Homemade Granola Bars - Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, Sports

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 cups low-fat granola mix (not cereal)
1/2 cup sweetened flake coconut
1/2 cup golden raisins
3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Instructions

1.  Combine brown sugar, honey, vanilla and butter in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat; simmer 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Cool.

2.  Meanwhile, combine granola, coconut, raisins, 1/2 cup chocolate chips and almonds in a large bowl.

3.  Stir brown sugar mixture into granola mixture. Spread in a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan. Press remaining chocolate chips into top. Refrigerate 2 hours or until completely cooled. Cut into bars.

TIP: Try chocolate covered raisins, dried cranberries, or a different kind of nut to replace some of the basic ingredients. Let your kids get creative! For double duty, the granola bars can also be crumbled as a topping for ice cream.