Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola and Quinoa Bars

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.