Crunchy Granola Bars

Crunchy Granola Bars

2 Cups Coconut

3 Cups Oats*

3 Cups Puffed Brown Rice

1/2 Cup Ground Flax

1 Cup Crushed Pecans

2 1/2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

* * * *

1 Cup Butter

1/3 Cup Maple Syrup

1/3 Cup Dark Corn Syrup

1/3 Cup Honey

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

* * * *

1 Cup FrozenChocolate Chips

*If you don't tolerate normal oats, use the certified gluten free ones.  You can buy them at most health food stores OR in the 'My Picks' section of this Blog (at the upper right hand side of the blog) scroll to the Oats link to buy them.

1) Put all ingredients from first list in a Large bowl.

2) Mix all ingredients in 2nd list in a pan and heat over med-hi heat til foamy.

3) Pour Hot mixture over the ingredients in the large bowl and using a plastic or wooden spatula turn ingredients over til evenly coated in syrups and well mixed.  Let cool a few minutes.

4) At this point you can add fold in the chocolate chips.

5) Pour all of the mixture onto a large baking sheet (about 14 x 16 in) and press it evenly across the pan. Mix should be about 1/2 inch thick. (I actually like putting the chocolate chips on once flattened/Pressed on the pan, so it gives the image to my kids that there ARE LOTS OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS in these. I sprinkle them over the top and then take another pan and press them in.)

6) Bake 350 for 30 minutes or til edges look slightly golden. Let cool about 10-15 minutes then use a pizza cutter to cut them as desired. I cut them the same size as commercial granola bars. After cutting them let them cool fully.

Makes about 32