No Bake Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

No Bake Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

One of my boys’ favorite snacks is granola bars.  They only seem to like one brand—Sunbelt.  I often joke that we should own stock in the company because of just how much we alone spend on their granola bars.  I found a recipe for some homemade bars that seemed quite similar to the Sunbelt ones my boys eat daily and wanted to try it out.  I ran in to this recipe at Tracey's Culinary Adventures, but have seen it on other blogs and I’m not sure where it originated.

I loved that it was super simple to make these.  I wasn’t sure what the boys would think.  When they got home from school, but they actually liked them and before the evening was over, the pan of them was gone!  Taylor had a friend over after school that day.  He ate two.  I think they each ate two.  Kevin came home from work and ate one.  And I tasted a bite of one—and they were actually very good.  I haven’t tasted one of the Sunbelt granola bars for a long time, so I’m not sure how close they are to them, but I’m happy to have found this recipe and will make these more often now than buying the processed-brands granola bars.  These are simply made with ingredients I almost always have one hand.

No Bake Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, adapted from all over the internet, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup crispy rice cereal

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Line an 8 inch square baking pan with non-stick foil (or use regular foil and spray it lightly with cooking spray).  Combine the oats and rice cereal in a large bowl.  In a small saucepan, add the brown sugar, honey and butter.  Bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Cook until the sugar has dissolved, stirring frequently.  Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for one more minute.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Pour the sugar mixture over the oats and cereal and stir to combine until all is moistened.  Transfer the mixture to the pan and spread evenly.  Press down until it is compact.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the bars and press down to make sure they stick to the mixture.  Allow the bars to set until firm, about 2 hours, and/or put them in the refrigerator until firm.  Remove the bars from the pan using the edges of the foil overhang.  Peel the foil off the bars and cut to desired sized pieces.  Store in an airtight container.

I’ll be making these again soon, they are too easy not to and I love homemade anything. ;)