Recipe: Granola Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

1 ½ cups rolled oats, not quick

¾ cup Special K Cereal (can use Rice Krispies if you want)

1/3 cup chopped nuts 

½ cup mini chocolate chips

¼ tsp. salt

¼ cup peanut butter

¼ cup honey

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup oil

1 ½ tsp. vanilla

Mix oats, cereal, nuts chips and salt in a bowl.  In a small saucepan over low heat, mix honey and brown sugar until brown sugar dissolves.  Don’t let it boil!  Add peanut butter, stir for a minute and then take off heat.  Add oil and vanilla.  Pour over dry ingredients in bowl and mix.  Press in a 8x8 pan that has been lined with parchment paper.  If you haven’t used parchment paper before, now is the time to try it.  You will love it and not want to grease pans again!  You can even use a coupon and get it on sale at Michael’s or JoAnn Fabric’s.  Wilton is the best brand to buy.  Cook for about 20 minutes at 325 degrees.  Take out and let cook for 5 minutes.  Cut into desired size and leave in pan to cool.  After about 15 minutes, I cut the bars again.  If you wait until the bars cool to cut them, they are too hard and won’t work well.  But, if you forget, you can try cutting them or just break them into pieces.