Chewy No Bake Granola Bars

Ingredients

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

• 1 cup rolled oats                                                                     
• 1 cup steel-cut oats                                                                     
• 1 cup crispy rice cereal                                                                     
• 1/2 cup chopped mixed dried fruit                                                                     
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds  
• 1/4 cup butter                                                                     
• 1/2 cup brown sugar                                                                     
• 1/4 cup honey                                                                     
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract                                                                     
•  1/2 cup mini chocolate chips                                                                     

Directions

1. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Mix rolled oats, steel-cut oats, rice cereal, dried fruit, and almonds together in a large bowl.
3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add brown sugar, honey, and vanilla extract. Whisk until sugar is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Pour over oat mixture; stir to combine.
4. Spread oat mixture into prepared baking dish. Press chocolate chips into top. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

• PREP 10 mins
• COOK 5 mins
• READY IN 1 hr15 mins

 

I found this recipe at Allrecipes.com one afternoon before leaving on a mission trip.  When you have 3 growing children and a 6 hour drive, you need something to keep them filled to prevent melt downs.

 

This is a great 'base' recipe.  First of all, I used what I had on hand.  I used all regular quick cooking (store brand) oatmeal, along with store brand crispy rice cereal (obviously I don't care about name brands!)  With the fruit I added more than 1/2 cup.  I didn't measure, but it was probably closer to 1 1/2-2 cups.  I mixed raises, dried apple, dried cranberry and dried blueberry.  Instead of almonds, I used sunflower seeds.  I also left out the chocolate chips (going to be a hot drive!)  In the couple of times I have made this, I have changed up the ingredients a bit - just because I don't want to get bored with it.  Everyone loves it every time.

 

I have noticed with the South Texas heat that these yummy granola bars 'melt'.  My solution - wrap them in foil (easy to grab and go) and store them in the freezer.  The big kids love them icy cold.  They may be hard for a younger child to eat this way (just store in the fridge maybe)

 

Enjoy!