These No-Bake Honey Granola Bars are a huge hit at my house. Even the kids love to eat them!

I’m still trying to use the Rice Krispies I have in my stockpile, so I was excited to find this great recipe. These bars are super easy to make and I have all of the ingredients in my pantry. Plus, they are yummy and my kids love them too! I have enjoyed the original version and the one with added pretzels, but the possibilities are endless. 🙂

No-Bake Honey Granola Bars

Recipe Notes: If you add in other items, reduce the amount of oats or rice cereal to compensate. I added a half cup of pretzel sticks (broken up) in one batch, and omitted the kosher salt. It was a yummy variation! You can use a plain, low-fat, low sugar, granola (crushed up) in place of the oats. I didn’t have mini chocolate chips, so I just cut up my delicious Guittard chocolate chips.

In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal (and other additions, if desired) 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 to low and cook for 2 minutes. I like to spray my measuring cups before measuring honey (and peanut butter) for an easy release.

Remove from heat. Add in vanilla and salt; stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients.

Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan (about 12x8x1) or 8×8 pan 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 need to really press them down well so they stick together. See above right.) Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly. Cool on a counter top to room temperature for an hour or so. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

More Recipe Notes: If your granola bars don’t stay together well when you cut them, you may have made them too thin or didn’t press them down tight enough. Put them in the fridge for 15 minutes and that should help keep them together. (Be sure not to keep them in there too long or they’ll become too hard!) The next time you make them, you can try reducing the butter to 3 tablespoons and really packing them down. FYI, I tried reducing the brown sugar in one batch and they did not stick together very well.

From Lauren’s Latest and Rachael Ray.