Super Yummy and Simple Granola Bars

Here’s a great recipe for a super simple, yummy, better-than-the-alternative, summer treat.

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
yield: 10 bars

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
1 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (I tried some other yummy mix ins like craisins, almonds, coconut, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc…get creative and see what tastes good)

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal together. Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and cook 2 minutes. Pour in vanilla and stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients.

Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan {about 12x8x1} and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. {If your pan isn’t small enough, pack the mixture into one side. You really want to press them down so they stick together.}

Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly. Cool on a countertop to room temperature for two hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Recipe Notes: If your granola bars don’t seem to be staying together when you cut them, you may have made them too thin or you didn’t pack them in tight enough. Stick them in the fridge for 20 minutes and that should help keep them together. {Be sure not to keep them in there too long or else they’ll become super hard!} The next time you make them, try reducing the butter to 3 tablespoons and really packing them down.

*adapted from Rachael Ray and passed on to me by a friend who found it on www.laurenslatest.com. Thanks to all who helped it get to me so I could pass it to you.

I loved this recipe, but wanted some more fruity and nutty bars. So, I got creative and started adding other mix-ins. Here’s what I found: For any mix ins that don’t melt (craisins, nuts, coconut, etc.), add the mix in to the dry ingredients before pouring the sugar/butter mixture over it. For all mix-ins that will melt, wait until after you’ve pressed the bars and then press them into the top of the bars. Of course, if you’d like the chocolate spread throughout the bar, go ahead and add them ahead of time.

My kids absolutely love these bars! And I love how simple and preservative-free they are!