats and salt.2 1/2 Cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats, 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.1/3 Cup Honey, 1/4 Cup Butter, 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar, 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Pour the butter mixture over the oats and stir well, making sure all of the oats are evenly coated.
- Add the peanut butter and mix-ins. Fold in the creamy peanut butter until it is distributed throughout the oat mixture. Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips and sunflower seeds or any other optional add-ins you are using.1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips, 1/4 Cup Roasted Sunflower Seeds, 2 Tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
- Transfer the granola mixture to the parchment-lined baking pan.
- Use a spatula or a small piece of parchment paper to firmly press the mixture into an even layer. Pressing the mixture down helps create those wonderful granola clusters.
- Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the granola is just lightly golden.
- For softer, chewier granola, stick closer to the shorter baking time. If you prefer your granola crispier, bake it a little longer, keeping a close eye on it toward the end so it doesn’t become too dark.
- Cool completely. Let the granola cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Then transfer the pan to the refrigerator to cool completely and finish setting. Once completely cooled, break the granola into smaller crumbles or clusters.
Notes
Tips for the Best Granola
Press the mixture firmly into the pan. This is one of the easiest ways to get nice clusters rather than loose oats. Don’t stir while baking. Leaving the granola undisturbed helps it set into clusters as it cools. Let it cool completely. The granola continues to firm up as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems a little soft when it first comes out of the oven. Adjust the baking time for your favorite texture. A few extra minutes in the oven will give you a crispier granola, while less baking time will leave it softer and chewier.Nutrition
Ways to Enjoy Homemade Granola
There are so many ways to enjoy this peanut butter and chocolate combination. Sprinkle it over vanilla or Greek yogurt.
- Serve it with milk like cereal.
- Add it to a bowl of fresh berries or sliced bananas.
- Enjoy a handful as an afternoon snack.
- Layer it with yogurt and fruit for an easy parfait.
- Add it to oatmeal for extra texture and flavor.
Granola Add-In Ideas
The sunflower seeds are delicious, but don’t feel like you need to stop there. This recipe is a great way to use what you already have on hand. For best results, stick to a total of 1 cup of mix-ins.
Try adding:
- Chopped peanuts
- Pecans or walnuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Shredded coconut
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Chopped dried apricots
- Other dried fruit
Just keep the total amount of additional mix-ins around the same amount so the granola mixture still holds together well.
How to Store Homemade Granola
Store completely cooled granola in an airtight container at room temperature. It should keep well for about 1 to 2 weeks.
Make sure the granola has cooled completely before putting it into a container. Any leftover warmth can create condensation and cause the granola to lose its crunch.
I don’t recommend freezing this granola. It is easy enough to make a fresh batch, and the texture is best when stored at room temperature.
Can I use different nuts or seeds?
Absolutely. Sunflower seeds can easily be replaced with chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, or another favorite seed or nut.
Can I add dried fruit?
Yes. Dried cranberries, raisins, chopped apricots, or other dried fruit would all be delicious. For the best texture, you may want to stir delicate dried fruit into the granola after baking and cooling.
How do I make crunchier granola?
Spread the mixture into a larger baking pan so it is thinner, and bake it a little longer until lightly golden and crisp. Let it cool completely before breaking it apart.
How do I make chewy granola?
Use a smaller pan so the mixture is thicker and avoid overbaking it. The granola will firm up as it cools.
Homemade Granola for Easy Snacking
Homemade granola doesn’t need to be complicated. It is great to keep for a quick breakfast parfait, and can even be eaten in a cold bowl of milk as a cereal substitute.
It is also incredibly customizable! You can throw in whatever seeds or nuts you happen to have in the cupboard, dried fruit, and even your favorite chocolates. Honestly, once you see how easy it is to make these at home, you won’t want to go back to the store-bought.
My family loved this!