Granola Bars

I decided to make homemade granola bars. The kids always want a snack and I didn't have any in the house. I didn't want to go spend a fortune on something that would be gone in a day and wasn't healthy anyway so I found this recipe. My kids loved them and I loved them and they had NO Corn Syrup in them. The recipe is from allrecipes.com but I will post it here so you can find it easy.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

• 1/2 cup reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup peanut butter chips
• 1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil and vanilla until blended. Combine the oats, brown sugar and salt; add to the peanut butter mixture and mix well. Stir in chips. (Batter will be sticky.)
• Transfer to a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield: 3 dozen.

Chewy Granola Bars

• 4 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.   
4. Hint: halfway through cooking take them out and press them down again to compact them even more.