No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars {easy & healthy!}

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
1 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter (optional)

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal together. Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and cook 2 minutes. Pour in vanilla and stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan {about 12x8x1} and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. {If your pan isn’t small enough, pack the mixture into one side. You really want to press them down so they stick together.} Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly. Melt peanut butter in saucepan until smooth. Drizzle over granola. Cool on a counter top to room temperature for two hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Yum!!! These tasted more like dessert than a healthy granola bar. And I felt so good about giving these to Brandon. He loved them. I drizzled peanut butter over the top of the granola bars but I'm thinking now that it may have been easier to eat if the PB was mixed in with the granola. Not sure though. Enjoy!!