Who doesn’t love granola bars? They are so yummy, and healthy for you because of their high fiber content. You can easily add several other things to them to make these granola bars more tasty, less nutritious, or whatever your deal is. These yummy no-bake granola bars are an adaptation of a recipe from My Kitchen Escapades that I took a lot of liberty with. They are fun, and fruity, and gah! You won’t eat just one.
Yummy no-bake granola bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick Glutin Free cooking oats
- 1 cup cereal
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the oats, cereal and coconut. You want a big bowl because everything will be eventually mixed in together.
- In a small saucepan over medium high heat and melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir together then leave it alone as it comes to a boil. Once the boil has reached all the way around the edges of the pan. Allow this mixture to boil for 2 minutes. You may need to turn the heat down a bit so it doesn’t overflow because it gets really bubbly and foamy, but be sure it keeps boiling.
- Pour the mixture over the oats, using a rubber spatula to get all the sugar mixture out of the pan. Mix the ingredients together until the oats are completely coated.
- Add in any mix-ins (see the notes section) then press very firmly using a metal spatula. I used an off set spatula because it let me get in the corners and right up to the edge.
- Refrigerate for 20 minutes or longer so the granola bars set. If you do not leave them in long enough they will fall apart.
- Cut to size and serve.
Notes
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip- Add 1/2 C of mini chocolate chips to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan. Sprinkle on a few extra chips over the top after they are pressed into the pan. (The chocolate that you put in the mixture is going to melt. The chip part will only add chips to the mixture.)
- White Chocolate Cranberry–Add 1/3 C of white chocolate chips and 1/3 C of Craisins to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it to cool just a bit first or you will end up with melted chips.
- M&M–; 1/3 C of mini M&M;’s to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.
- Peanut Butter– Add 2 Tb of peanut butter to the finished sugar mixture before pouring it over the oats. Once mixed with the oats, add 1/2 C peanut butter chips before pressing into the pan.
- Raisin Nut–Add 1/3 C of chopped raisins and 1/3 C of chopped nuts to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.
