Easy Granola Bars

This recipe is quick, easy, and amazingly delicious. I adore cooking foods that are typically store-bought, because I can make them the way I want. I like lots of dried fruit and nuts in my granola bars, but in the store it seems all I can find are chocolate and candy-loaded kind. These bars have lots of whole grains and nutrition packed in every bite.

Granola Bars the Easy Way

6 cups prepared granola
5 cups mini marshmallows
6 tbsp butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
1-3 cups *dried fruit, any kind, chopped
1-3 cups *nuts, any kind
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon

1) In a large microwave-safe bowl, put the marshmallows, butter, honey, and peanut butter. Set aside.
2) Mix together the granola, fruit and nuts, and spices in a second even larger bowl.
3) Prepare a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat, or lots of cooking spray.
4) Melt the marshmallow mixture in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir. If there is still unmelted butter, give it 30 more seconds. Add to the granola mixture and stir to combine. It will get very sticky and stiff, so make sure you have a good spoon.
5) Spread the granola bars out onto the prepared cookie sheet and chill for at least 15 minutes to set. Cut into pieces and adore. You can individually wrap in parchment or plastic wrap if desired. They will keep for several weeks at room temperature or in the fridge. Makes 20-40 bars, depending on how big you cut them.

*Notes: The nuts and fruit can be modified to anything you like. If you are a chocolate or candy person, feel free to add chocolate chips, coconut, or M&M's. Other variations that would be really good would be to melt a little chocolate and drizzle it over the top when done, or a simple glaze would be good too. If you have a nut allergy, the peanut butter can be completely omitted and the nuts replaced with chocolate, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, more dried fruit, or just left out.