Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
User Reviews
4.9
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Description
This recipe uses quick-cooking oats and crispy rice cereal mixed dry, then coated with a warm syrup made by melting butter, honey, and brown sugar together until bubbling. The sugar fully dissolves creating a sticky mixture that, when poured over the cereals and oats, binds them to hold together after cooling. Vanilla extract enhances flavor.
After mixing, the granola is pressed firmly into a small greased pan and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips, which are gently pressed in. Cooling at room temperature for a couple of hours allows the bars to set with a chewy yet slightly crisp texture from the rice cereal pieces.
The bars are convenient for snacks, lunchboxes, or on-the-go energy. They balance sweetness with the toasted oat flavor and a touch of chocolate. Cutting the bars after they fully set prevents crumbling.
If bars have trouble holding together, slight adjustments like boiling the mixture longer (just past softball stage), packing the bars tightly, or chilling briefly can help improve cohesion.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 cups oats not rolled oats, quick-cooking
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal together. Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium-high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and cook 2 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. (should take 1-2 minutes) Pour in vanilla and stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients.
- Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan {about 12x8x1} and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. {If your pan isn't small enough, pack the mixture into one side. You really want to press them down so they stick together.} Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly.
- Cool on a countertop to room temperature for two hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
Notes
- Boil the sugar-butter-honey mixture long enough to dissolve sugar fully and reach just past the softball stage for better binding.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan to help bars hold together after cooling.
- Chilling the bars for 20 minutes can improve firmness if initial bars crumble.
- Avoid over-chilling to prevent the bars from becoming too hard.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 176 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 176kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 13mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 46mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 71mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 16g | 32% |
| Vitamin A | 149IU | 3% |
| Calcium | 18mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.