Healthy Energy Bars

Are you ready for some delicious energy bars made with good ingredients that will boost your motivation? Look no further!

 Here is a recipe I've been tweaking for the last several months. The original recipe is here, but when I tried to make it as directed, I ended up with a huge mess, because everything was supposed to be made in a food processor and mine wasn't large enough. So I've figured out a work around plus have changed several of the ingredients. The resulting Energy Bars are delicious and healthy. Although they use some ingredients that cost a little more, they are much cheaper than store-bought energy bars, plus you can control what you put in them.

Here's how to make your own:

1. Cut up (with food processor or by hand) 1/2 cup each of dates and dried fruit (I chose dried mango). Transfer into a mixing bowl.

2. Add 1/2 cup flax seed, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup oats.

3. Then add 1/4 cup flour, 1/3 cup coconut, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 1/2 cup raisins. (You can substitute any of these with something similar.)

4. Next add 1/3 cup powdered milk, 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, 1 tsp cinnamon. Mix all the dry ingredients. And although the photo shows 1 tsp. vanilla, it's better to mix in with the next step with the wet ingredients.

 5. Add wet ingredients: 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup), 1/4 cup chia seeds (not actually wet, can be added up above!), 2 eggs.

6. Mix all together then put into buttered 13 x 9 pan. Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

 7. Smear chocolate chips with spatula, if desired. Cool, and cut. Good for a week or so on the counter, covered. These also freeze really well.

Note: most of the ingredients can be substituted with something similar.

Yum!

HEALTHY ENERGY BARS
(original recipe here)

Makes 20 bars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prep 13 x 9 baking pan by buttering it (or spraying it)
3. Chop In a food processor or dice by hand:

• 1/2 cup dates
• 1/2 cup dried fruit (e.g. dried mango, dried cherries)

4. Put into mixing bowl (if you have a large enough food processor (10-cup or bigger), then just add following ingredients and chop). Add the following:

• 1/2 cup ground flax seed (or wheat germ)
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup oats
• 1/4 cup flour (your choice)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened grated coconut (could also add or sub a banana)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup raisins (or craisins)
• 1/3 cup powdered milk
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chia seeds (optional)
• 1 tsp cinnamon

5. Mix and then add wet ingredients:

• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
• 2 eggs

6. Mix all together and then spread into pan.

7. If desired, sprinkle some chocolate chips on top.

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

9. If desired, smear melted chocolate chips with a spatula to create a chocolate coating.

10. Cool and cut. 

11. These store for about a week at room temperature. Or put into snack bags and put into the freezer--grab for a quick and easy energy boost any time of the day!