No Bake Sticky Granola Bars

E has been into "honey bars". This would be the oats and honey variety of granola bars we picked up at Open Harvest last weekend.  I hadn't been in there but it was great. A local cooperative grocery that I plan on going back to. The bars he choose were a pretty traditional crunchy oats and honey bar with flax seeds. The ones we made to match them are more on the chewy side. Both are really good and plant based. (We use local raw honey at our house. You could try substituting agave or maple syrup but I can't say as to how well they would work or what they would taste like.)

No Bake Sticky Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/3 cups roasted flax seed
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (I used my homemade version)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2-3/4 cup raw (or regular) honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (measure in liquid form)
• 1/8 tsp. fine sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½- 1 cup mini dairy free chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
 

 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine your oats, rice cereal, and flax seed. Stir until well combined. Set aside.
2. Place sugar, honey, coconut oil, and sea salt in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Stirring constantly. Boil for exactly 1 minute so mixture combines and sugars dissolve. Take pan off the heat and add in peanut butter and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth. Pour over the oat/rice cereal mixture. Stir until well combined.
3. Let this mixture sit for several minutes. 
4. Line 9x13 pan with parchment paper cut to size.
5. Pour out granola bar mixture into pan. Press with spatula. Then immediately spread your chocolate chips on the top and press again.
6. Allow to cool in fridge or on counter. Once the bars have cooled completely, lift out of the pan. Cut the bars into the size of your choosing.
7. These freeze well individually by wrapping in plastic and placing in freezer safe bag or container.