The Best Friends Granola Bars
Meet your new go-to snack: The Best Friends Granola Bars, a perfect blend of chewy, crunchy, and naturally sweet goodness! Packed with wholesome rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, and a medley of crunchy almonds and walnuts, these bars are effortlessly balanced by bursts of tangy dried cranberries and indulgent mini chocolate chips. A luscious mixture of honey, creamy peanut butter, and warm brown sugar brings everything together, while a hint of vanilla ties in a comforting touch. Ready in just 20 minutes, these homemade granola bars are baked to golden perfection, making them a heartwarming treat to share with your friends—or to savor all by yourself. Whether you’re looking for a snack to fuel your busy days, a lunchbox favorite, or a crowd-pleaser for weekend gatherings, this recipe delivers a soft, satisfying bite every time.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- 0.5 cup chopped almonds
- 0.5 cup chopped walnuts
- 0.5 cup dried cranberries
- 0.25 cup mini chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup honey
- 0.25 cup peanut butter (or almond butter)
- 0.25 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting later. Lightly grease the parchment paper with non-stick spray or butter.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, chopped almonds, chopped walnuts, and dried cranberries. Stir together until well blended.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the honey, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Stir constantly until the mixture is smooth and just starts to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
Pour the warm honey mixture over the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. Use a spatula to mix everything together thoroughly until evenly coated.
Let the granola mixture cool slightly, then gently fold in the mini chocolate chips (this prevents them from melting too much).
Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing it down firmly and evenly using the back of a spatula or your hands (lightly greased).
Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Do not overbake, as they will firm up as they cool.
Let the granola bars cool completely in the pan before removing them using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into 12 rectangular bars or your preferred shape.
Store the granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or refrigerate for longer shelf life. Enjoy with your best friends!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3371 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 143.4 g | 184% | |
| Saturated Fat | 18.5 g | 92% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1063 mg | 46% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 470.2 g | 171% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 43.1 g | 154% | |
| Total Sugars | 219.3 g | ||
| Protein | 85.9 g | 172% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 459 mg | 35% | |
| Iron | 30.8 mg | 171% | |
| Potassium | 2425 mg | 52% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
