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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars

adapted from Rachel Ray ^[1]

Snack, Dessert | Servings: 18 servings
Prep time: 0 | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 25 min

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter or coconut oil
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 cups plain granola
• 1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup peanut butter chips

Process

1. Line two 9×5 loaf pans or one 11×7 inch baking pan (see tip #4 above if you want to use 9×13) with foil or parchment. Lightly butter or spray the foil.
2. Combine butter, honey and brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
4. Add the granola and rice cereal into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly coated.
5. Spread the mixture into the prepared pans and press firmly with a spatula to evenly fill. Sprinkle the chocolate and peanut butter chips onto the top of the granola and gently press them down with the spatula.
6. Let sit for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and set*; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

*Recipe Note: If the bars are sticky but not quite holding together, place them in the fridge to harden for 10-15 minutes. I’ve noticed that on very warm days, the bars don’t always harden at room temperature, this is especially true if you use brown rice syrup.

Nutrition info:

All values are calculated using the Applesauce granola recipe below.

Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 121
Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g

Lower sugar version: Use low-sugar granola (see applesauce granola recipe below) and low-sugar brown rice cereal (found online and in health food stores). Reduce brown sugar and honey to 2 tablespoons each. If possible, replace brown sugar with brown rice syrup. Omit 2 tbsp. granola. Omit peanut butter chips, use 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips instead of regular size.

Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 96
Fat: 4
Carbohydrates: 14g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 1g

S’mores Chewy Granola Bars

adapted from Rachel Ray ^[1]

Snack, Dessert | Servings: 18 servings
Prep time: 0 | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 25 min

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter or coconut oil
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 cups plain granola
• 1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
• 2 tbsp. graham cracker crumbs (optional)
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Process

1. Line two 9×5 loaf pans or one 11×7 inch baking pan (see tip #4 above if you want to use 9×13) with foil or parchment. Lightly butter or spray the foil.
2. Combine butter, honey and brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
4. Add the granola, rice cereal and graham cracker crumbs into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly coated. Very gently fold in the marshmallows.
5. Spread the mixture into the prepared pans and press firmly with a spatula to evenly fill. Sprinkle the chocolate chips onto the top of the granola and gently press them down.
6. Let sit for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and set*; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

*Recipe Note: If the bars are sticky but not quite holding together, place them in the fridge to harden for 10-15 minutes. I’ve noticed that on very warm days, the bars don’t always harden at room temperature, this is especially true if you use brown rice syrup.

Nutrition info:

All values are calculated using the Applesauce granola recipe below.

Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 131
Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 21g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 1.5g

Oatmeal Raisin Chewy Granola Bars

adapted from Rachel Ray ^[1]

Snack, Dessert | Servings: 18 servings
Prep time: 0 | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 25 min

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter or coconut oil
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 cups plain granola
• 1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
• 1/2 cup raisins

Process

1. Line two 9×5 loaf pans or one 11×7 inch baking pan (see tip #4 above if you want to use 9×13) with foil or parchment. Lightly butter or spray the foil.
2. Combine butter, honey, brown sugar and cinnamon in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
4. Add the granola, rice cereal and raisins into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly coated.
5. Spread the mixture into the prepared pans and press firmly with a spatula to evenly fill.
6. Let sit for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and set*; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

*Recipe Note: If the bars are sticky but not quite holding together, place them in the fridge to harden for 10-15 minutes. I’ve noticed that on very warm days, the bars don’t always harden at room temperature, this is especially true if you use brown rice syrup.

Nutrition info:

All values are calculated using the Applesauce granola recipe below.

Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 111
Fat: 3.5
Carbohydrates: 19g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 1.5g

Applesauce Granola

adapted from Fake Ginger ^[2]

Snack | Yield: 3 cups
Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 45 min | Total time: 55 min

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar* (optional)
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1 tbsp. olive oil or coconut oil
• 3 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. salt

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small saucepan, warm the applesauce, brown sugar (if using), honey, and oil over low heat.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl stir together oats, cinnamon and salt.
4. Stir the applesauce mixture into the oats, making sure everything is evenly coated.
5. Spread onto baking sheet in a thin, even layer. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool completely.

*Recipe Note: If you’re using this granola exclusively for granola bars and want to reduce the amount of sugar in them, omit the brown sugar. This will help if you find the bars too sweet otherwise.