I know I should begin with an introduction of some type since this is my first time posting on MFP, however that makes me feel like an awkward, insecure teenage girl trying to convince people to like me and my blog, My Kitchen Escapades. So instead, I will just have to win you over with my recipes because my food does a better job of convincing people to like me than my personality. Honestly.
- Food…..and mountains of it! — Not only are you feeding your family but also the endless supply of friends and neighbors who know you keep mountains of food at your house.
- Entertainment — This comes in so many different forms depending on a child’s age and interests, but it all boils down to one critical point: if your kids get bored, they come and find YOU!!!
- Work — Everyone home 24/7 = Everything a mess 24/7 if everyone doesn’t do their part to survive.
- Time — It can be 15 minutes or it can be a whole afternoon but those moments of time you spend together as a family is what your kids will remember when they reminisce about the Summer of 2013.

**UPDATE 3/7/14** I have received many questions about using coconut oil instead of butter, and agave instead of honey, so I created a revised recipe using those substitutions! Just click here for the instructions and tell me what you think. I can’t tell the difference! Carole
No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars
(recipe makes a 9×13 pan)
recipe by Carole Jones of My Kitchen Escapades
2 cups quick cooking oats (or pulse whole oats in a food processor a bit)
1 C rice crispy cereal
1/4 C shredded coconut
1/4 C butter
1/4 C honey
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix -In variations listed below
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, cereal and coconut. Set a small saucepan over medium high heat and melt the butter. Add the honey, brown sugar and salt. Stir together then leave it alone as it comes to a boil. Once the boil has reached all the way around the edges of the pan, begin timing. Allow this mixture to boil for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. During this time, you may need to turn the heat down a bit so it doesn’t overflow, but be sure it keeps boiling.
2. Pour the mixture over the oats, using a rubber spatula to get all the sugar mixture out of the pan. Mix the ingredients together until the oats are completely coated. Add in your desired mix-in then press very firmly into a lightly greased 9×13″ pan. If you like your bars thicker, you can use a smaller pan. If you do not press firmly enough, the bars will fall apart when you eat them. Place them in the fridge for 20 minutes then cut to size.
Chocolate Chip
Add 1/2 C of mini chocolate chips to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it cool just a bit or you will end up with melted chips. Sprinkle on a few extra chips over the top after they are pressed into the pan.
White Chocolate Cranberry
Add 1/3 C of white chocolate chips and 1/3 C of Craisins to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it to cool just a bit first or you will end up with melted chips.
Candy Bar
Add 1/3 C of Heath bar pieces, 1/3 C of mini M&M’s and 1/3 C of chopped pretzels to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.
Peanut Butter
Add 2 Tb of peanut butter to the finished sugar mixture before pouring it over the oats. Once mixed with the oats, add 1/2 C peanut butter chips before pressing into the pan.
Raisin Nut
Add 1/3 C of chopped raisins and 1/3 C of chopped pecans to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.
Here are a few more recipes you should try from Carole:
Almond Poppy Seed Coffee Cake with Almond Streusel
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I love granola bars, and this is an awesome recipe!
I love this idea! Healthier and cheaper than store bought, too! Love your photo, also, very fun! Thanks for linking at ShareAtopia! If you’d like a featured button, I have one on our about page.
Yummy! Would love you to share it at our Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party which is a summer theme this week! Visiting from the Pin Junkie link party!
I love that there are so many variations to choose from. Thx for sharing Carol!
DELICIOUS!
Sharon and Denise,
We linked back to your darling site! Thanks for hosting and see ya next week! Tracy – The Middle Child
Yum! We love granola bars in our house so these would be perfect! I can’t wait to give them a try.
Holy crap! Now Mommy makes the best granola bars! I used caramel/milk chocolate swirl chips. This is going to be a problem. I can see these as more addictive than Rice Krispie treats…
yum pinning these I have everything but the honey…on the list!
Thanks Mel. We love having Carole guest posting with us. Her recipes are trusted and amazing!
How long can you store these for?
I asked Carole and she has the same results as I have in my house. They never last longer than a week because we eat them all!
Can you sub the coconut for something else? I’m allergic to it, and I’d like to try these.
Sure, oats, sunflower seeds, cereal would all work. Enjoy!
I made these a couple days ago and they were awesome! I followed the recipe exactly for the chocolate chip version. They were pretty sweet, next time I may cut back some of the brown sugar or honey just a bit. I probably also compacted them too much, they were REALLY compact. I really smushed them down, maybe I overdid it a little! I also like thicker bars, so I made mine in an 8×8 pan, and they were all gone by the next morning. Thanks for the recipe!
Looks like a great easy to make recipe! Perfect hiking snack. Love that there’s different varieties to make too. Also…that coffee cake looks delicious! I’m gonna check out that recipe next. Thanks!
Glad you came by and gave us a look!
These are great! I’ve made them twice now, thank you!
So glad to hear it! Thanks Cassandra!
I just made these and noticed the directions didn’t actually say when to add the vanilla, so the vanilla didn’t make it in. I used dried cranberries and crushed heheath bars and they are pretty tasty!
So glad you liked them, Rachel. They make a perfect back to school treat! Crushed heath bars sound great to me.
Love the taste of the granola bars, but I’ve varied the recipe four times and I can’t seem to get them to stick together!! Any tips or tricks?
Carole says to press down really firmly. If you do not press firmly enough they will crumble when you eat them. Hopefully this will solve the problem and you can enjoy your yummy Granola Bars even more!