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This Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar Recipe is THE BEST and easiest way to make granola bars! Plus, they’re cheaper and healthier than the store-bought kind!
You guys, I have found THE BEST and easiest way to make granola bars on this sweet planet earth. I was looking for recipe ideas and came across a few Pinterest photos that had me swooning over chewy chocolate chip granola bars and it made me want to try my hand at them. After a few testers, I ended up with a super kid and school lunch-friendly, *slightly* healthier version that has gotten rave review after rave review.
Granola Bar Recipe
These are pretty darn simple granola bars AND amazingly delicious. I was seriously shocked at how well these turned out for 3 minutes of work. Literally 3 minutes. If you have kids make these! Heck, even if you don’t, make ’em anyways. They are great snacks or fast breakfasts. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter – this is part of the boiled sugar mixture. Some readers have found that peanut butter works great here.
- Honey – a natural sweetener.
- Brown Sugar – more sweetener, this also is part of the boiled sugar mixture along with the honey.
- Quick Cooking Oats – not rolled oats!
- Crispy Rice Cereal – some readers have replaced this with other cereals such as Cheerios or Chex.
- Vanilla – to help the flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – optional but highly recommended.
How to make granola bars
- In a small saucepan, heat up some butter, honey and brown sugar over medium-high heat. Stir it together, reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for up to 2 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
- While that is heating up, measure out oats and Rice Krispies into a large bowl.
- Stir in vanilla extract into the hot syrup.
- Pour the hot syrup over the dry ingredients and stir well to coat.
- Press firmly into a greased jelly roll pan using either buttered fingers or a greased spatula.
- Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
- Cool to room temperature for about 1 hour or until set.
- Cut into bars, wrap individually and use as desired.
Adapting your granola bar recipe
The beauty of this recipe is how adaptable it is. You can make lots of granola bar flavor combinations and create your very own recipe, based on what you and your family like. Feel free to add in raisins, nuts, maple syrup, flax seeds, cinnamon, butterscotch chips, coconut, agave, craisins, citrus zest, the list goes on!
Getting the boiled sugar mixture right
This recipe is very much dependent on the boiled sugar mixture. 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.
If you boil the mixture TOO MUCH, then once they set, they will be nearly too hard to eat. So, the best way to set yourself up for success is to bring the honey-butter mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
Storing
After your bars have set, cut into portions, wrap individually in parchment paper or plastic wrap and store the whole lot of them in a large airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 7 days. I don’t like refrigerating or freezing because then the bars get really hard and don’t keep their amazing chewy texture, even after defrosting.
Of course, you can store them however you like, but keep in mind they are enjoyed best at room temperature.
More Granola Bars to Try!
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Homemade Granola Recipe with Almonds
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
- No-Bake Nut and Seed Bars
- Homemade Granola
Printable recipe card is below. Make sure to save this recipe because it’s a good one for any day of the week. Enjoy!
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
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
Instructions
- 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 or until the sugar dissolves. (should take 1-2 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.
Has anyone tried to dip in chocolate? I’ve been looking for a good recipe for my son who loves dipped granola bars. And most of the time the stores are out of the big boxes of them!
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! I was wondering if there might be an option to reduce the sugar content, any ideas will be greatly appreciated!!!
They came together nicely, and the recipe was simple enough, but my teenager thought they were too sweet. 🙁 Since he’s the one I was making them for, that’s what I based my rating on.
Every weekend i used to pay a visit this website, as i wish for enjoyment, as this this web page conations in fact nice funny material too.
Good but SUPER sweet, even using dark chocolate vs. semi sweet chips or other. Will cut down on the sugar and honey next time, and may add peanut butter and/or pinch of salt as well.
I added almonds, dried cranberries and dried apple bits and a tablespoon of cinnamon to these the pan was gone in less than 10 minutes. Had to make more. Thank you for easy recipe.
I tried these today and they are good but has too much of a honey flavor for my liking, would I be able to do just butter and do 1/2 C of brown sugar instead?
Can I use corn syrup instead of honey?
sure!
I would like to add cinnamon but not sure how much or when to add it. Any suggestions?
I’d add it to the syrup mixture after it’s boiled and right before you pour it over the oats and cereal. I’d start with 1/2 teaspoon and work my way up or down from there. Hope that helps!
I am so thankful for this recipe! My husband has a lot of food reactions and cannot have anything with soy, corn, nuts, dairy, wheat, or eggs in them. I make this recipe using soy and dairy free butter and the Enjoy Life chocolate chips/chunks and he (we) LOVE them!! I have taken these bars to covered dish functions so he will have something sweet he can eat and usually get asked for the recipe by at least one person. If you have any others without his no-no ingredients I’d love to try them (especially sweet stuff…they are especially hard to come by!).
So in the recipie ingredients it says “not rolled outs” with an exclamation mark and then in the directions it says “add rolled oats.”
typo that I corrected.
Curious to know if anyone has tried making these with less sugar/honey. Was about to make them but then checked the nutrition as I thought it was a lot of sugar between the brown sugar and honey. 16 grams of sugar per bar is a lot more than sugary, chocolate granola bars that you buy in the shops.
These came out amazing! I used a selection of nuts and seeds to balance out the sweetness. Thank you for the recipe xx
I haven’t made these yet, but I wanted to clarify the cooking time in step 1 before I try them.
The instructions in the pictures say to boil 45 second to 1 minute & be careful not to overcook. But the recipe that you print says to boil for 2 minutes.
