Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I can't even count on my fingers how many have asked me for this recipe. Well you are all in luck! Because it is easy, quick and delicious!

I individually wrapped each bar so it could be brought for lunches at school and work. They hold up very well and even my 19 month old approved.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola bars (click for original recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups of quick cooking oats
1 cup of crispy rice cereal (I used Organic)
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of honey (I used local organic honey from the Kingston Peninsula)
4 tbsp butter
3/4 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking pan. 

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 set for at least 2 hours or place into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to speed things up. Store at room temperature for up to 5 days.