Recipe: Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

School is back in session as is my boys’ desire to eat all the things. Whether it’s, “Mom I was starving at school because I didn’t pack enough food in my lunch!” or stumbling off the bus with “Moooooom, I am soooooo hungry!” I gotta keep the snacks on hand. I have always made my own granola bars, trying to save money while also offering a healthier choice. This homemade granola bar recipe is my standard, go-to. However, once in a while, I give in to that ever constant desire to “Please buy the kind in the box with the chocolate on them!” So I came up with this recipe which copies both the taste and the fun of the boxed version, without all the added ingredients and cost! Mind you, it’s not the “healthiest” version out there, but it is certainly a tasty treat to enjoy once in awhile!

[typography font=”Satisfy” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars[/typography]

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 stick melted butter

1 cup honey

1 cup mini chocolate chips

2 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, flour, soda, cinnamon and brown sugar. In a separate smaller bowl, mix together melted butter, honey and vanilla. Pour butter and honey mixture into the oats and stir until combined. Mix in chocolate chips. Spread batter into pan and press firmly into the pan. Be sure to spread and press very firmly so the mixture is even and packed down. Bake for about 15-20 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the bars are golden brown and no longer gooey in the middle. Let cool for 10 minutes, then cut into bars. Let cool completely. Drizzle melted chocolate on top and let harden. Hold small people back while they devour the whole pan in one sitting. Make second batch so you can actually put them in lunches tomorrow.

Enjoy!