How about a delicious granola bar made with honey and brown sugar?  I have one for you, and I bet you'll devour them the way I do!

Though I made granola even back in high school, I had not given much thought to homemade granola bars until the past few years.  I saved (before Pinterest) a few recipes, but once I made this recipe, I did not try any others.  I like that it has oatmeal and Rice Krispies in it.  I appreciate that it has no white sugar, though to be honest I cook with white sugar all the time.  But the bottom line is that I love the texture and the taste!
Stove Top Granola Bars
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 cups quick oats (not rolled)
1 cup Rice Krispy type cereal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 heaping tablespoons mini chocolate chips

1. Lightly grease a pan-about 11x7 or 12x8.
2. Stir cereal and oats together in a large bowl and set aside.  
3. In a small saucepan, melt butter, honey, and brown sugar together over medium heat.  When it comes to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes and 15 seconds.  
4. Remove from heat.  Add vanilla and stir.  
5. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and mix very well.  
6. Spread into your prepared pan and press to be about 3/4 inch thick.  Be sure to press it very well otherwise the bars will not stay together.(If your pan is not small enough, just keep the mixture on one side and pack it there.)
7.  Let cool for at least five minutes.  Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on the pressed granola.  Using wax paper, press the chips into the granola mixture.
8.  Cut into bars when mixture has cooled, after about two hours.
9. Store bars in container with a lid in one layer or wrap individually in plastic wrap.  Keep at room temperature or freeze.  To freeze granola bars, wrap individually with plastic wrap.  Place wrapped granola bars in a freezer bag or freezer safe container and place in freezer.  To eat, thaw for a few minutes.

Chewy Granola Bar Nutritional Information

Tips:
~ The next time you have a crispy rice cereal, set aside one or two cups of the cereal in a sealed container/bag so you can make these granola bars when you want them.
~ If you prefer fruit in your granola bars, try chopped raisins or Craisins instead of mini chocolate chips.
~ If you have trouble with the bars staying together, add an extra 15-30 seconds to your cooking time.  However, the longer you cook, the less chewy the bars will be.
~ To make chocolate dipped granola bars, cook the mixture for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.  Use dipping chocolate to dip the bars once cooled completely and cut.  A friend did this for a school birthday treat, and then drizzled in chocolate as well.  Delicious!

I have been using the same granola recipe since high school.  You might want to try my sugar free granola!  (If you have seen my other recipes, you know I am not opposed to sugar, but if I can have a great recipe without it, I think that is awesome!)

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}