Quick, Easy & Creative Granola Bar Recipe!

I found this on a favorite site of mine... Hip2Save!  I don't know how healthy they are... but they sound good!  :)

These granola bars are a favorite recipe in my household. They are very kid friendly to make and do not require baking. It takes minutes to whip up a batch but keep in mind that sometimes it takes minutes for the batch to disappear into hungry mouths. I like to double the recipe so that they last more than a day! You may individually freeze them using small zip-lock snack bags to put them into the kiddo’s lunch boxes. By the time the lunch hour rolls around they are thawed and ready to eat! (They typically thaw with in one hour.) I encourage you to get creative with the “add-ins” (chocolate chips, raisins, coconut, etc.) to create a bar that is your own personal favorite. So long as you keep the wet to dry ratio the same the possibilities are endless. I’ve included two varieties that I enjoy along with a list of other ingredients you may want to try. Have fun and be daring!!

Chocolate Chip, Coconut & Peanut Bars

• 2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 2 cups old fashion oats
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup packed coconut
• 1/4 mini chocolate morsels
• 1/4 peanuts

Directions:
In a large bowl combine the rice cereal and oatmeal. Grease or line a 9×13 inch pan. (I prefer to line the pan with saran wrap because it makes for easy clean up.)

Mix brown sugar, honey and peanut butter in a small sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until just boiling. Add to cereal mixture along with vanilla extract, cinammon, salt, peanuts, coconut and chocolate chips.

Press into the prepared pan using a spatula, spoon or your hands (like I do). Set aside to cool, then cut into bars.

Cranberry, White Chocolate & Almond Bars

• 2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 2 cups old fashion oats
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup packed cranberries
• 1/4 white chocolate morsels
• 1/4 almond pieces

Directions:
In a large bowl combine the rice cereal and oatmeal. Grease or line a 9×13 inch pan. (I prefer to line the pan with saran wrap because it makes for easy clean up.)

Mix brown sugar, honey and almond butter in a small sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until just boiling. Add to cereal mixture along with vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, almond pieces, cranberries and while chocolate morsels.

Press into the prepared pan using a spatula, spoon or your hands (like I do). Set aside to cool, then cut into bars.

TIPS:

• To keep chocolate from melting into mixture try freezing it first as well as adding the morsels towards the end of mixing process.
• Once the bars have cooled I place a cutting board on top of my pan and then flip the pan upside down onto the cutting board. I can then lift the pan off, remove the saran wrap, and cut into bars.
• Bars taste great if frozen…. Once thawed they retain the chewy texture however I would avoid refrigerating the bars as this seems to dry them out.
• To keep fresh store at room temperature in a sealed container.
• Try swapping out the crispy rice for cereal that you already have on hand… corn flakes, cheerios, etc.

Fun “Add-Ins” to experiment with:

Chocolate morsels, M&M’s, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, dried cranberries, raisins, dates, dried apricots, coconut, peanuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts, flax seed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, toffee pieces…