Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars {No Bake}

I just wanted to pop in between my high school exams this week. I apologize for my lack of new recipes, but hey this can count, right? I wanted to share the way I add chocolate chips into my no bake peanut butter granola bars because some readers expressed interest in how to add chips without melting. Here’s the deal. You wait until you have the ingredients mixed together and press the bars down firmly. About 2-3 minutes later, so they are still sticky, sprinkle your chips on top and press down firmly again. I use the back of my measuring cup sprayed with cooking spray. It compacts the bars well and they fall apart less. I have the best luck with the mini chips sticking well. I suppose regular chips in less quantity would work too, but they may not stick as well. Let me know if you try it.

This has been my staple recipe the past five weeks because it takes me about 10 minutes to make from start to finish. I use my microwave and don’t have to bake them. I have 16 wholesome bars as good as the Quaker brand without any preservatives. I’ve been storing mine in the refrigerator during this humid weather. Plus they cut nicely into bars after refrigerating. Enjoy your week!

Recipe adapted from Cooking Classy

Ingredients

• 2 cups quick or regular oats
• 1-1/2 Rice crispy cereal {I use generic}
• 3/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 cup mini-chocolate chips

Directions

1. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper leaving a 2-inch overhang.
2. In a large microwave safe mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, brown sugar and salt. Heat mixture on HIGH power for 1 minute, remove and stir. Return to microwave and heat on HIGH power 1 minute longer. Remove from microwave, pour in vanilla and whisk mixture for 30 seconds.
3. Add oats and Rice Krispies to peanut butter mixture and toss well to evenly coat.
4. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, firmly press mixture into an even layer with the back of a measuring cup sprayed with cooking spray. Press hard to compact. Wait about 2-3 minutes and sprinkle mini-chocolate chips on top and press again.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze 10 – 15 minutes or chill in refrigerator 30 minutes. Lift bars from dish using foil or paper overhang and cut into bars or squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Do you love homemade granola bars as much as we do?