Awesome No-Bake Granola Bars

source: Lauren’s Latest

Hold on to your boots, you’re about to be blown away! I came across the most amazing recipe for granola bars that I have ever tried. I love granola bars, but I don’t love the ingredients of the store bought ones and haven’t loved the homemade ones I’ve tried. Usually, they have too strong a honey flavor for me and I really don’t love a strong honey flavor.

This recipe has the perfect texture and flavor and is super easy! Plus, you can modify it for different tastes, which is always a plus! I made a few changes to the recipe, but you can see pics and the original recipe here.

BASIC GRANOLA BAR RECIPE

1 cup butter
1 cup honey
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla
8 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
4 cup crispy rice cereal

Combine the butter, honey, and brown sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Let cook 2 minutes and then remove from heat. Add the vanilla and stir well. In a large bowl, combine oats and rice cereal. Pour honey mixture over oats and stir well to coat. If desired, sprinkle in a little cinnamon, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice.

Let cool for about 5 minutes and then add any desired Add-Ins.

Add-Ins
3/4 cup chopped craisins + 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate chips
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped craisins + 1/2 cup chopped almonds or pecans
3/4 cup chopped peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips
Anything else: raisins, flaxseed, yogurt bunches, etc.

Stir well. Press onto a very lightly greased jellyroll pan (probably will not fill a large pan completely, but you can compact it into whatever size it ends up being…don’t make it stretch to fill the pan). Make sure it is about 3/4 inch thick.

Let cool and cut into bars. NOTE: I found them to have a strong honey flavor when we ate the plain ones (no add-ins) about 20 minutes after making them. But the ones with craisins and white chocolate chips did not. And the plain ones were perfect in flavor the next day.

Now, if you want to be extra adventurous, try making PEANUT BUTTER Granola Bars. If you’re like our family and have a nut allergy (but still allow peanut butter in the house), make sure to make a couple different batches!

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup honey
1 cup peanut butter
1 Tbs vanilla
6 cups quick oats
3 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine brown sugar and honey in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter, mixing well. Add vanilla and stir. In a large bowl, combine oats and rice cereal. Pour peanut butter mixture over oats and stir to coat.

Let cool 5 minutes and then add mini chocolate chips. Stir well. Press onto a very lightly greased jellyroll pan (probably will not fill a large pan completely, but you can compact it into whatever size it ends up being…don’t make it stretch to fill the pan). Make sure it is about 3/4 inch thick.

Let cool and cut into bars.

Enjoy!!