No Bake Granola Bars

This is such a great recipe and changing things ups to make all flavors of granola bars is so fun! I've tried it with a few different kinds cereal. I especially like crushed Crispix. The PB and J version is pf course yummy. There are some ideas for add ins below, but really this is like a choose your own adventure recipe. You could even make a healthy option with some flax meal or wheat germ. Keep the add ins to 1 cup or less, but other than that go crazy. 

No Bake Granola Bars

adapted from biggerbolderbaking.com
1 1/2 cups oats, quick or rolled
1 cup rice crispy cereal or any other cereal crushed up a little bit
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Add in suggestions:
Raisin Nut Granola Bar
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup chopped raisins
1/3 cup chopped nuts (toasted nuts are also great)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola Bar (see note at bottom)
1/3 cup peanut butter (stirred in with sugar mixture)
1/3 cup chopped peanuts
6 TBSPs your favorite jam

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (stirred in with sugar mixture)
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Monster Granola Bars
1/3 cup peanut butter (stirred in with sugar mixture)
1/3 cup mini m&ms
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

1. In a large bowl, mix together the oats and cereal.
2. In a medium microwavable bowl add in butter, honey and brown sugar. Microwave this mixture for 2 minutes. It will bubble up so make sure your bowl is big enough so it doesn’t overflow. You can also do this step in a saucepan if you don’t have a microwave.
3. Add the vanilla and salt to the sugar mixture and stir. This will bubble a little bit. (If you are adding peanut butter or cocoa powder this is where you put it in. Stir the PB or cocoa into the sugar mixture) 4. Pour the sugar mixture over the oats and cereal, and thoroughly stir using a rubber spatula. Mix the ingredients together until the oats and cereal are completely coated.
5. Add in your desired mix-in. If you are adding chocolate chips or m&ms and don't want them to melt, wait a few minutes before stirring them in.
6. Press the bars very firmly into a parchment lined 9″x 9” pan. If you like your bars thicker, you can use a smaller pan. If you do not press firmly enough, the bars will fall apart when you eat them. You can also sprinkle on some of your add ins on top like mini chocolate chips or m&ms and press those down so they stick to the top.
7. Place them in the fridge for at least 30 minutes then cut to size.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter. If you keep them in the fridge they will be a little hard and chewy. At room temp they will be soft.

PB and J Note: It's best to layer these bars. I have stirred the jam in and they are a little too soft this way. So press half the mixture into the bottom of your pan, then spread on your jam, and press the other half on top.