Description
These Homemade Energy Bars are packed with a variety of nuts, seeds, dates, and oatmeal, offering a perfect blend of strength and sustained energy. Roasted nuts and seeds combined with naturally sweetened dates and honey create a nutritious snack ideal for on-the-go fueling or a wholesome treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Nuts and Seeds
- 70g (½ cup) cashews
- 70g (½ cup) walnuts
- 70g (½ cup) almonds
- 40g (¼ cup) pine nuts
- 70g (½ cup) hazelnuts
- 70g (â…“ cup) pumpkin seeds
Other Ingredients
- 150g (1 cup) dates, pitted
- 50g (½ cup) oatmeal
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 160ml (½ cup) honey
Instructions
- Roast the Nuts: In a dry frying pan, lightly roast the cashews, walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, and hazelnuts over medium heat for a few minutes until they become fragrant and slightly golden. Remove them from heat and set aside.
- Roast Pumpkin Seeds: In the same pan, roast the pumpkin seeds for a few minutes until they start popping. Once done, set aside.
- Soften Dates: Soak the dates in cold water for 15 minutes to soften them, making them easier to process.
- Prepare Dates: Drain the soaked dates, remove pits if any remain, and chop them finely into small pieces.
- Process Oatmeal: Use a food processor or mixer to pulse the oatmeal until it achieves a finer texture while leaving small pieces for added texture.
- Heat Olive Oil: In a frying pan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat, preparing to soften the dates further.
- Cook Dates: Add the chopped dates to the heated pan and cook, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes until they soften and start to break down.
- Mix Nuts and Oatmeal: Add the roasted nuts, pumpkin seeds, and processed oatmeal to the softened dates in the pan. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Salt and Honey: Stir in ½ teaspoon of salt and pour in 160ml of honey. Mix everything together carefully, avoiding prolonged heating of the honey to preserve its nutrients.
- Prepare Molding Dish: Line a baking dish or mold with parchment paper greased with olive oil, or use siliconized parchment paper for easier removal of the bars.
- Form Bars: Press the mixture firmly into the prepared dish using the back of a spoon or your hands, ensuring the surface is even and compacted.
- Cool and Refrigerate: Let the mixture cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the bars to firm up completely.
- Cut into Bars: After chilling, use a wet knife to cut the mixture into individual bars cleanly and neatly.
- Final Chill: Return the cut bars to the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes to fully set.
- Storage: Wrap each energy bar individually in cling film for easy storage and portability. Keep refrigerated to maintain freshness or freeze for longer shelf life.
Notes
- Use siliconized parchment paper if available to prevent sticking and ease removal of bars from the mold.
- Do not overheat honey during mixing to retain its natural nutrients and flavor.
- Press the bar mixture firmly to ensure the bars hold together when cut and handled.
- Chilling times are crucial for texture and firmness; do not skip refrigeration steps.
- For variation, you can substitute some nuts or seeds according to preference or dietary needs.
- Store bars wrapped in cling film in an airtight container for best freshness.
