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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Sweet Saturday!

Happy Saturday, my sweet friends! :o)

I was unable to complete a card last night, but at least I have a fun little treat to share today. :o) This is one of my favorite types of things to make because it's a homemade version of a popular store-bought treat. Not only does homemade always taste better, but it's also comforting to know exactly what's in the tasty morsel you're giving a loved one. :o)

I made these particularly for my sweetheart, who is super busy and always on the go. Granola bars are convenient and tasty, but they're pretty pricy in the packaged version and can be made 'healthier' at home. I was positively delighted when I kept seeing versions of this recipe popping up on my favorite food bloggers' websites over the last month and I finally made them this week. Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars! Color me sparkly!
Oh how I wish this photo was happier. These turned out as delicious as I had hoped. Chewy, packed with granola yet doesn't weigh you down, sparkling with a slight honey flavor, and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips. Fantastic! (I may have been overly generous with the chippers... but really, can you ever have too many chocolate chips?) My sweetie loves them and has certainly taken advantage of their portability, munching on them on the drive to work and also on the way to the gym. Not only are they tasty and a fabulous replacement to the packaged versions, but they're also easy peasy! No oven, no odd-ball ingredients, and no fuss. My only mistake was pressing too firmly on the chocolate chips, thus melting the ones that were pushed too far into the warm granola. Merely cosmetic! They tasted amazing. 

Another bonus is that this recipe is highly adaptable to suit what you're in the mood for. Fruits, raisins, nuts, different flavored chips, coconut, peanut butter, etc. These are now a staple and I'm excited to have a batch made for him to snack on while he's away during the work week. (Due to distance, I mostly only see him on his days off.) If you try them, I hope you love them! 

Thank you for fluttering on by today! I hope you have a beautiful weekend. :o)

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Yield: 10 bars

Ingredients:
⅓ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup crispy rice cereal
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Directions:
Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish; set aside.

In a large bowl, stir the oats and the rice cereal together; set aside. In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar, honey, and butter together over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Pour the melted mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour the oat mixture into the prepared pan and press down firmly to ensure that the ingredients are tightly compacted in the pan. Sprinkle the top evenly with the miniature chocolate chips and press down on the top lightly with the back of a spoon.

Cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 5 days.



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9 comments:

  1. Yummy! Thanks for the recipe too..
    You always make and share such delish baking recipes... Super awesome Karen....
    Have a great weekend...

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  2. Ohhh, these certainly do look delicious. And no, you can never add too many chocolate chips to a recipe!! I'm sure your husband will help you polish these off quickly. How thoughtful of you to make them for him!!

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  3. First let me say I am so going to make these Ray will love them!!

    Now my adorable and sweet friend, thank you so much for your visit. You always make me feel better every time you come to my house (blog). I always feel as if one of my closest friends came over and brought a treat, and we sat and talked out our worries, prayed together, and was able to continue life with heads held high and confidence that our God has all in control. I love your visits Karen, we may never actually meet in this life, but eternity will be our friend someday and allow me to actually put my arms around you, and say thank you.

    Hugs, Pam
    http://craftycards4u2.blogspot.com/

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  4. Ahhh, Sweet Saturday!! These Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars sound so delicious, Karen!! You come up with the best recipes!! And I personally don't think you can ever have too many chocolate chips :) Thank you for sharing another fabulous treat with us!!

    Have a wonderful week my sweet friend!! Happy April :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  5. Oh Karen you are always so thoughtful... your sweetheart is definitely blessed to have you.. As all of us, you are such an amazing person, you make each one of us feel so very special. i am finally in Galveston Texas, will be getting on the ship tomorrow.. it has been such a stressful week.. i can't tell you how much i appreciated all of your sweet prayers.. sometimes that's the only way we can make it, by having our friends hold us up in prayer.. i so pray God sends you so many blessings that you can't hold all of them.. hugs from ukiah

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  6. I can't wait to try these!!! Yummy, love grabola bars especially with chocolate chips-thanks for sharing your awesome treat with us!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  7. Did you know that I have a file on my computer called Karen's Recipes? It's true! Did you also know that I've started working out A LOT more since I met you? Also, VERY true! :) :) :)

    These looks scrumptious! Kevin has a weakness for granola-type things, and I have a weakness for all things chocolate, so this is definitely going on my list of things to make this week. Perhaps I'll have Abi make them and call it "school". ;)

    Thanks for adding yet another delicious treat to my "Karen" file! :)

    Hugs,

    Nita

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  8. Karen, These look so GOOD! My little one takes a granola bar every day for lunch. I need to try this! Thank you for taking the time to share all these goodies with us:)
    Shelly

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  9. So missy...exactly where is my half of this granola divineness? I thought you said you were going to save me some before Sbf got to all of it. What do you mean you didn't? ARRGGGGGGG!!! I NEED MY CHIPPIES!!!!!!!!!! TEE HEE HEE!!!

    OMJ! I am seriously going to faint if I don't have some of these right this second. OMJ! Do you know how delish those chocolate chips look on top sis? I wanna devour every single last little chippie soooooo bad!!! TEE HEE HEE!

    I can't believe these are no-bake! GASP! That means I can totally make these without ruining them!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! *throws in the whole bag of chippies cause I can't resist* Is that too many, sis? TEE HEE HEE!!!

    Mmm. I swear I can smell them all the way from here. *sniff sniff* OMJ! I SOOOOOOOO NEED SOME NOWWWWWWW!!! *giggles*

    *races you to the kitchen to make more with you right this second* YAY!!!!!!!!!! I get first dibs at the chippies!!! WHEEEEEEEEEE!!! BEST GRANOLA RECIPE EVERRRRRRRR!!!

    SOOOOOOOOO LOVE MY SUNSHINE!!!
    *forever super squishy Sweet Saturday hugglers*
    ~~~ Christina :)

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Thank you for leaving some love! Have a beautifully blessed day. :o)

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