NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS OR BITES (BALLS)

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS
http://www.laurenslatest.com/no-bake-chocolate-chip-granola-bars-easy-healthy/
These are seriously so easy to make.  Everyone really liked them.  I read the measurement wrong the first time and put way too many chocolate chips.  Put right amount next time - liked with more - 1/4 c just about right.

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Healthier and cheaper than the store bought kind!

yield: 10 BARS

prep time: 2 HOURS INCLUDING COOLING TIME

cook time: 5 MINUTES

total time: 2 HOURS 5 MINUTES

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

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. Cool on a countertop 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.

Recipe Notes: If your granola bars don't seem to be staying together when you cut them, you may have not boiled the mixture long enough...you want it to make it just past the softball stage. OR you made them too thin or you didn't pack them in tight enough. Stick them in the fridge for 20 minutes and that should help keep them together. {Be sure not to keep them in there too long or else they'll become super hard!} The next time you make them, try boiling for an extra 15 seconds or so.

No-Bake Granola Bites

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2013/08/no-bake-healthy-granola-bites.html

YIELD: MAKES ABOUT 30 BITES

Kira who sent me the recipe also includes 2 tablespoons ground chia seeds with the dry ingredients (I haven't used them when I've made them...yet!). Also, feel free to play around with the amounts, increasing or decreasing ingredients, adding dried fruit, coconut, etc. Just keep an eye on the consistency so that it still forms a mixture that sticks together when formed into balls. The coconut oil isn't absolutely necessary but I loved the smooth silkiness it gave to the granola bites plus if you use extra-virgin instead of expeller-pressed, you'll get a sweet hint of coconut.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups quick oats
• 1 cup crispy rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup ground flaxseed
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup honey or agave nectar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl, mixing gently so the crispy rice cereal doesn't get crushed. Mix until well-combined.
2. Using a cookie scoop (or roll small amounts in your hands), drop rounded tablespoonful-sized portions onto a parchment or wax paper lined cooking sheeet. I used my cookie scoop and then rolled the scooped portion out between my palms.
3. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. At this point you can serve them or combine the chilled granola bites in a large tupperware-type container or ziploc bags to freeze or refrigerate. They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week or for a few months in the freezer.