Would you believe me if I said you could make your own soft and chewy granola bars, just like the Quaker ones, but gluten free? They are actually way better than any store-bought variety, and can be personalized to fit your tastes with different chips and mix-ins. You will feel great knowing exactly what is in each bar you hand your kiddo for a snack (or eat yourself, because you'll want to). Extremely easy and makes a lot, so you'll be stocked up!
Honey Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Makes 4 dozen
5 cups old-fashioned oats
4 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal
1 cup GF graham cracker crumbs
1 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable or coconut oil
1 1/2 lbs. miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
In a large bowl, stir together the oats, crisp rice cereal, graham cracker crumbs, and coconut. Set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the butter, oil, and marshmallows. Cook and stir over low heat until everything is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and add honey and peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Pour over the oats mixture and mix well. Pour onto a baking sheet (15"X10"X1") covered with parchment paper. Gently press until it's even. Once it's slightly cool, press the chocolate chips into the top. Cool completely, then cut into bars. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in a cool dry place.
Step-by-step tutorial:
Gather your ingredients. You will need old fashioned oats, crispy rice cereal, coconut flakes, gluten free graham crackers (or crumbs), butter, vegetable or coconut oil, marshmallows, honey, peanut butter, and miniature chocolate chips.
Crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs so you have about 1 cup. Measure out your other dry ingredients including 5 cups oats, 4 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal, and 1 cup coconut.
Put all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
In a large saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup oil until butter is mostly melted. Add 1 1/2 lbs. miniature marshmallows. Cook and stir over low heat until the completely melted and smooth.
Add 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup peanut butter. Stir until combined, then pour over the dry ingredients.
Stir until all the oats mixture is completely coated, then pour onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Spread evenly and allow to cool slightly.
Sprinkle 1 cup mini chocolate chips over the bars and gently press into the mixture.
Cool completely, then cut into bars. To get the perfect bar size, I cut a strip from the shorter side, then cut that strip into 3.
Wrap the bars in plastic wrap. Store the bars in a cool dry location and watch them disappear! I keep them in our pantry in this cute basket.
Your kiddos will love this snack so much! It makes a quick breakfast and is so nice to grab and go. Feel free to try different mix-ins or types of chips (peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips.....) and let me know your favorite combinations!
Recipe Source: Recipe adapted from a recipe found in a magazine in 2001 that doesn't exist anymore (Quick Cooking)