Healthy, Homemade Chewy Granola Bars with Rice Cereal
Tina BevkThese Chewy Granola Bars with Rice Cereal are perfect for having easy, homemade snacks on hand for busy days. They’re sweet, crunchy, and have the right balance of chewy and crisp, and my kids love them as an after-school snack. You can make a big batch to last the whole week (or two).
This recipe makes 20 bars, and I personally love making these granola bars during the back-to-school season for healthy snacks! They’re also perfect for adding to holiday gift baskets or as a homemade treat for events like Easter or Thanksgiving. Since they’re so easy to make in batches, I always have a batch ready for parties, picnics, or even to pack for road trips!
If you’re looking for more delicious homemade snacks, be sure to check out my Sourdough Discard Key Lime Ricotta Cookies and Sourdough Discard Banana Bread! Both are the best ways to use sourdough discard!
Ingredients
- Butter: Adds richness and helps bind the ingredients together for a smooth, chewy texture.
- Honey: Provides natural sweetness and a sticky consistency, helping to hold the bars together.
- Brown Sugar: Brings a deep, molasses-like sweetness that complements the honey.
- Peanut/Almond Butter: Adds creaminess and a nutty flavor, balancing the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Cinnamon: Adds a warm, cozy spice that enhances the overall flavor of the bars.
- Vanilla Extract: Gives a hint of sweetness and depth, rounding out the flavor profile.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and brings a subtle balance to the sweetness.
- Oats: Provide a hearty, chewy texture and make the bars more filling.
- Rice Cereal: Adds crunch and lightness, giving the bars their signature crispy texture.
- Mixed Seeds: Adds extra crunch, nutrients, and a slight earthy flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Chewy Granola Bars with Rice Cereal
In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the butter, honey, and brown sugar, stirring until it starts to bubble. Take it off the heat. Stir in the peanut or almond butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined.
Add the oats, then the rice cereal and seeds. Mix until evenly coated. Transfer to a parchment-lined loaf pan (9×13).
Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Fold the parchment over and press down firmly.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm, then slice into bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Serve and enjoy!
Tip: Add your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruits for extra variety.
Hint: For the best texture, make sure to firmly press the mixture into the pan before refrigerating. This will help the bars set properly and hold together when you slice them!
Substitutions & Variations
- If you don’t have peanut butter, you can use peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter depending on your taste or allergies.
- For seeds, you can swap the mixed seeds for sunflower seeds, chia seeds, or pumpkin seeds.
- For other add-ins, throw in some dried fruit like raisins or cranberries, or even sprinkle some chocolate chips into the mixture for a bit of extra sweetness.
💭Crucial Success Tips
- Don’t Rush the Cooling Process: Let the bars set in the fridge for at least an hour or two. If you skip this, they might fall apart when you try to slice them.
- Press Firmly: When pressing the mixture into the pan, use a little extra pressure to make sure everything sticks together well. A flat-bottomed glass or spoon works great for this!
FAQ
Yes! Chocolate chips, dried fruit, or even coconut flakes are great add-ins. Feel free to get creative with what you have on hand.
Yes! You can replace the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
Rice cereal gives the bars their signature crunch, but you can substitute it with other cereals like cornflakes or oat flakes if you prefer.
Chewy Granola Bars with Rice Cereal
Equipment
- 1 Loaf pan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp peanut or almond butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups rice cereal
- 1/4 cup mixed seeds
Instructions
- In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the butter, honey, and brown sugar, stirring until it starts to bubble. Take it off the heat. Stir in the peanut or almond butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined.
- Add the oats, then the rice cereal and seeds. Mix until evenly coated. Transfer to a parchment-lined loaf pan (9×13).
- Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Fold the parchment over and press down firmly.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm, then slice into bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
How To Store Chewy Granola Bars with Rice Cereal
Keep these bars in the fridge, put them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. They’re perfect for grab-and-go snacks!
You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Just thaw them in the fridge for a few hours when you’re ready to enjoy them.
Author: Tina Bevk
Tina, from the blog “Stretch and Folds,” balances motherhood and a passion for sourdough baking. Based in Slovenia, she offers practical sourdough tips and recipes, bridging European and American baking styles. Her blog simplifies sourdough for busy families, focusing on easy, nutritious sourdough recipes.
Rice cereal takes the bars to the next level.