Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola and Quinoa Bars
Ingredients
4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 cups plain granola or quick cook oats
1 cup Quinoa
1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/4 cup peanut butter
2 scoops whey protein powder
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup mini M&M's - optional but makes the kids devour them.
Process
Line 9x13 inch baking pan with
parchment. Leave overhand so it's easy to lift the bars out of the pan.
Combine butter, honey and brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Stir until the butter is melted.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer
until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the
heat. Mix in PB and protein powder and
vanilla
Add the granola and rice cereal and
almonds into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly
coated. Add choc chips last so they
won't melt as much.
Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly with a spatula to
evenly fill. Sprinkle the M&M's on top and press into bars.
Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and
set; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.
