Peanut Butter Granola Bars

• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 ½ cups rolled oats
• ½ cup roasted salted peanuts
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

1. Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper so that some of the parchment hangs over two sides. Spray with cooking spray.
2. Add the honey, butter, and brown sugar to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Let the mixture come to a light bubble for 1 minute while stirring.
3. When the butter mixture is ready, remove it from the heat, and stir in the vanilla, salt, and peanut butter.
4. Add the oats and the peanuts to the saucepan, and stir to combine. Make sure none of the oats are dry.
5. Place all of the oat mixture in the prepared pan. Use a rubber spatula or the bottom of a greased measuring cup to press firmly the mixture into the pan very well.
6. Let this cool for about 10 minutes before sprinkling the mini chocolate chips over the top. Press the chocolate chips into the granola bars with the bottom of a measuring cup.
7. Let the granola bars cool for at least 2 hours. Lift the bars from the pan using the edges of the parchment, and place them on a cutting board. Cut into desired shape and size and serve.

Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.
o Instead of butter, you can use coconut oil.
o Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup, but the honey adheres better.
o Instead of peanut butter, you can use other nut butters or sunflower butter.