Description
This homemade granola bar recipe is a delicious and easy-to-make treat combining buttery, sweet, and crunchy elements with oats, cereal, and mini chocolate chips. Perfect for a quick snack or a lunchbox addition, these bars balance chewy and crispy textures and incorporate marshmallows for an extra touch of sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 2/3 cup honey
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1/2 cup graham crackers, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix-Ins
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup cereal marshmallows
Instructions
- Prepare Pan: Spray an 8×8 inch baking pan with vegetable oil and line the bottom with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the bars.
- Melt Ingredients: In a pot over medium heat, melt together the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and honey. Stir continuously until the mixture begins to bubble, then cook for an additional 2 minutes to ensure the sugars fully dissolve and the mixture thickens slightly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, Rice Krispies cereal, crushed graham crackers, and salt. Pour in the melted butter mixture and mix thoroughly until all dry ingredients are evenly coated. Allow this mixture to cool for about 20 minutes to prevent melting the marshmallows in the next step.
- Add Mix-Ins: Once cooled, gently fold in the mini chocolate chips and cereal marshmallows, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Form Bars: Press the granola mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared 8×8 pan. Refrigerate the pan for at least 2 hours to allow the bars to set and firm up.
- Slice and Serve: After chilling, remove the bars from the pan using the parchment paper, slice into 16 even squares, and enjoy your homemade granola bars.
Notes
- Press the mixture tightly in the pan to ensure bars hold together well when cut.
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Store granola bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and firmness.
- For a nut-free version, ensure that all ingredients including cereal are free from nuts or cross-contamination.
