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Somewhere between breakfast and snack time lives the perfect homemade granola bar. These Peanut Butter Cherry Granola Bars are chewy, lightly sweetened with honey and banana, packed with oats and crunchy peanuts, and baked until golden in a simple parchment-lined baking dish. Perfect for quick breakfasts, afternoon coffee breaks, or grabbing on the go, these bars are budget-friendly, easy to customize, and made from simple pantry staples.
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Tools From the Kitchen:
8x8 glass baking dish
Parchment paper
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
Spoon or spatula
Knife and cutting board
Fork or potato masher
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Ingredients:
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8–1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped cherries
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Prepare:
Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper.
Pit and chop fresh cherries. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mash banana until mostly smooth. Stir in honey, peanut butter, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until combined.
Add salt and oats, stirring until evenly coated. Fold in chopped peanuts and cherries.
Transfer mixture into prepared baking dish. Using the bottom of a measuring cup, firmly press mixture evenly into the pan.
Bake for 22–28 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and center is set.
Allow granola bars to cool completely before slicing into squares or bars.
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Notes From the Kitchen:
Pressing the mixture firmly into the pan helps keep the bars together after baking.
For softer bars, bake closer to 22 minutes. For firmer bars, bake longer.
These store well in an airtight container for several days.
Add chocolate chips, coconut, flaxseed, or chia seeds for easy variations.
Warm one slightly before eating for the perfect coffee shop style snack.
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