Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I have made granola bars before (they're one of my favorite foods!) but I haven't found a recipe I have been totally thrilled with.....until I found this one!  It is nice and moist, but not soggy.  It has lots of flavor, but it isn't too sweet.  This will be my new granola bar treat.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

1/3 cup light brown sugar

¼ cup honey

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cups quick-cooking oats

1 cup crispy rice cereal

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips, separated (or if you don't like chocolate, uses peanut butter or white chocolate) 

Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, stir the oats and rice cereal together; set aside. In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar, honey, and butter together over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

 Pour the melted mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour in about 1/4 c. chocolate chips.  Mix a few times, but not too much or you'll get a chocolate bar.  Just enough to incorporate the chocolate thoroughly.  Pour the oat mixture into the prepared pan and press down to ensure that the ingredients are tightly compacted in the pan. Sprinkle the top evenly with the rest of the chocolate chips and press down on the top lightly with the back of a spoon.

 Cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 5 days.