Energy Bars

ENERGY BARS

Store bought varieties are often high in sugar and can be expensive. Follow this guide to create more nutritious versions at home.

Sourced from: Experience Life Magazine, Recipe by: Kaelyn Riley

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1 cup Nuts and seeds: select from the following: almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelenuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds or cashews

• ⅓ cup flour: select from the following: almond, oat or all-purpose (I use oat-- just use a food processor and turn it to flour)

• 2-3 tsp. Ground Spices or FLavorings: cinnaomon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cacao powder

• ½ cup Dried Fruits: Cranberries, raisins, figs, dried blueberries, cacao nibs

• ¼ cup Purees and spreads: nut butter, mashed banana, pumpkin puree, unsweetened applesauce

• 1 T Extracts and Juices: citrus juice, vanilla extract, almond extract

• 1 T Liquid Sweeteners: maple syrup, honey, agave, molasses or brown rice syrup

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ cup dates

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a 13 X 9 inch baking dish with parchment paper

2. Place Oats, nuts in a food processor and pulse several times

3. Put into a bowl Add flour, spices, flavorings and salt to Oat/nut bowl and stir

4. Place dates in a food processor or blender and process until they form a paste

5. Add fruits, purees, sweeteners to dates and process until combined

6. Add ½ of oat and nut mixture to a food processor and process. Add remaining nut mixture and process again.

7. Scrape mixture into prepared baking dish. Use a second piece of parchment paper to firmly press mixture into bars.

8. Bake 25-30 minutes, until slightly golden edges.

9. Let the dish cool 10 minutes- Place on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing into bars.

10. Store in airtight container for one week or in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Freeze for up to 3 months.