Grandma Barbara's Granola Bars

As the grand kids were growing up, they would look through the kitchen and then ask "where's grandma Barbara's granola bars?".  That's how these delicious granola bars got their name!  They are easy and fast to make, and they don't last long around our house.  I get 12 bars out of each recipe, and when you compare that to the cost of one or two store bought granola bars, it's a major savings!!

You will need:
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup peanuts
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teas vanilla extract
dash of salt

 First you will need to line a 8" X 8" pan with parchment paper, (leaving some over hang, this will aid in lifting the granola out).

In a large bowl, combine oats, peanuts, crispy rice cereal, dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips.  Stir well.

In a medium bowl combine the peanut butter, brown sugar, salt, and honey.  

Stir mixture, then microwave on high for 1 minute.

Remove from microwave, stir well and microwave again for 1 minute.

Remove from microwave, add vanilla extract and stir for 30 seconds.

Caution:  This caramel sauce is very hot.  Be careful.

Pour the caramel sauce over the oat / cereal mixture.

Be careful not to get any on your fingers, it will burn.  Do NOT try to lick the spoon!  It will burn!

 Stir the caramel sauce into the oat mixture.  Be sure to stir the bottom contents up to get all the ingredients well coated with the sauce.

Pour the granola into the parchment lined pan.  Press down to form an even layer.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips on top of the granola mixture and press into the granola mixture.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set up the granola.

 After 30 minutes remove the granola

Now you can cut your granola into bars, (or squares if you want) .  I like to cut mine into 12 bars.

And there you have a delicious granola bar.

I just store mine in a foam container on the counter, so everyone can easily grab one when they want one.  When I pack them for road trips or lunches, I just wrap one in a piece of plastic wrap and it's ready to go.

You can change up the ingredients, add shredded coconut, cashews, pecans, leave out the chocolate chips or dried cranberries.  Make it your own version of whatever you like in a granola bar.

Enjoy!