Kids in the Kitchen Wednesday: No-Bake Granola Bars

It's that magical time of the school year when kids are already getting sick of the selections you pack in their lunch box every day. Apple slices again? Groan. Why can't you skip the apples and just give me more Oreos? Yeah, we hear it too.

This past weekend the Wisconsin Test Kitchen tried making no-bake granola bars in an attempt to liven up the lunchtime routine. One of our devoted readers passed this recipe onto us; and we immediately loved how you could customize the granola bars. We happened to have mini M&M's in our cupboard; so we ended up with slightly sweeter bars. Cranberries, white chocolate chips and/or peanut butter are also excellent additions. 

No-Bake Granola Bars
Recipe courtesy of: http://www.madefrompinterest.net/2013/06/no-bake-granola-bars/

2 cups quick cooking oats (or pulse whole oats in a food processor a bit)
1 C rice crispy cereal
1/4 C shredded coconut
1/4 C butter
1/4 C honey
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, cereal and coconut. 

 Set a small saucepan over medium high heat and melt the butter. Add the honey, brown sugar and salt. Stir together then leave it alone as it comes to a boil. 

 Once the boil has reached all the way around the edges of the pan, begin timing. Allow this mixture to boil for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. During this time, you may need to turn the heat down a bit so it doesn’t overflow, but be sure it keeps boiling.

2. Pour the mixture over the oats, using a rubber spatula to get all the sugar mixture out of the pan. 

 Mix the ingredients together until the oats are completely coated. 

 Add in your desired mix-in then press very firmly into a lightly greased 9×13″ pan.

 If you like your bars thicker, you can use a smaller pan. If you do not press firmly enough, the bars will fall apart when you eat them. Place them in the fridge for 20 minutes then cut to size.

Here are directions for different add-ins you can try in the granola bars:

Chocolate Chip

Add 1/2 C of mini chocolate chips to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it cooljust a bit or you will end up with melted chips. Sprinkle on a few extra chips over the top after they are pressed into the pan.

White Chocolate Cranberry

Add 1/3 C of white chocolate chips and 1/3 C of Craisins to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it to cool just a bit first or you will end up with melted chips.

Candy Bar

Add 1/3 C of Heath bar pieces, 1/3 C of mini M&M’s and 1/3 C of chopped pretzels to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.

Peanut Butter

Add 2 Tb of peanut butter to the finished sugar mixture before pouring it over the oats. Once mixed with the oats, add 1/2 C peanut butter chips before pressing into the pan.

Raisin Nut

Add 1/3 C of chopped raisins and 1/3 C of chopped pecans to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.

Yum! These were a big hit with the smallest member of our test kitchen, and she's been requesting them in her lunch every day for the past week. We consider that a success.

Stay Cool,
The Cool Dads Crew