Valentine S’more Granola Bars

After Christmas, I picked up a bag of pink & green marshmallows for 10 cents.  They are vanilla flavored and I figured I could use the pink ones for Valentine’s Day… and the green for St. Patrick’s Day.  I’m frugal… what can I say. 

These pink marshmallows basically said… make me in to s’more granola bars.  So I did. 

This is a simple, no-bake recipe that comes together in minutes.  I’ve made it once before and they were way too sweet.  This time, I tried Lauren’s recommendations of making them using plain oats rather than granola as the original recipe states. 

The result was a much better bar – and the combination of marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs and dark chocolate chips make these a wonderful snack or dessert.  Perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat! 

Valentine S’more Granola Bars – Adapted from Lauren’s Latest

Ingredients

• 1/4 C butter
• 1/4 C honey
• 1/3 C brown sugar
• 2 C quick cooking oats {you can use up to 1/2 C old fashioned oats}
• 1 C brown rice krispies {or regular}
• 1-2 T finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 C marshmallows, diced
• 3ish T dark chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the 2 C oats, 1 C krispies and ~2 T of crushed graham cracker crumbs. 

Prep the mix ins (marshmallows and chocolate chips), then set the mix aside.   

Next lightly spray an 11x7 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper. 

Then, combine the butter, honey and brown sugar in a saucepan. 

Heat until the mixture boils, stirring constantly.  Reduce the heat & simmer for 2 minutes.  Then, add the vanilla and stir well. 

Drizzle the honey mixture over the oat mixture.  Stir to combine until the ingredients are moist, and then stir in the marshmallows.

Press the mixture into the greased or lined 11x7 baking dish until the bars are about 3/4 inch thick.

Don’t be afraid… really pack these bars down!  A lightly greased or damp hand or rolling pin works well to do this. 

Then, sprinkle the dark chocolate chips over the top of the granola bars …

…and pat those down too. 

Cool for two hours at room temperature.  Then, slice and serve.  Makes about 14 bars.

 
Store extras in an airtight container at room temperature.