Although we thoroughly enjoyed our three-week winter break from college classes during our freshman year, my friends and I actually looked forward to returning to campus after the holidays. We all lived in different parts of the state, so we were excited to finally see each other again and spend time together.
Since our class schedules rarely lined up during the day, we always tried to meet for dinner multiple times throughout the week instead. With four different dining halls to choose from, we picked the largest and most centrally located one, just a five-minute bike ride from my dorm room.
Because of its size, that dining hall always had a wide selection of different food stations and entrées, including the permanent burger and grilled cheese counter, the long rows of salad bars, and the big dessert display full of sweets. With its location right next to the entrance, I usually glanced there first so I could figure out which treat I wanted by the end of our meal!
Yet during those first couple of weeks back after the very indulgent holiday season, I opted to skip the oversized slices of cake and pie. Instead, I stopped by the salad bar to grab a little bowl of strawberry yogurt, then headed over to the breakfast cereal bar for a scoop of granola, and finished at the soft-serve station for a little sprinkling of mini chocolate chips from the ice cream toppings. That not-so-sweet after dinner treat still hit the spot, and my friends and I actually continued to make yogurt parfaits for the rest of the year!
Just about everyone I know started classes again this week, whether grade school or college, and those dining hall memories resurfaced as I thought about my own undergraduate days. Yet instead of making a parfait like I did back then…
I turned my two favorite components, the granola and chocolate, into these Healthy Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Granola Bar Bites! They’re soft and chewy, naturally sweetened, and have lots of rich peanut and chocolate flavors. But unlike the dining hall granola, these snack bites contain no butter, oil, refined flour or sugar—and just 41 calories!
So let’s go over how to make these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites!
To make this recipe as easy as possible, you just need one bowl for prepping the ingredients. That’s it! I definitely love it when I end up with fewer dishes to wash…
And in that bowl, you’ll start by whisking together egg whites. That’s my secret ingredient for these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites! They hold together the rest of the ingredients without the need for any butter or oil, and they give your granola bars a protein boost, too.
Some people have asked me whether they’ll end up with bits of cooked egg in their granola bars… And the answer is no! When you use eggs in your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, you don’t end up with bits of cooked egg in your cookies, right? The same thing applies here!
Next, you’ll stir in homemade creamy butter and Greek yogurt. This is my super easy blender peanut butter recipe. You just need 5 minutes to make it! Then the Greek yogurt helps with the soft and chewy texture of these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites. Just like the egg whites, it also adds a protein boost!
Instead of refined granulated sugar, you’ll sweeten these with honey. My brother loved peanut butter + honey sandwiches as a kid (and refused to eat them with jam or jelly!), so I always think of him when using that flavor combination in recipes.
Time to add the cereals! Yes, plural. There are two of them! Old-fashioned oats and brown rice cereal. No, I’m not crazy… Even though some people probably beg to differ. ?
The crisp brown rice cereal helps these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites hold together better, and it also adds a nice texture contrast to the oats. Even better, it helps keep these granola bar bites low calorie too! (And if you check the label of store-bought granola bars, many of them include rice cereal too!)
Finally, you need my favorite component… Mini chocolate chips! I’m a huge chocoholic (I even published a chocolate cookbook!), so they’re the best part in my eyes. ? I usually save some to press into the tops just before baking for a pretty finishing touch!
Then just like that, you have a pan of healthy breakfasts or snacks! And when you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! ?) I’d love to see your healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites!
| Healthy Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Granola Bar Bites | | Print |
- 2 large egg whites, room temperature
- 2 tbsp (32g) homemade creamy peanut butter
- 2 tbsp (30g) plain nonfat Greek yogurt, room temperature
- 3 tbsp (45mL) honey
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups (45g) crisp brown rice cereal
- 1 cup (100g) old-fashioned oats (measured like this and gluten-free if necessary)
- 2 tbsp (28g) miniature chocolate chips, divided
- Preheat the oven to 300°F, and coat an 8”-square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites. Stir in the peanut butter until completely incorporated. Stir in the Greek yogurt, honey, and salt, mixing until thoroughly combined. Stir in the rice cereal and oats. Gently fold in 1 ½ tablespoons of miniature chocolate chips.
- Gently press the mixture into the prepared pan using a spatula, and gently press the remaining chocolate chips into the top. Bake at 300°F for 11-14 minutes or until the center feels firm to the touch. Cool completely to room temperature in the pan before slicing into squares.
Pure maple syrup or agave may be substituted for the honey.
Regular crisp rice cereal (like Rice Krispies) may be substituted for the brown rice cereal. In a pinch, lightly crushed rice pocket cereal may also be substituted.
Instant oats may be substituted for the old-fashioned oats. Do not substitute steel-cut oats.
Remember to measure the brown rice cereal and oats correctly, using this method or a kitchen scale. (← That’s the one I own and love!) Too much of either ingredient will dry out the batter, and the ingredients won’t fully incorporate. If this happens to you, then add 1-2 tablespoons of milk (any type will work!) until all of the ingredients can be fully incorporated.
