All of the makings of healthier monster cookies are found in these No Bake Monster Cookie Granola Bars! You just need one bowl, one spoon, and less than 10 minutes of preparation!
*Recipe and text from 10/31/12. Images updated 03/08/17.
I just realized that this is my third peanut butter recipe in one week! I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. It is pretty apparent that the kitchen at A Kitchen Addiction is frequently putting out recipes involving peanut butter!
If you are ever wondering what we may be eating at any given time, you would have a good chance at being correct by guessing something with peanut butter! It’s a staple, and because of that, one should never go too long without it!
These monster cookie granola bars are a revision to these peanut butter dark chocolate chip no bake granola bites. Yes, another peanut butter recipe. Just like in that recipe, you can use either creamy or crunchy peanut butter in this recipe.
Since I prefer creamy and my husband prefers crunchy, we can both be happy because either one works great. Plus, it’s an easy enough recipe that it doesn’t take much time to make a batch of each!
All of the makings of semi-healthy monster cookies can be found in these. . .oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and M&M’s for the monster cookie and flaxseed, oat bran, and honey for the nutrition. 😉 I used regular milk chocolate M&M’s for the granola bars, but you could use whatever variety you have on hand.
These granola bars require one bowl, one spoon, and less than 10 minutes of preparation. You can’t ask for a quicker recipe to throw together for a snack for the kids or for you with your busy on-the-go schedule!
- 1¼ C quick oats
- 6 tbsp ground flaxseed
- ¼ C oat bran
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ C creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- ¼ C honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ C semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ C M&M's
- Spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together oats, flaxseed, oat bran, and salt. Stir in peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract until well-combined using a wooden spoon. Add in chocolate chips and M&M’s. Stir to combine.
- Firmly press dough into baking dish. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow dough to stiffen.
- Cut into 9 bars. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
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tanya says
Can you ever have enough peanut butter????? The answer is no of course! I love the idea of monster granola bars! This is an excellent snack for me, er I mean my kids!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Yay for another peanut butter lover! 🙂
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Peanut butter makes the world go round 😉
Ramona says
Yum!! Love that it is a no bake!! Happy Halloween! Hope you and your family have a spook-tacular day!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
I definitely want these peanut butter granola bars in my kitchen. And they’re monster cookie flavored! Be still my heart.
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} says
These look amazing and no bake. Loving the PB and pretzel M&M’s? Why oh why don’t we have those puppies here?
Jocelyn@ BruCrew Life says
I can never have enough peanut butter…so keep them coming!!! Monster cookies are the best…I love that you recreated them in granola bars with pretzel MM’s. These are awesome!!!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Thanks Jocelyn! I’ve made more than a couple of batches of these! 🙂
Ali | Gimme Some Oven says
These look awesome!!! And love any excuse to buy some pretzel M&Ms!
Emma @ Food, Fork and Good says
Yummm! Anything that requires less time to be yummy is ok by me!
Nicole @The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie says
I love monster cookies! What a great idea to put them into a bar!
PS – I’m a firm believer that you can’t have too many peanut butter recipes 😉
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
I’m afraid that I’m slightly addicted to the monster cookie combination. . .I look for any way to incorporate it into snacks and desserts!
Natalie says
These look delicious! I love the pretzel M&M idea. I am going to have my husband whip me up a batch. Who is your wonderful photographer? The colors are so intense and inviting! You two make a wonderful combo!
Tonette says
flaxseed! Interesting…my husband is very keen on flaxseed.I will have to make a note to sneak it into baked goods.
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
These are too good! I love monster cookies but I wouldn’t feel so bad about eating these!
Kari@Loaves and Dishes says
You can NEVER have too much peanut butter; especially when it’s partnered with all those healthy ingredients!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Thanks Kari!
Joanne says
No such thing as too much peanut butter! I love how these are part dessert part healthy snack. The best of both worlds.
Bree says
These look great-I just printed this so I could try making them for the kids!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Thanks Bree! I hope they like them!
Emily @ She Makes and Bakes says
These are a good way to use up leftover Halloween candy, too. Yum!
Liz says
Thanks…I’m always looking for homemade treats to put in my kids’ lunches…I’ll just have to substitute the PB. Maybe Biscoff?
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Oh, biscoff is a great idea!
Carol | a cup of mascarpone says
What a fantastic, healthy, delicious cookie! They look awesome!
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
these look so good. i must make them soon!!!
Kelsey @ K&K Test Kitchen says
Yum!! I have all of these ingredients in my kitchen right this very second… dangerous! Especially since they sound so easy to make too.
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Super easy to make! 🙂
Suzanne says
These are great granola bars, I would love them as a snack or breakfast too.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I love this recipe! No-bake is awesome, and peanut butter. Well. Peanut butter is the best thing ever!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Thanks Dorothy! We eat quite a bit of it around here!
Jen @ Savory Simple says
You can keep posting PB recipes, I love them!
Words Of Deliciousness says
I could eat these every day. They look so yummy.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I love this no-bake giant cookie!
Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking} says
Totes yum!!! Keeping this in mind when I need my PB/sweets fix!! 🙂
Abby says
Yum! I’d love to have this around the house for snacking 🙂 Just signed up to get your posts via email because apparently I’m terrible at keeping up via reader!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
They do make great snacks! Thanks for signing up, Abby!
Chelsea {Whatcha Makin' Now?} says
Man, these sound so good! I made Monster Cookies earlier this week, but I love your version; I wouldn’t feel as guilty eating them!
Jen @ The Scrumptious Pumpkin says
The perfect combo of healthy and sweet ingredients! Pinning this one for sure 🙂
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen says
I love making my own granola bars! These look and sound delicious…I love that they are no bake. Can’t wait to give these babies a try! 🙂
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
I hope you like them!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Keep the peanut butter recipes coming! I love that this is no bake – I could seriously make and eat this all day!
Angela @ AnotherBitePlease says
I bought a box of these from Target and just love…even better to make my own now!
Whitney @ The Newlywed Chefs says
Oh these look out of control yummy, girl! I love that they’re no bake. Can’t wait to make them for my nieces!
Elizabeth says
I love how easy these are!
Julia {The Roasted Root} says
These look so addicting! I love peanut butter and can see myself going to town on a batch of these! 🙂
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Pretty sure they never last long around here! 🙂
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says
Yum! These are the perfect little afternoon treat. I’ll have to make them for my husband and myself! 😀
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
Thanks Caroline! I hope you like them!
Natalie says
These look amazing!
may says
Is the ground flax needed? Is there something else we could replace it with?
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
You will need something to replace it in order to absorb the moisture and help the bars set. You could replace it with more oat bran. Hope that helps!