Healthy Cranberry Pecan Granola Bars

every time our family heads down the cereal bar aisle in the grocery store, my kids eyes become fixated on the chocolate chip granola bars, especially the ones covered in chocolate.  i can't really blame them, my eyes do the same thing.  but even as i walk away, they can still be found nose to the box and just looking, wishing and willing the box to come home with us.

so in an effort to make up for bailing on that purchase, i decided to make my own healthier version of a granola bar.  sure these ones don't have chocolate and aren't dipped in chocolate, but what they do have is peanut butter, pecans, cranberries and honey to sweeten them. #winning #healthy #ilovepeanutbutter

Cranberry-Pecan Granola Bars

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup Quaker quick oats
1 cup Rice Krispies
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 tsp vanilla

Method:
In large bowl combine peanut butter and honey and microwave for 30 seconds to soften.  Stir in vanilla.  Add in oats and rice cereal and combine.  Fold in pecans and cranberries.
Pour mixture into parchment lined 9-inch square baking dish, pressing down firmly.  Refridgerate for 30 minutes before cutting into bars.
Store in air-tight container in fridge.

Yields: 12 bars
Adapted from my Oatmeal, Coconut, Graham Cracker Snack Bites