The PERFECT Soft Granola Bars

The PERFECT Soft Granola Bars

A great base recipe for perfect soft granola bars! These chewy homemade granola bars are amazing for snacks or school lunches. (Naturally sweetened, gluten free, vegan friendly). The PERFECT Soft Granola Bars- Made with Keystone Pantry Brown Rice Syrup- Gluten Free and Vegan. Add your own personal touch.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup crisp rice cereal
pinch salt
1/3 cup brown rice syrup
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
4 Tbsp coconut oil (can sub butter/vegan butter)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup add-ins (Mix and match! See notes below for ideas)
Instructions
Line an 8×8″ or 9×9″ baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, crisp rice, and salt. Stir to combine well.
In a small saucepan, combine brown rice syrup, maple syrup, and coconut oil. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring regularly. Boil 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla extract (or any other extracts you’re using).
Pour wet mixture over the oat mixture. Add your mix-ins (nuts, fruit, chocolate chips, etc.) and stir to combine really well. Press into an 8×8″ baking dish and press down with a spatula as hard as possible to flatten and compact it into the pan. The more compact, the better.
Refrigerate about 1 hour before slicing into bars or squares, and enjoy!

Store extra granola bars in a zip top bag in the refrigerator for a week or the freezer for up to a month.
NUTS & SEEDS (macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, peanuts, etc.)
DRIED FRUITS. (raisins, cranberries, apricots, cherries, goji berries, pineapple, mango, coconut, etc.)
FREEZE-DRIED FRUITS. (strawberries, raspberries, & blueberries, mango, peach, pineapple, etc.)
CHOCOLATE + CANDIES + EXTRAS. Chocolate chips, candy-coated chocolate pieces, mini marshmallows, crushed pretzels, etc.
EXTRACTS. 1/2-1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/4-1/2 tsp. almond extract, and 1/4 tsp. coconut extract