• Parenting
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Tween & Teen
  • Beauty
  • Health & Fitness
  • Relationships
  • Organizing
• Fun
  • Crafts
  • Games
  • Parties
  • Travel
• Food
• Guides
• Gear
• Contests

Servings

Prep Time

Ingredients

• 2 cups quick cooking oats, toasted
• 1 cup crisp rice cereal, brown if possible
• 1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, divided in half
• 1/2 cup dried tart or sweet cherries
• 4 tbsp salted butter
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup runny honey
• 1/2 tsp almond extract

Directions

1. Lightly coat an 8” x 12” or 9” x 11” casserole dish, cake pan, food storage container with cooking spray or butter and set aside.

2. In a large, dry, skillet over medium heat, toast the quick oats until lightly golden; stirring or tossing constantly so as not to burn. Once toasted, tip out of pan into a large bowl.

3. Add the crisp rice, ¼ cup of the chocolate chips, and the cherries, stir to blend, and set aside.

4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, brown sugar, and honey, stirring often, until the butter has melted and the ingredients are well blended – about 2 minutes – continue to heat and stir until the butter mixture is bubbling slightly; about another 2 minutes.

5. Remove from heat, add almond extract and stir to blend well.

6. Pour the warm butter mixture into the dry oat mixture and stir until evenly mixed and coated. Now add the rest of the chocolate chips and continue to mix until evenly incorporated.

7. Press the mixture into the greased dish evenly and very firmly; loosely packed bars tend to crumble when cool.

8. Set bars aside for about 2 hours at room temperature. Once cool, run a knife around the edges, flip the uncut bars out onto a cutting board to cut; the shape and size is up to you. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.