Description
Chewy homemade granola bars deliver wholesome goodness packed with nutty oats, sweet honey, and crunchy almonds. Quick and simple to make, these bars provide a perfect energy boost for busy mornings or afternoon snacks you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) crispy rice cereal
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) packed light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) unsalted butter
Liquid Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) honey
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare a foundational workspace by greasing an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray and layering parchment paper for easy removal.
- Combine rolled oats and crispy rice cereal in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a textural base for the granola bars.
- Craft a sticky binding syrup by heating brown sugar, honey, and butter in a saucepan, allowing the ingredients to bubble and meld together until sugar completely dissolves.
- Remove syrup from heat and infuse with fragrant vanilla extract, stirring to distribute the rich flavor evenly.
- Pour the warm, glossy syrup over the dry oat mixture, gently folding and stirring until every grain is thoroughly coated and glistening.
- Transfer the moistened mixture into the prepared pan, using firm, even pressure to compact the ingredients into a dense, cohesive layer.
- Generously scatter mini chocolate chips across the surface, tenderly pressing them into the granola with the back of a spoon to ensure they adhere.
- Allow the bars to set and solidify at room temperature for approximately two hours, enabling the ingredients to bond and create a sturdy, chewy texture.
- Once completely cooled, slice into uniform bars using a sharp knife, creating perfect portable snacks.
Notes
- Prep your pan ahead of time by using both nonstick spray and parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Boiling the brown sugar, honey, and butter creates a sticky binding agent that helps hold the granola bars together perfectly.
- Press the mixture firmly into the pan to ensure compact, chewy bars that won’t crumble when you bite into them.
- Allow complete cooling at room temperature to help the bars set and maintain their shape before slicing.
- Customize by swapping chocolate chips with dried fruit, nuts, or seeds for a personalized healthy snack.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week to maintain freshness and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg