Nutty Granola Bars with Honey for Healthy Snacking

These bars come together on the stovetop rather than in the oven — peanut butter, honey, and vanilla warmed until smooth, then poured over toasted oats and chopped nuts and pressed firmly into a lined pan. Toasting the oats in a dry pan for a few minutes beforehand adds a deeper, nuttier flavor to the finished bars.

Because peanut butter, honey, and a full cup of mixed nuts all go into a fairly small batch, each bar ends up more calorie-dense than a typical store-bought granola bar, which makes them a convenient snack for anyone trying to add calories throughout the day without a full meal. Dried cranberries and optional chocolate chips add sweetness in every bite.

Refrigerate until fully set before cutting into bars, then store in an airtight container.