Energy bar

If you are someone who likes to grab an energy bar on the go, this recipe is the one for you. As for me, well... I don't usually buy any granola bar or energy bar as I usually have proper meals so I don't need anything for an instant "energy".

This recipe however, is worth a try since I thought it would be better to make this than buying snacks and junk food. So far most granola bar recipes that I've come across are loaded with oil or butter but this recipe does not use any oil and there is minimal sugar as the sweetness comes from raisins and cranberries. And it's real simple to make!

I didn't follow the recipe exactly. I just used whatever nuts and dried fruits I have in my baking pantry. I do have not brown rice syrup hence I replaced with yoghurt and apple juice. The bar did turned out a bit yoghurt-y. ;P

Ingredients:

30g walnuts
70g brown rice syrup
50g sugar-free apple juice
30g pine nuts
20g pumpkin seeds
50g dried raisins
20g cranberries
60g rolled oats
60g wholemeal flour


Method:

Toast walnuts at 150°C for 15 minutes withut preheating. Leave to cool, then chop into small pieces and set aside.
Combine brown rice syrup and apple juice in a bowl and mix well. Add walnuts, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, raisins, cranberries and oats. Mix until combined. Add flour and fold in.
Transfer mixture to a freezer bag. Using a rolling pin, roll mixture out to a 13x24-cm rectangle. Place in freezer to chill and set for 1 our.
Preheat oven to 150°C. Using a scissors, cut open the freezer bag, then cut mixture into 6 bars and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake bars for about 25 minutes, remove from heat and leave to cool on a wire rack.
Store bars in an airtight container.


Recipe Source: "Okashi Treats" by keiko ishida