S'more Granola Bars

Source: The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion

4 cups (14 ounces) rolled oats
4 cups (4 1/2 ounces) Rice Krispies cereal
3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter
1/4 cup (2 ounces) water
1/2 cup (5 1/2 ounces) corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups (6 ounces) miniature marshmallows (I used a bit less)
1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) chocolate chips (I used a scant cup)

Preheat oven to 425º. Lightly grease a half-sheet (18x13-inch) pan, or two 9x13-inch pans. (I used 2 9x13-inch pans to toast the oats, but one 9x13-inch pan for the bars. I also lined them with tin foil -much less mess this way, especially since these pans are used later to press the bars into.)

Place the oats on the prepared pan(s). Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent edges from burning. They won't brown, but should begin to smell toasty. Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the oats to a bowl and add the cereal.

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, water, corn syrup, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, or until the temperature reaches 250º on a candy thermometer. Remove the syrup from the heat and pour it over the oats and cereal, tossing to combine. Add 1 1/2 cups of the marshmallows and stir again until well combined.

Place the mixture on the prepared pan, patting it flat. Press the mixture into the pan; using the lightly greased back of another half-sheet pan works well. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups marshmallows and the chocolate chips.

Bake the bars for 4 to 5 minutes, until the marshmallows have puffed an are slightly brown. Remove the bars from the oven and cool for about 10 minutes on a rack. Cut into squares while still warm. The easiest way to do this is to use a baker's bench knife to cut the bars into long strips while still in the pan, then transfer each strip to a cutting board to cut into bars.

Yield: 48 squares

Nutrition Information (1 bar, 28g): 110 calories, 4g fat, 2g protein, 6g complex carbohydrates, 11g sugar, 1g dietary fiber, 5mg cholesterol, 95mg sodium, 45mg potassium, 90RE vitamin A, 1mg vitamin C, 3mg iron, 55mg calcium, 44mg phosphorous, 4mg caffeine.