Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Dry ingredients
2 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup dates, chopped or 1/2 cup any dried fruit
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped or 1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
Sugar mixture
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tablespoon molasses (optional)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Final addition
1/2 cup butterscotch chips or 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preparation

Prepare a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients so they are ready for the hot sugar mixture.
In a sauce pan, make sugar mixture. Combine brown sugar, corn syrup and optional molasses; bring to a full boil and allow to boil 1 MINUTE. Turn down heat and add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring quickly until smooth.
Work quickly - pour the hot sugar mixture over dry ingredients and use two wooden spoons to thoroughly combine ingredients. Stir in chips LAST so they don't melt in the hot mixture.
Press mixture very firmly into prepared pan. Keep pressing down until your bars are dense in order to keep them from crumbling later when you cut them.
When cool, use a sharp knife to cut into 18 bars (1 cut lengthwise and then 9 cuts across).