Cereal Granola Bars

I was searching around the blog world and saw this recipe for cereal granola bars on In Cindy's Kitchen.  I was determined that I was going to make them and not just save the recipe forever.  I had all the ingredients in the house and we needed a yummy snack.  Since we were running low on eggs, I thought this was the best solution for a snack that was also a treat.  I pulled out all the ingredients and measured everything out before I went to pick my son up from school. 

I thought that it would be a nice cooking activity for us to do together (especially if all the measuring was out of the way).  I put away everything that was already measured so that little hands didn't dig through the boxes.

When we got home, I melted the butter in the pot and my little guy add the marshmallows (after taste testing a few for himself).

After everything melted, my little guy added the honey.  I scrapped out the measuring cup a little for what didn't come out.  I did use non-stick spray on the measuring cup first so most of it did come out.  Can you see my sunglasses on the counter?  We really did just walk in the door and he was straight to the kitchen to start cooking.

I removed the pan from heat and I dumped in the cereal and then the chocolate.

I lined the jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper and greased it with the butter left on the butter wrapper.

Then, I used the butter wrapper to press the bars into the pan.  They didn't have a lot of M & Ms on top and I thought my son would like them if that had a few so I pressed a few on the top.

I cut them into bars and squares.

I put them into the container and reused the parchment paper to separate the layers so that they wouldn't stick together.  Isn't that neat?  I love not wasting the expensive parchment paper.

Final review, I really enjoyed them.  If I was making them just for me, I would not use the M & Ms.  It is a little too much chocolate for me.  I don't like the idea of chocolate and raisins so I would try it with just raisins or dried cranberries next time but I knew that my husband and son would not be interested in those two options.  I think that my son liked the chocolate better than the whole bar and picked out all of the chocolate just like he eats the store bought granola bars.  My husband seemed averse to the coconut but didn't saw why he wasn't a big fan of them.  I like them but it is a huge portion to make for just me, even though this is half of the original recipe.  I hope that your family likes them but matching lots of different tastes is hard unless you mix the toppings in after the fact.  I hope that you do try them and let me know what you think!!!

Below is the recipe that I followed and please check out the original post for how Cindy made them too!!

Cereal Cookie Bars

4 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal
3 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup cornflakes

1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 packages miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1/4 cup M&M's

In a large bowl, combine the cereal, oats, cornflakes and coconut; set aside.

In a large saucepan, cook and stir the marshmallows and butter over low heat until melted and smooth. Stir in honey. Remove from heat.  Pour cereal mixture into pot; stir until coated. Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms. If you don't want any melting, cool for 5 minutes prior.

Press into greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. (jelly roll) pan.  (I lined with parchment and greased with butter package)  Press down mixture with butter wrapper or greased plastic bag.

Cool for 30 minutes before cutting. If not patient, refrigerate and then cut!!

Shared on Homemade Mondays and Healthy Tuesdays