Pressed for time in the morning? Looking for a quick pre-run boost? Energy bars cater to a busy schedule and can provide the necessary nutrients for sustained energy. However, store-bought energy bars often come with (hidden) sugars and artificial additives. So why not make your own, using nothing but healthy ingredients?
This nutty recipe is healthy, fast and easy. And what’s more: it requires no baking at all.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup mixed nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, …)
- 1/2 cup dried fruits (dates, apricots, …)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup protein powder
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- A pinch of sea salt
Rolled oats are whole oat groats which are steamed and then flattened to make them easy to digest. Oats have a high nutritional content, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them a healthy addition to a balanced diet.
7 steps
- Pulse the rolled oats into a crumble with a food processor.
- Add the mixed nuts and seeds, dried fruits, nut butter, protein powder, honey, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the food processor.
- Blend until the mixture forms a sticky, uniform dough.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and press the mixture evenly into it.
- Let set in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Cut into bars and store them in an airtight container.
Create your own energy bar recipe
Packed with fiber, protein, and natural sugars, these homemade energy bars make for a satisfying and nutritious snack that you can grab throughout the day. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to tailor the recipe to your liking.
- Pumpkin and chia seeds, wheatgrass and matcha powder, and coconut are great energy bar ingredients too. Their antioxidants especially work wonders for your immuunsysteem.
- If you want a pick-me-up that’s also hunger-busting, then almond butter, ripe bananas and flax meal are your go-to ingredients.
- A bar that is beneficial for your heart-health, in turn, could contain cacao powder, cacao nibs, dried cherries, cinnamon and coconut oil. Enjoy!
Did you know?
The world’s first energy bar was created by a Canadian long-distance runner named Brian Maxwell and his nutritionist wife Jennifer in their very own kitchen in 1983.