Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
My daughter had a friend come over after school for a play date and I wanted to make them something special to eat for their snack. I was thinking about making cookies but I didn’t want to load them up with so much butter & sugar. I decided on granola bars when I found this recipe on Tracey’s Culinary Adventures that looked quick and easy to make. They were a big hit with both girls and my son too.
How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out easily afterward. Coat the parchment with cooking spray.
Add the brown sugar, honey, and butter to a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a simmer then reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for 1 more minute. Turn off the heat under the pan and stir in the vanilla extract.
Mix the oats and rice cereal together in a bowl until well combined. Pour the melted butter mixture over the oats & rice then stir with a rubber spatula until well combined. All of the dry ingredients should be moistened. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Spread in an even layer and press hard to make sure the mixture is compacted so the bars don’t turn out crumbly. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture and lightly press down on them with the spatula so they stick to the granola mixture.
Allow them to set for at least 2 hours or into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to speed things up. Use the parchment handles to lift out then cut into bars. Individually wrap the granola bars with plastic wrap and store them at room temperature.
Equipment
- 8-inch Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups of quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup of crispy rice cereal
- ⅓ cup of brown sugar
- ¼ cup of honey
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¾ tsp vanilla
- 4 tbsp mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out easily afterward. Coat the parchment with cooking spray.
- Add the brown sugar, honey, and butter to a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a simmer then reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for 1 more minute. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Mix the oats and rice cereal together in a bowl until well combined. Pour the melted butter mixture over the oats & rice then stir with a rubber spatula until well combined. All of the dry ingredients should be moistened. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Spread in an even layer and press hard to make sure the mixture is compact so the bars don't turn out crumbly. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture and lightly press down on them with the spatula so they stick to the granola mixture.
- Allow to them set for at least 2 hours or place them into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to speed things up. Use the parchment handles to lift out then cut into bars. Individually wrap the granola bars with plastic wrap and store them at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Those look really good! We’ll have to try those out.
Those look good! I wish I had one right now! Another one for my bookmarks!!
xo Kris
Oh, i think this is something that I want to try very soon 🙂 it looks yummy and it’s healthy and easy to make. thanks for sharing it!
Just love the fact that there’s no baking involved and at the same time it’s such a healthy snack! The expression on the little ones’ faces is priceless!!
Those looking amazing! Better than any store bought granola bar I’ve seen! And what a great treat for the kids!
The parchment in the pan to lift it out is genius! These look good, you have some lucky kids 🙂
Pam, They look so good. Really delicious. Lovelys kids!!!!
Homemade granola bars are the best! SO much better than storebought!
What a fun afterschool snack!
these are definitely just as good as any ol’ cookies! nice recipe!
These granola bars look delicious, Pam! Your daughter and her friend are adorable, as is your son peeking through in that photo! 🙂
These bars look great, Pam. I’ve tried granola bars a few different times and been unimpressed. Yours look perfect. I love the rice crispies in this version. I bet the kids loved them too!
Oh those look good. The kids look like they enjoyed them.
What a cute pic – I can see why they enjoyed them so much, they sounds fabulous!
These are some awesome after-school snacks! Love the rice crispies in them.
You are an awesome mom.
My bf eats two Quaker granola bars for breakfast every morning before work. They cost me about $2.50 for a box of 8. I’m thinking this might be a swap we could make to save a little money. With the exception of rice cereal and chocolate chips, these are all things I always have on hand. Could the amount of rice cereal be cut down to a smaller amount and sub in more oatmeal instead?
I’ve only made these once so I am not sure how they would turn out if you adapt the recipe. Please let me know how it turns out if you do adapt them.
I gave these a try today sans rice cereal, and except for not pressing them down hard enough (they’re a little crumbly lol) they turned out good. Now I just have to see if they pass the bf test since he’s the one who eats them!
Love these granola bars. I have made them before, and they are a big hit with my 7 year old as well!
oh yes, i’ll be making these very soon. i love homemade granola bars!
This looks like a great treat. I think it would be great for big kids too.
I made this tonight, decreased the amount of oatmeal, and added coconut, chopped dried cranberries and apricots, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. They look and smell delicious…
Do you think these are freezable? I don’t think my toddler could eat all of these before they spoil.
just made these yesterday, love them!
Hi,
Do you cook these? If so, what is the oven temperature? How long?
Thanks!
Susan,
You don’t bake these granola bars. You let them set up for 2 hours or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Pam
I made them last night and they are a HIT! I brought some to work today and my fellow employees love them. I just wish I knew how fattening they were..
Mine still came out crumbly even though I pressed them down pretty hard, any ideas on how to keep them together? They were a huge hit nonetheless!! My kids were begging for more!
Jenn,
I am not sure why yours turned out crumbly. Maybe try letting them sit in the refrigerator for a bit to really harden? Let me know if that helps.
Cheers,
Pam