No-Bake Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars (vegan, gluten-free)

INGREDIENTS

2/3

cup light corn syrup (brown rice syrup to keep vegan or honey may be substituted)

heaping 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup

light brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup

unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp

vanilla extract

1/2 tsp

salt, optional and to taste

2 cups

quick cook oats (Quaker, Bob’s, or similar; don’t use whole-rolled oats, pulse/grind briefly if that’s what you have)

2 cups

crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies, Erewhon, or similar)

1 cup

mini semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, divided