Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

One afternoon, a friend brought a granola bar to my house to share.  I was so grateful that she was willing to share the recipe because these granola bars are really tasty!  My family loves them (including me) and they even ate them all up (with the help of the neighbor kids) when I forgot to put in the oats (it's a long story)! 

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup corn syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 1/2 cups quick oats

1 cup rice crispy cereal

2 tablespoon ground flax seed

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I am a semi-sweet girl)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar.  Add the peanut butter, honey, corn syrup, and vanilla and mix until well combined.  Stir in the remaining ingredients until well blended.  Firmly press mixture onto a sprayed or parchment lined baking sheet (jelly roll pan).

Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.  If you like them really soft and chewy, pull them out early.  Don't over bake or they will be hard and crunchy and we are going for soft and chewy.  Allow them to cool completely before cutting into bars.

*I love to freeze the granola bars and pull them out for lunches or afterschool snacks.