No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

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The school year is well underway, which also unfortunately means that the germs are spreading like crazy. My husband is a teacher, so that means he's surrounded by adorable children (as well at their germs) all day, every day. Eating healthy snacks (like these No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars) and washing hands often obviously helps a lot, but by incorporating Centrum® vitamins and Chapstick into his daily routine, he's getting that extra boost of vitamins he needs to get through this season!

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars Recipe at artsyfartsymama.com #Healthy4School

By taking the Centrum MultiGummies daily, my husband and I are supporting our immunity, energy, and metabolism. Plus, getting to have gummies everyday definitely makes you feel like a kid for a minute or two!

New Centrum® MultiGummies® for Men and Women. So advanced, they have more Vitamin D3 than any other men’s or women’s gummy*

*Among leading men’s and women’s gummy multivitamins.

Here in Utah the air is already dry, but in winter it's even drier. My lips get super chapped with the air conditions, so my go-to Chapstick flavor is always the Classic Medicated because of the way it moisturizes & softens for smooth lips everyday. It's literally Skincare for lips™!

You can find Centrum MultiGummies vitamins and any flavor of Chapstick in the health section at Walmart. You can also grab all the ingredients to make some No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars while you're there!

These granola bars are great snacks or fast breakfasts. They’re nut-free, so they'll be safe for bringing to school. Plus, making them homemade is less expensive than getting them from grocery store. Did I mention that you can throw these together in less than 10 minutes? Yep. Have I convinced you to try these yet? Because you totally need to.

Start with some crispy rice cereal and some quick cook oats and mix them together in a large mixing bowl. Meanwhile in a saucepan, melt some butter, brown sugar and honey together on medium to medium-high heat until it starts to bubble. Once's it's a steady simmer, lower the heat and let it cook for another 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for about 5 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cools, which is important for these granola bars to work!

Pour the liquid mixture into the bowl of oats and cereal and combine together with a rubber spatula until all the oats and cereal are coated. Since it will still be a little warm, wait a minute or two before stirring in the chocolate chips so that they don't melt.

Put all the granola bar mixture into an ungreased 8x8 glass baking pan. Pack down the granola bars into the pan so that they will stick together. Don't worry, they'll still be delightfully chewy and delicious! Grab a handful of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks and sprinkle them on the top of the granola bars and lightly press them down so they stick well.

Let the bars cool, then cut them into 10-12 bars. You can even double that by cutting those in half to make smaller bars!

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars
Makes: 10-12 bars
Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups quick cook oats
1 cup crispy rice cereal
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips or chunks, or 1/8 cup each

Directions:
1. Stir oats and rice cereal together in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Melt butter, honey and brown sugar together in a small pot over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool for about 5 minutes (it will thicken as it cools).
3. Pour honey mixture over dry ingredients and mix well to coat all of the oats and rice cereal. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Place granola bar mixture into a glass 8x8 baking pan and press firmly to pack it together really well.
5. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips and/or chocolate chunks onto the top and press down lightly.
6. Cool granola bars in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or on a countertop for two hours.
7. Use a knife to cut into 10-12 bars.

The granola bars can get too dry if they are left out. To keep them better longer, wrap bars in parchment paper or plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Store at room temperature to enjoy anytime, or place them in the fridge to enjoy in a lunch box.