Homemade Knock Off Power Bars

I am constantly looking for some sort of quick, easy snack.

Finished Homemade Knock Off Power Bars

My criteria are that it isn't full of too much processed crap, not through the roof on sugar content, and that it will not leave my kids feeling hungry 5 minutes later.

For a couple of years my solution was Clif Bars.  They worked great in a pinch on the way to sports practice, or road trips, or even if I knew dinner was going to be much later than we were accustomed too.

However, I am tired of spending $6 a box.  I dislike the number of ingredients with which I just don't feel super comfortable.  And 1 bar is way to big of a serving size for my 10 year old.

So this year I have started making homemade snacks.  My kids are a royal pain in the butt somewhat picky about the texture and shape of said homemade snacks and will not eat them if they look like a ball of poo do not resemble something with which they are familiar. So though my husband and I have enjoyed them, I am still searching for the recipe that will become my quick, easy snack for everyone.

Enter my newly purchased cookbook Power Hungry, The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook by Camilla Saulsbury. The author gives great recipes for knock off brand name bars (including Clif, Kind, Fiber One and Nature's Valley).

The first bar I made is called a Nick Bar and it compares to Clif Bars.  Camilla gives a ton of different ways to modify the basic recipe to create new flavors, and it seems to be one of the easiest to throw together.

Ingredients for Homemade Knock Off Power Bars

I have made them twice, once with sunflower seed butter and once with peanut butter.  My kids will tolerate them in small squares (no round balls with this recipe), and they are a great snack for my husband and I as well.

Perhaps the best parts of this recipe are that I can readily identify all of the ingredients, I can make them as organic as I like, and I can throw it all together in 15 minutes.  The recipe makes 12 full sized bars, however, they are so sweet with the dates that I find a quarter to a half a bar is plenty for a serving.  These natural sugars (with the bonus of their added fiber) make a great snack to curb those processed sugar/crap cravings.

So here is Camilla's recipe for Nick Bars.  I hope that you enjoy them and if you are looking for more power bar recipes check out her book.

1 cup packed pitted, soft dates
1 cup warm water
1 1/4 cups crisp brown rice cereal
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/4 cup coarsely chopped roasted or toasted nuts or seeds (peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds)
2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed meal
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup natural, unsweetened nut or seed butter (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower)
1/3 cup honey or pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. fine sea salt
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1. Line a 9 inch square baking pan with parchment or wax paper.
2. Combine the dates and warm water in a small bowl.  Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes until the dates are soft (time will vary according to the dryness of the dates).  Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Stir together the cereal, oats, nuts or seeds, flaxseed meal, and cinnamon in a large bowl.

4. Place the dates in a food processor.  Using pulses, process until finely chopped.  Add to the bowl with the cereal.

5. In a small saucepan, combine the nut or seed butter and honey.  Heat over medium-low heat, stirring, for 2 to 4 minutes until the mixture is melted and bubbly.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.
6. Immediately pour the honey mixture over the cereal mixture, mixing with a spatula until coated.  Gently stir in the chocolate chips.

7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan.  Place a large piece of parchment or wax paper atop the bar mixture and use it to spread, flatten, and very firmly compact the mixture evenly in the pan.  Cool at least 1 hour till firmly set.
8. Using the liner, lift the mixture from the pan and transfer to to a cutting board.  Cut into 12 bars.

Per full size bar:  Calories 195, Fat 7.5, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 41 mg, Carbs 29.8 g (Fiber 3.2 g, Sugars 19.8 g), Protein 4.9 grams


Helping you embrace Your Sensational Self

Shelley Allen, Health Coach
www.yoursensationalself.com
www.facebook.com/yoursensationalself
yoursensationalself@gmail.com
follow me on instagram @shelley_allen24
or twitter @shelleyhealth1