What is the correct boil time?
Sorry for the confusion! I added more information to the post and recipe card to be a little more clear! Hope that helps! You want to bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
Delicious,.. thanks for sharing.
I omitted the rice crispies and used 1/4 cup of Organic peanut butter, 2 tsps of coconut oil, as well as a few handfuls of peanuts.
Let me start by saying this recipe is amazing! As a mom of 2 that has bought many boxes of granola bars. As well as tried many recipes that were a complete flop! These are great never any left! Also the comment with the Peanut Butter variation are amazing as well! I have played with this recipe many times adding new things. Today I did a S’mores variation by subbing in some crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows. Thanks so much for this go to recipe. I will NEVER make any other recipe!
[…] No Bake Easy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar […]
Can I pulse regular rolled oats instead of using quick-cooking oats?
sure!
Delicious and Simple – – those chocolate chips seal the deal! Great recipe Thanks !!
Can u still use rolled oats instead of quick oats?
sure!
These were simple and a HIT! My daughter says they are better than the store bought ones. I was afraid I would overcook the butter/sugar/honey mixture but I didn’t! They were soft and chewy and delicious! We just made our 2nd batch today. The first batch disappeared quickly. Perfect to pack in school lunches! Thank you. I may never buy store bought chewy chocolate chip granola bars again.
Made these for my husband and he loved them. My 2 picky grandkids ate them too. They were quickly devoured. Super easy and delicious. Will be making double batches from now on.
Made these today following the recipe with the addition of dried cranberries. They were amazing. Will definitely make them again and try different variations.
[…] No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | Lauren’s Latest 2. 10 Minute No Bake Granola Bars | Spend With Pennies 3. DIY No Bake Chewy […]
Hi. I made these last evening for my son to take to a youth get together after church. I was a bit skeptical… there is only one left! Would they stick together as well with maple syrup instead of honey?
I make these all the time! So yummy! I make a big batch and take a bunch to my husband’s uncle and his wife who are in their 80’s, makes a really great snack for them! Half the recipes in my box say “Lauren’s latest” the other half say “mom”. Love your recipes!
Hello lauren .. im going to try these.. these look so so delicious and easy. .. planning to add puffed rice as that’s that’s one I have with me. Thank you so much for all the effort you put to ease our work. :)…
Love this recipe!!! Thank you for sharing
This has been my go to snack recipe for years now.
Thank you
Congratulations on your Beautiful family!!
I need to try making these again. They would be perfect for my daughter’s lunch!
I love these bars. It’s so nice to eat a granola bar without tasting all the artificial ingredients!
I can’t wait to make these. We have some bars at work but I know these are healthier and they look delicious.
Shirley
My kids love these!
Hey – am going to try these. Can you add some seeds into the mix and if so how does that affect quantities? I like sunflower/pumpkin seed mixes…
I would substitute nuts and seeds 1:1 for any other dry ingredient. So, you want a total of 3 cups of oats, rice krispies and nuts and seeds.
How long are these good for in an air right container? A week?
Yes, a week is about right. I’d recommend wrapping the individually in plastic wrap to ensure they stay fresh.
I use more oats instead of the full amount of rice krispies, hubby isn’t fond of them, I make them for work all the time. I boil the sugar/honey/butter mixture longer though, 7-8 minutes, the mixture doesn’t harden at all.. When I made this the first time they fell apart too easy, and yes they were packed in. for a 1/2 sheet pan I have to make the recipie x7 or 8. I bring them to work all the time and they are always a big hit. With a coworkers honey from his hives its the best!
Totally going to make these! Looking for simple snacks that I can make and not buy. We don’t have kiddos but hubby and I both own our own businesses and are busy people so these will be a quick grab for snack. Is there any reason that you don’t mix the chocolate chips in mix? I want them to be mixed in but wondering if this will make them fall apart or even melt?
[…] was intrigued by this no bake chocolate chip granola bar recipe on Laura’s Latest and decided to try it. It was so easy and really tasty. He kept […]
My Son & I LOVE these Granola Bars. I have made them many times. Super Easy & Delicious ! Thanks for the Recipe.
These are amazing! I appreciate a good no bake dessert that doesn’t involve peanut butter, so all can enjoy! Thanks.
[…] slightly adapted from Lauren’s Latest. […]
Hi there, just wondering how long these keep for and if you can freeze them?
Thank you
[…] Source: laurenslatest.com via Sommer on […]
My daughter and I made theses granola bars together they turned out so good . They were easy enough to make my 7 year old daughter wanted to make them herself . She did a great job I tended to the stove top with the hot mixture and she did all the dry mixture but she messed up and put in to much rice crisps how can I fix this all other measure’s were right can you help
I made these this morning and they are sooooo good! Going to make a double batch next time because they’re not going last long once my husband and daughter taste them 🙂
These would be perfect for our travels next week!
ahh, this looks like a healthy rice krispie treat! Love.
[…] here for the recipe. Oh, and it is very important to cut them into bars immediately. Or you will end up […]
Quick oats are just regular oats chopped up. So if you have regular oats out them in a blender, etc. And pulse them once or twice for just a second. I’ve made them with both kinds of oats and turned on perfect. Great recipe…I always double it for a 9×13.
Can i make these if I don’t have any honey on hand? Will it work without the honey at all? I don’t think I have anything I could substitute it with.
I haven’t tried making this without the honey, unfortunately, so I have no idea if it would work or not! You are welcome to experiment!