The Best Recipe I've Ever Messed Up +Chewy Granola Bars

Hmm, what to call this recipe??  I kinda messed up a chewy granola bar recipe and ended up with absolutely awesome oatmeal, chocolate, peanut butter heaven!!  How is that for a name??

I've been on the lookout for a gooey, chewy granola bar recipe.  I checked out some of my favorite sites, and I should have known Heavenly Homemaker's has been on the same hunt.  She, too, wanted one with no corn syrup, and of course, she came up with one.  It is one I really want to try again so I can do it right and experience her true recipe, but oh my, am I glad I messed it up because the concoction it made was DELISH!

I will give you my "oh so good, messed up version", then I will post her chewy granola bar recipe so you can experience both.

Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Candy Bars
*it is sorta like a chocolate oatmeal no bake cookie, but extra creamy and special.  it almost reminds me of fudge, but with the added texture of the oats and occasional chewy sweetness of the dried cranberries--yum!
**I doubled her recipe

1 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil (no substitutes, this is what gives its creamy texture and flavor)
2 cups oats (not instant)
1 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries

In a medium sized saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey and coconut oil.

Remove from heat and add oats, chocolate chips and dried cranberries.  Stir until combined and chocolate chips are melted.

Spread into a 9x13 pan.  Refrigerate until hardened, about an hour.  Store in refrigerator. 

Want to know more about coconut oil and its health benefits?  Read my post about it here.

Here is Heavenly Homemaker's 

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil (or another oil of your choice)
1 cup oats
1 cup TOTAL of any combination of: sesame seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, mini chocolate chips

In a medium sized saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey and coconut oil.

Remove from heat and add one cup of oats.  Choose your favorite combination of coconut flakes, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and mini chocolate chips, to equal a total of ONE CUP. (She just got out her one cup measuring cup and poured in the ingredients until the cup was full.) Pour in and stir well.

Spread mixture into a 8x8 or 9 x 4 inch pan.

Chill for 2 hours, then cut into bars.

Wrap in plastic wrap for a quick grab and go snack!

I can't wait to try it again.  I tasted the mixture after adding the oats and before adding the last cup of my "combination" and it was peanut buttery goodness.  I "messed" this recipe up by adding so many chocolate chips and not enough of the other fillers.  They melted right away (even though I let the mixture cool quite awhile) and completely changed the peanut butter flavor to a rich and creamy chocolate-y flavor.  Next time if I add any chocolate chips, it will be just a few and maybe sprinkled on top so they won't melt into the batter.

I hope this post was not confusing, because I am so very excited about both recipes!  I know I will be making the first one on a regular basis, and I'll let you know how I do when I re-try the chewy granola bar recipe.
This post is linked to:
Toot Your Horn Tuesday @ A Silly Little Sparrow
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed By Grace
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple