CHEWY NO-BAKE GRAIN AND OAT BARS

Chewy No-Bake Grain and Oat Bars image

Provided by Liesel Davis

Yield Makes 15

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more
4 cups mixed unsweetened puffed grain cereal (such as corn, rice, kamut, and/or millet)
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups dried fruit, nuts, seeds, unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes, and/or chocolate chips, chopped if large
1/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup creamy nut butter (such as cashew, almond, or peanut)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

Butter a 13x9" baking dish. Toss puffed cereals, oats, and dried fruits, nuts, seeds and/or coconut (all mix-ins except chocolate chips) in a large bowl with your hands to evenly distribute.
Bring brown sugar, honey, salt, and 4 Tbsp. butter to a boil in a small saucepan and let cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in nut butter and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over puffed rice mixture and stir with a large rubber spatula until everything is evenly coated. If using chocolate chips, let mixture cool about 5 minutes before mixing in.
Scrape mixture into prepared dish and press and compact down into an even layer with buttered hands. Let cool at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.
Do Ahead
Bars can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.