"Food Storage" Granola Bars (No-Bake) **

I'm slowly starting to remove some of the processed food in our meals.  I will never be able to get us 100% clean-eating, since hubby and I both work full-time and go to school as well, but I am making the start to try to move us that way a little at a time.  Of course, these still use Rice Crispies, but oh well.  At least I know most of the ingredients that go into the bars.  As for the bars themselves, the taste is phenomenal.  We all loved them.  I just couldn't get them to stick into bars, though.  No matter how thick I made them, they fell apart.  I am going to look into some other recipes online and see what the differences are.  If nothing else, maybe I can just cut back the oats a little bit.  I love the idea of a healthier version of granola bars to keep around, though.  I definitely don't want to give up on the idea.

Photo from Pennies & Pancakes

"FOOD STORAGE" GRANOLA BARS (NO-BAKE)
(Pennies & Pancakes via Pinterest)
*Makes 28 bars

1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar 
1/4 cup peanut butter (crunchy)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
4 cups Quick Oats (not rolled oats)
2 cups crispy rice cereal
3 teaspoons vanilla

In a large bowl, stir crispy rice cereal, quick oats together.
In a medium saucepan, combine honey, butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then bring the temperature down to low, and simmer till sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Pour in vanilla and stir.
Pour the hot mixture over dry ingredients. Stir until all ingredients are moistened. Press into a parchment-lined jelly roll pan.
Pack the granola bar mixture as closely and as tightly together as you possibly can into one end of the pan at about 1/2-3/4 inch thickness.Any thinner, and the bars will not hold together. Let cool on the counter till they reach room temperature.
Cut into bars (I did 4 X 7). Wrap in plastic or store in a ziplock bag.
*OP's Notes: You may add chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, coconut, etc. if desired. If adding chocolate chip, press them into the top of the bars after you've packed the very warm granola mixture into the pan. Otherwise, you'll end up with a melted chocolate-swirled mess. My family loves this recipe as is, but if you find they don't hold their form as well as you'd like, you can store them in the refrigerator.