Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

My family is completely addicted to granola bars.  We eat them so fast that I can't seem to keep an adequate supply in the pantry.  It seems like they disappear just as quickly and I restock them.  I have made homemade granola bars in the past but for whatever the reason, I just cant seem to keep up with making them at home.  That is until now.  I found this recipe for Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars on the Browneyedbaker.com and it looked super easy.  No baking, no mess, no fuss - and cheaper than store bought granola bars. 

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Yield: 10 bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/3 cup light brown sugar
¼ cup honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup crispy rice cereal
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1.Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan.  Line with parchment paper.







2. In a large bowl, stir the oats and rice cereal together; set aside.

 
In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar, honey, and butter together over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

3. Pour the melted mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients.

Pour the oat mixture into the prepared pan and press down to ensure that the ingredients are tightly compacted in the pan. (I used a glass to press the mixture into the pan.)





Sprinkle the top evenly with the miniature chocolate chips and press down on the top lightly with the back of a spoon.

 
4. Cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars.

Slice into 12 bars.

Wrap in plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 5 days.

 Now if I could only figure out how to make Honey Nut Cheerios at home - I would be all set.

Ciao!


 

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Yield: 10 bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/3 cup light brown sugar
¼ cup honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup crispy rice cereal
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1.Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir the oats and rice cereal together; set aside. In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar, honey, and butter together over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Pour the melted mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour the oat mixture into the prepared pan and press down to ensure that the ingredients are tightly compacted in the pan. Sprinkle the top evenly with the miniature chocolate chips and press down on the top lightly with the back of a spoon.
4. Cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 5 days.