I do not recommend substituting regular-sized chocolate chips. Their bigger size causes the granola bar bites to fall apart. If you only have regular-sized chocolate chips, then chop them with a knife first!
{gluten-free, clean eating, low fat}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡ Healthy Double Chocolate Granola Bar Bites
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bar Bites
♡ Healthy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar Bites
♡ Healthy Apple Pie Granola Bar Bites
♡ Healthy Carrot Cake Granola Bar Bites
♡ Healthy Banana Nut Granola Bar Bites
Granola bar bites have been my all time favorite for many years and even my husband loves them so much. Your approach is refreshing. Thanks for sharing.
It’s my pleasure Jennifer! I’d love to hear what you and your husband think if you decide to try these granola bar bites! 🙂
These granola bars look delicious, Amy! I’m always snacking on the go so these are just the perfect healthy treat for me. I’d love to experiment using different types of granolas and chucking new flavours in there too! But peanut butter and chocolate is always a winning combination…
So true about PB + chocolate! Thanks Sophie! 🙂
Hello! I was wondering if the egg whites should be stiff or just a little foamy?
Just a little foamy! I can’t wait to hear what you think of these granola bar bites Helen! 🙂
Hi,
I just made these as an after school treat????. They were super easy to make, except the peanut butter and egg whites wouldn’t fully incorporate. I only had an 8×8 disposable foil pan and the layer was really thin. I cooked them for 10 minutes, and the center was still soft. I covered with foil, turned up to 350, and cooked for 5 more minutes. The center turned out a bit squishy so I took them out anyway. I cut them when they were still warm so the edges fell apart a little bit. They were delicious and chewy but a bit too wet. Not sure if they’ll be better later when they’ve cooled though! Really tasty overall, will try again but maybe add more oats/cereal. I used puffed rice cereal, which is more chewy and crunchy, maybe that was why. Everyone who tried them liked them though! Thanks for another yummy healthy recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these granola bar bites Emily! That means a lot to me! 🙂 The peanut butter and egg whites usually require quite a bit of stirring (and a little extra patience!) for them to fully incorporate. But I promise that they do! The granola bar bites would’ve been less wet and firmed up more if they had been left in the pan to cool completely to room temperature. There’s a reason I included that line in the Instructions! (However.. You can also put them pan in the fridge to speed up that process!) 😉
Can I make them vegan?
I really appreciate your interest in my recipe Cass! To make them vegan, I’d recommend using non-dairy yogurt (such as soy-, almond-, or oat-based) for the Greek yogurt (that will give the best results, but unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana might work in a pinch!) and maple syrup or agave in place of the honey. Then for the egg whites, Ener-G is my favorite substitute. (My brother is allergic to eggs, so I have lots of experience with it! 😉 ) Ener-G is a shelf-stable powder that keeps for ages. It works perfectly as an egg replacer in nearly all of my recipes, including this one! For my recipes, use 1 ½ teaspoons Ener-G + 2 tablespoons warm water for each egg white (and you’ll need an additional ½ tablespoon of coconut oil or Earth Balance for each egg yolk, although that doesn’t apply to this particular recipe!). 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you think of these granola bar bites if you try making them!
Thanks so much for such a thoughtful response! Have you tried aquafaba instead of ener-g?
It’s my pleasure Cass! I haven’t tried aquafaba, so I’m honestly not sure how that would turn out. If you decide to try, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Hi Amy ! These look so nice and easy to make, I can’t wait to try them !
Do you think it would work if I use cheerios (maybe if I crush them) instead of the rice cereal ?
Thank you !
I’m so honored that you’d like to try this recipe of mine too, Caty! I’ve missed seeing your sweet comments — I hope you’re doing well! ♡ I think that’s definitely worth trying! I’d recommend only lightly crushing them, just so they’re a bit smaller (around half of their original size!), rather than trying to grind them into really fine pieces. Does that make sense?
I’m really excited to hear what you think of these granola bar bites!
Amy you’re so nice !
I hope you’re doing well too and I’m really excited about trying this 😍
Yes, that totally makes sense, thank you for your clear answer (as always !)
I’ll let you know how they go for sure ❤️❤️
It’s my pleasure — I’m always happy to help! 🙂 I’m really looking forward to hearing how your granola bar bites turn out! Sending you so much love, Caty! ♡
Will these get hard over time or stay chewy?
I really appreciate your interest in my recipe! If stored according to the suggestion I’ve provided along with the recipe (see the paragraph of text directly underneath the recipe title in the recipe box!), these granola bar bites will stay soft and chewy. 🙂 I’d love to hear what you think of these if you try making them!
These turned out so yummy!! I didn’t have any yogurt so I just used more egg whites instead. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Keri! Thanks for sharing about the egg whites too. I always love hearing what recipe tweaks work! 🙂