Chewy Granola Bars

I've been meaning to make my own granola bars for years now, and whenever the urge strikes I seem to be missing one or two key ingredients. I finally decided to go out and buy what I needed, and see how hard it really was. These were super easy to make, and so good! The recipe I printed out a couple of years ago, and says they store for a week in an airtight container. I highly doubt these will last a week at the rate I keep snacking on them.

Easy Granola Bars
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned or regular rolled oats
- 1/2 cup whole almonds, coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or any other dried fruit)
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, plus a few tbsp's for sprinkling on top

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of 8 or 9 inch square pan with aluminium foil and lightly oil.

Spread oats and almonds on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, stir and bake another 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to large bowl.

Combine butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until butter melts and sugar is completely dissolved. Pour butter mixture into bowl with oats. Mix well. Let cool about 5 minutes then add fruit and chocolate chips. Stir to combine. It's okay if the chocolate melts a little, it will help bind the bars.

Transfer mixture to lined pan and using a rubber spatula or damp finger tips press firmly into the pan. Scatter chocolate chips over top and use rubber spatula to press gently into the top. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Remove block from pan, peel away foil and cut into 12 bars.

Store in an airtight container as long as they last (up to one week). I've been storing in the refrigerator and they are still pretty chewy and soft.