No Bake Chewy Granola Bars/Squares

Now that school is out I've been spending TOO much time on Pinterest. I stumbled across a recipe for No Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars and thought, "These look delicious!" Well, they are! And they are VERY easy and quick to make. I may never buy pre-packed granola bars again...this recipe is that simple. It takes about 5 minutes of total work...prep to walking away and letting them cool on the counter.

First batch: left half - raisins...right half - chocolate chips

I've made two batches in three days. No, I haven't eaten them all, ...I've shared them. I took some to work with me yesterday and everyone who tried them loved them. A few people even asked for the recipe. I followed the recipe for the first batch (pictured above) with one change. I put chocolate chips only on one half and put raisins on top of the other half. A great suggestion by Sonny!

Second Bath: peanut butter with chocolate chunks

I added peanut butter into the mix for my second batch. The result: even more delicious! They remind me of the no-bake peanut butter cookies we use to make when I was younger. When I cut these "granola bars" up I ended up cutting them into squares, so I guess I made granola squares.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Squares

I'm serious about never buying pre-packed granola bars again. My brain thinking of other things I can add to the mix to create different granola bars!

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars...well squares

adapted from Lauren's Latest


Ingredients 
- 1/4 c. butter (1/2 stick)
- 1/4 c. honey
- 1/4 c. peanut butter, creamy
- 1/3 c. brown sugar, packed
- 2 c. quick oats
- 1 c. Rice Krispies cereal
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- chocolate chips
- other toppings (almonds, etc.)

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats and rice cereal.

2. In a small saucepan, combine butter, honey, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Heat and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes, make sure the sugar is dissolved. Pour in vanilla and stir. Remove from heat.

3. Combine the saucepan mixture atop the dry mixture in the bowl. Mix well, making sure everything gets coated. Place mix onto one side of greased baking sheet and press firmly, flattening and packing the granola bars. Sprinkle chocolate chips (or other toppings) on top and press them on top gently.

4. Allow granola bars to cool on the countertop until set (about 2 hours). Cut into bars or squares. Store at room temperature in a container. Separate layers using parchment (or wax) paper.

*UPDATE 7/30/12* An 8x8-inch cake pan works very well instead of a baking sheet. You can cut your granola bars into 25 squares, cover with foil (or plastic wrap), and keep on your kitchen counter until gone.