Banana Bread

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

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Drescription

These easy-to-make homemade granola bars are inspired by the flavors of a classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. But feel free to vary the mix-ins to your preference. We tested several sticky sweeteners, including maple syrup and honey, but found brown rice syrup held the bars together the best.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal, preferably made with brown rice
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup brown rice syrup
  • ½ cup tahini
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving extra parchment hanging over two sides. Lightly coat the parchment with cooking spray.
  2. Combine oats, cereal, chocolate chips, pecans and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Combine rice syrup, tahini and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds (or heat in a saucepan over medium heat for 1 minute). Add to the dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and firmly press into the pan with the back of a spatula.
  4. For chewier bars, bake until barely starting to color around the edge and still soft in the middle, 20 to 25 minutes. For crunchier bars, bake until golden brown around the edge and somewhat firm in the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. (Both will still be soft when warm and firm up as they cool.)
  5. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then, using the parchment to help you, lift out of the pan onto a cutting board (it will still be soft). Cut into 24 bars, then let cool completely without separating the bars, about 30 minutes more. Once cool, separate into bars.
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