Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
User Reviews
5
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Description
The recipe toasts rolled oats and optional nuts briefly to enhance their flavor, then mixes them with a warm blend of honey, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Once cooled slightly, dried fruit and mini chocolate chips are stirred in to distribute evenly. This mixture is pressed firmly into a lined pan and chilled until set but still chewy.
The bars provide a balance of sweetness, oat texture, and bursts of chocolate and fruit. They are convenient for snacks or light breakfasts and can be customized by choosing preferred dried fruits and nuts. Using parchment between your hands and mixture during pressing helps prevent sticking and ensures an even surface.
The recipe does not require baking beyond toasting oats, making preparation straightforward while achieving soft chewiness rather than hard crunch.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats not quick cook oats
- 1/3 cup honey O Organics brand
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup dried fruit of your choice
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- cup walnuts almonds or pecans, or other nuts, optional, 1/4 cup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spread oats (and nuts if using) onto a large cookie sheet and place in the oven for eight minutes to lightly toast. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire cooling rack for at least 15 minutes. Turn off oven, no further baking is required.
- In a heavy pan combine honey, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir over medium heat until butter melts, sugar dissolves and mixture comes together. Remove from heat and allow to cool at least ten minutes.
- Once oats and liquid mixture have cooled slightly, place both in a bowl and stir well to combine. Once combined stir in dried fruit, chocolate chips and nuts.
- Press mixture into an 8x8 or 9x9 pan that has been lined with foil or parchment paper and sprayed lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Once mixture is in pan, press mixture down firmly. Using a piece of parchment paper between your hands and the mixture will help keep it from sticking. It's important to makes sure you do this step, otherwise your granola bars will not stay together very well.
- Place pan in fridge and chill for at least four hours. Remove from fridge, remove bars from pan and parchment paper/foil, and cut into 12 pieces. Bars can be stored in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
- Mini chocolate chips blend well into the mixture without overpowering each bite.
- Dried fruits like raisins or chopped dried fruit add sweetness and chewiness.
- Walnuts, pecans, almonds, or peanuts can be used interchangeably for nut varieties.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 272 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 272kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 16mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 134mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 183mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 22g | 44% |
| Vitamin A | 190IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 30mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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