I created this recipe back when I was a high school athlete. Never having been a fan of flavored nutrition or protein bars, I always carried a less convenient snack to practice. When slicing my apple and spreading my peanut butter became too tedious (and inconsistent with my recommended athletic aggression), I decided to create my own portable and healthy treat. To date, this is the one recipe I call my own and make consistently. I would like to consider my energy bars Rice Krispie treats gone healthy; this quick recipe requires little skill. If peanut butter, dried fruit, cereal and a tad of sweetness are up your alley, you may want to try this one at home!
Ingredients:
3 cups Kashi brand puffed whole grain cereal
(Kashi is a great cereal to use for these bars. The cereal is light and sticks together easily. You can also add flax seeds here or other light cereals, but I like to keep it simple!)
1/2 cup raw almonds, chopped
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 cup raisins
(Feel free to use any combination of fruit and nuts, just be sure to manatain the proportions)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup brown rice syrup (available at most health food stores) Yield: 12 squares
Directions
1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray.
2 In a large bowl, mix the cereal, nuts and dried fruit.
3 Combine the peanut butter and rice syrup in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir constantly for 30 seconds to avoid burning. Pour the mixture over the cereal mixture. Use a wooden spoon to stir.
4 Place the mixture in the prepared pan. Use your clean hands to press the mixture evenly and firmly into the pan. (To prevent the bars from sticking to your hands, rub a little vegetable oil on your hands)
5 Bake for 10 minutes.
6 Let cool completely before removing entirely from pan and cutting into bars.
Wrap individually for a quick on-the-go snack or freeze for use at a later date!
