Peanut Butter Granola (with Chocolate Chunks)

This Peanut Butter Granola with Chocolate Chunks is a peanut butter-chocolate lovers dream! It’s so much better than any store-bought granola you can buy and so easy to make!

Homemade granola is one of those things you don’t realize how easy it is to make at home until you try it. It’s so easy it’s totally worth the time it takes–why not save money and be in control of the ingredients in there?

Homemade granola makes a great snack or breakfast option. But are the store-bought ones good for you? Not always. It’s much better to control the ingredients and make your own. And it’s easy to make a healthier version at home.

This recipe was developed specifically for my husband.  Peanut butter+chocolate is his favorite combination and he loves a sweet, dessert-type granola to snack on.  This Peanut Butter Granola definitely slants into dessert territory, it’s still a healthy granola recipe without refined sugar and all real food ingredients.  It’s just not quite as saintly as my other granola recipes.  (See: Lightened Up Homemade Granola and Blueberry Pie Granola)

But it makes Tim happy and guess what?  That makes me happy. The saying goes, “Happy wife, happy life,” but I think it goes the other way, too.

This peanut butter granola recipe is budget-friendly, quick to make, and super satisfying. It has sweet and nutty honey, rolled oats, and peanut butter mixture, topped with chocolate chips, peanuts, and sunflower seeds. Ready to dive into the recipe details? Let’s go!

Why You’ll Love the Recipe

Way Healthier Than Store-Bought Granola. We’re using wholesome, healthy ingredients that are naturally sweet, and sweetening it without refined sugar.

Sweet and Short Ingredient List. You only need nine ingredients for this peanut butter granola. You’ll find all of them at your closest grocery store and you probably have a bunch of then on hand in your pantry. No hassle.

Perfect Make-Ahead Healthy Breakfast. Make and store some for a quick weekday breakfast. Serve them on top of a bowl of yogurt, pair them with fresh fruits, or simply eat them on their own.

Ingredients for Homemade Peanut Butter Granola

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Chewy, mild, and creamy – old-fashioned oats are my top choice for a homemade granola recipe. You can also use quick oats, though if that’s all you have on hand. I like the less processed old fashioned oats best here, though.

Peanuts: What’s a granola without a nice texture? So, I added peanuts to the mix. They have good amounts of heart-healthy fats and antioxidants. Plus, they bring a lot of fiber to the table.

Sunflower Seeds: Like I said, it’s a texture game! But of course, I picked sunflower seeds for their health benefits. They are loaded with vitamin E and antioxidants, making me feel great about munching on this healthy granola. If you’re worried about how they’ll pair up with the rest of the ingredients, drop those fears. Their nutty and mild flavor profile is a perfect match and give extra crunch.

Salt: A little bit of kosher salt will enhance the flavors. I often sprinkle some sea salt at the end for a perfect balance.

Sucunat or Coconut Sugar: Whenever I can, I opt for an organic sweetener. Sucunat and coconut sugar are my go-tos.

Peanut Butter: I prefer natural peanut butter without added sugar or oils to keep things healthy for everyone. Look for just peanuts and salt as the two ingredients!

Coconut Oil: Most store-bought granolas have seed oils or vegetable oil. That’s my biggest beef with them. We use coconut oil here, but you can also use avocado oil here as well.

Honey: Just a bit of honey for natural sweetness. Plus, it helps form those irresistible, big clusters! Maple syrup works as a substitute.

Chocolate Chunks: It’s optional, but who would want to leave out chocolate chips?

Don’t miss the recipe card at the bottom. It has detailed instructions for a perfect homemade granola recipe.

Tips and Tricks

• Keep the oven temperature low. You need the granola to dry out perfectly.
• Overbaked is better than underbaked. So wait till your crunchy peanut butter granola turns a beautiful golden brown before taking it out of the oven. Be very careful, though. It can go from “Yum, that’s just what I needed” to “Damn! I screwed up!”
• Don’t cut corners with the wet ingredients. They are what will make this granola form clumps. Make sure your mixture is wet enough.

Variations

1. Try Other Nuts and Seeds: Sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans – add whatever you like for a crunchier bite. As for sunflower seeds, you can substitute them with chia seeds or pumpkin seeds.
2. Add Some Dried Fruits: Add extra flavor and sweetness with dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, cherries, or apricots. Just make sure to add them after baking the granola so they don’t get burnt.
3. Boost the Flavor: Cinnamon and vanilla extract are great additions for extra flavor. Add them in with the wet ingredients for a delicious twist.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store homemade granola?

You only have to get a few things right to make sure this lasts a long time.

• Let the granola cool completely.
• Transfer it to an airtight container.
• Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

How long will this last?

These homemade granola bars can last up to 2 weeks when stored properly. Though it may not even last that long because it’s so delicious! Try to make a double batch and see for yourself!

How do you make your granola have big chunks? 

Your peanut butter granola will have big chunks if you let it cool completely before you touch it after it comes out of the oven. Give it a solid hour and those chunks will be formed!

The kids also love this on our Banana Split Breakfast Bowls! It goes so well!

I hope you love this Peanut Butter Granola as much as my family does! If you try this or any of my other healthy recipes, please leave a comment and star rating below. It helps other readers know which recipes are tried and true and also helps my recipes be found more easily. I appreciate you! Share your photos of my recipes you make on Instagram and tag me and I’ll feature you!

Peanut Butter Granola with Chocolate Chunks

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 4 reviews

• Author: Maryea Flaherty of Healthy Happy Mama
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 cups 1x

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Description

This Peanut-Butter Chocolate Chunk Granola is super crunchy with big chunks!  It’s easy to throw together with no chopping required.  

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup peanuts
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar or Sucunat
• 1 cup peanut butter (preferably natural without added sugar)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 6 ounces chocolate chunks (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the first 5 ingredients.  Add in the remaining ingredients, except the chocolate chunks, and mix until everything is well mixed.
3.  Spread the mixture on two rimmed baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven about 45 minutes.
4. Half way through the baking time, use a spatula to carefully turn the granola over to ensure it bakes evenly and doesn’t burn on the bottom. If you like big chunks in your granola, be careful not to break it apart too much as you are turning it over.
5. Watch the granola at the end of the baking time; it goes from perfect to burned quickly.  Once it is finished baking, let it sit, undisturbed, for at least an hour, more if possible.  It gets crunchier as it cools and the big chunks form when you don’t touch it at all.  Add the chocolate chunks and transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the pantry.  Enjoy!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Breakfast
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 0.5 cup
• Calories: 454
• Sugar: 19.6g
• Sodium: 103.8mg
• Fat: 32.6g
• Carbohydrates: 36.8g
• Protein: 8.6g

This post was first published in 2015. Updates to photos and some of the text were made in 2024. I hope you love this recipe!