Let’s start 2015 off with a wholesome, satisfying, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, dense, and chewy energy bar. I have always been a perpetual snacker- I purposely leave room at mealtimes just so that I have room to snack. Healthy treats with various whole grains, nuts, seeds, and natural sweeteners are my usual preferred snacks and these slightly adapted chewy almond butter bars from Maria Speck’s Ancient Grains for Modern Meals fit the bill for my ideal snack. These delightful bars are comprised of oats, brown rice crisps, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, dried fruit, and bound together with a blend of almond butter and honey. They are mostly no-bake (oven is used at the beginning just to toast the oats and seeds) and come together in minutes. Happy New Year!
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 cup brown rice crisps cereal
- ¼ cup currants
- ¼ cup chopped dried apricots
- ¼ golden raisins
- ¼ cup creamy almond butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- On a large rimmed baking sheet, evenly spread oats, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Bake for 8-10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until mixture is toasty and fragrant. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the flax seeds, cereal, currents, apricots, and raisins. Stir with a wooden spoon until combined.
- In a small saucepan, stir the the almond butter, coconut sugar, honey, and sea salt together over medium-low heat until sugar and salt are dissolved, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in vanilla.
- Working quickly, pour the almond butter mixture over the oat mixture and mix together until thoroughly combined. Use the back of a rubber spatula or lightly oiled hands to press the mixture firmly into prepared pan. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes, before cutting into bars. Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature in an air-tight container.
