Soft and Chewy Granola Bars

Line an 8-inch square pan with two pieces of parchment paper, overlapping the sides.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, rice cereal, sesame seeds, hemp hearts, shredded coconut, and sea salt. Don't add the chocolate chips yet, they will melt.
1 cup gluten free old fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup crispy rice cereal, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons hemp hearts, ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, warm the peanut butter and honey until just melted. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
½ cup natural peanut butter, ⅓ cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pour the peanut butter honey mixture over the oat mixture. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to mix until everything is evenly coated. Mix in the mini chocolate chips.
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Transfer the granola bar mixture to the prepared pan, press down firmly with the back of a measuring cup to compact. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or until set.
Once set, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang and cut into bars with a sharp knife. Refrigerate.