What happens when you combine blondies and a granola bar? Backpacker bars! You thought I was going to say blondola bars didn’t you?
I believe the fine folks at Betty Crocker dubbed these “backpacker bars” because a) they give you “energy” on a camping journey through the wilderness and b) they make a great backpack snack for the kiddies. We can debate the accuracy of these assumptions, including if peanuts, chocolate, sugar and flour really make for lasting “energy” or a good “snack,” but one thing that is not up for debate on this blog: oatmeal + chocolate + peanuts = delicious.
Like I said, these are a cross between a blondie and a granola bar. They are thick and chewy and packed with oatmeal, peanuts and chocolate chips.
Something about the oatmeal sprinkled on top says “I’m healthy!”
Then there’s those chocolate chips that say “I’m a treat!”
And then you eat them and decide that you are too progressive to put labels on deliciousness.
The “secret” ingredient in these bars is the Golden Grahams cereal. I never have that in my pantry though. Instead I use Teddy Grahams or graham crackers.
Backpacker Bars
by Betty Crocker
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Golden Grahams® cereal
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
3/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
Directions
Heat oven to 350ºF. Crush cereal (or teddy grahams, or graham crackers). Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cereal, 3/4 cup oats, the baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir in 3/4 cup of the peanuts and 2/3 cup of the chocolate chips.
Spread in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup peanuts, remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons oats.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Adventures of a Hungry Redhead 
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