Chocolate Granola Bars are a sweet, healthy treat that your kids will love, loaded with oats, honey, chocolate, and coconut!
I am not an outdoorsy person. When I was younger I tried to convince myself that I was.
So many of my friends would plan camping trips, or river excursions, or hikes. I would pretend to be excited. Because I am what the world likes to refer to as a joiner. Camping out? I’m in! Hiking through the woods? I’ll be there! Floating down a river in a tube? Umm, ok!
I’m still unsure of why I had so many outdoorsy friends. My early 20’s were obviously a time of soul searching.
What I learned from those days of experimentation is that I am not a happy person in the woods. I do not enjoy the sounds that critters make before they jump out and try to scare the bejeezus out of me. I don’t enjoy the dark wilderness. I’ve seen The Blair Witch Project. Things don’t end well.
Leaving a weekend with mosquito bit legs fills me with resentment.
Mostly, though, the sleeping situation is unforgivable. Why would I want to endure a night’s slumber in a sleeping bag on the ground with the only protection I have from Grizzly Gus being a flimsy tent purchased from Wal-Mart.
And honestly, how much work is camping? I mean, seriously? It SEEMS like a weekend trying to simplify would be, well, simpler…the food shopping, the packing, the UNpacking, the set-up, the clean-up, the prevention measures so wildlife doesn’t steal food, the non-bathing…I don’t get it.
Plus, I will tell you that I am not a cute camper. I need electricity to make the cuteness happen; a humidity free zone where I can use a blow dryer and a flat iron.
No, effortless beauty is not something I possess.
Just pulling on a pair of shorts and twisting my hair back in a messy ponytail looks really great on some people. I am not part of that club.
Plus, peace makes people attractive and since the outdoors give me a sense of unrest I pretty much always look disheveled and grumpy, from the inside out.
The closest I like to get to camping is sitting by a man made fire pit in a neighbors backyard with a kitchen and bathroom a stone’s throw away.
SO while today is a recipe for granola, know that it’s really the indoor version of granola…not really meant to take camping or on a hike. It’s for sitting on your couch and watching Survivor and wondering why in the world would people put themselves through that nonsense?
The recipe is actually VERY easy and will allow for more time doing other non-outdoor related things, like a puzzle or knitting or laundry. The world is your oyster, really.
First mix your dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir them together so they can get familiar with each other.
Then melt you butter and honey together…sweet deliciousness.
Boil them for 5 minutes and then add some peanut butter.
Stir it all together and pour over your dry stuff.
Give it a stir. The chocolate will melt.
Then press into your pan. I used some wax paper so it didn’t stick.
Then chill it for about an hour. Cut into squares or bars or eat it with a fork. Whatever makes you happy.
I dressed them up a bit to look fancy…but you don’t have to because nekkid granola bars are easier to eat.
I do have to say that these are a yummy after school or lunchbox treat for your kiddos!
Chocolate Granola Bars
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
- 1 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut + 2 Tbsp for garnish
- 1/3 cup shelled sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
Instructions
- Spray 9×13 pan lightly with cooking spray
- In a large bowl combine chocolate chips, krispies. oats, coconut and sunflower seeds.
- In a small saucepan combine the butter and honey. Bring to a boil and boil on medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add peanut butter.
- Stir until combined and pour over your oat mixture. The chocolate chips will melt.
- Once combined press evenly into prepared pan using wax paper.
- Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp remaining coconut.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour and then cut into bars.
Notes
Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to a week.
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Recipe: Chocolate Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
- 1 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut + 2 Tbsp for garnish
- 1/3 cup shelled sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
Instructions
- Spray 9×13 pan lightly with cooking spray
- In a large bowl combine chocolate chips, krispies. oats, coconut and sunflower seeds.
- In a small saucepan combine the butter and honey. Bring to a boil and boil on medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add peanut butter.
- Stir until combined and pour over your oat mixture. The chocolate chips will melt.
- Once combined press evenly into prepared pan using wax paper.
- Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp remaining coconut.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour and then cut into bars.
- Store in a covered container in the fridge for up tp a week.
Quick notes
adapted from
Very Best Baking
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 5 minute(s)
Sounds so sweet and easy… am bookmarking this
Agreed! I also dislike the outdoors for extended periods of time. Only, I live in Alaska right now and everyone here lives, breathes, and relishes in the outdoors. My blog is full of stories about how I just don’t fit in…I definitely prefer my granola bars in front of the T.V.
Just wanted to tell you that your photos are looking amazing these days! I’m much more of an indoor granola person as well:-)
I went camping once in Arizona and almost FROZE.TO.DEATH. Do you know how cold it gets there at night? SO.COLD.
I’ll just eat my granola bars curled up in bed while thinking about that camping trip. Thankyouverymuch.
I agree with you about not being outdoorsy. I never even tried to be (well, that one time tubing….never again) but these bars look perfect! Need some rice krispies and I am set to make these!
This looks fantastic! I know the whole family will love it!
THanks!
xo
I love simple granola bars and these sure do fit the bill! I love that you use everyday ingredients that I already have in my pantry. I made these the minutes that I saw them- delicious!
uhm . . . no on the camping, hiking, fishing, hunting wild anything . . . unless it’s wildflowers we’re talkin’ about; i do not like anything that scampers or scurries about. i have NOT seen The Blair Witch Project but i DO know how it turns out . . . not good . . . and while we’re on the subject – WHY do we pay someone to scare the buhjeezus outta us??? that one has never made sense to me – Freddy Kruger? no thank you. haunted houses? hell no thank you. pee in the pitch darkness in the woods w/my bare butt hanging out for the bears to see?? hell to the no thank you . . . these granola bars, on the other hand, why yes, i’d love some thank you.
LOL you totally crack me up! Love these granola bars, and will definitely be trying them…maybe for our next camping trip. 😉
These look delicious! I am not a very big peanut butter fan, any suggestions for a substitution?