Dried Fruit And Nut Health Bars Recipes

HOMEMADE DRIED FRUIT & NUT BARS

Steps:

• Line the pan with parchment or aluminum foil. Cover the sides at least halfway up on 2 sides and over the edge by about 1-inch on the other 2 sides. The longer sides create handles to lift the 8-inch square after it cools.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F/160 degrees C, with a rack in the center of the oven.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Add the brown sugar, and mix until the ingredients are well combined. Mix in the dried fruit and nuts, using your hands. Toss everything together until the fruit and nuts are well-coated with the flour and sugar mixture.
• Lightly beat the egg and vanilla together in a small bowl, then add them to the floury dried fruit and nut mixture. Using a fork, mix the liquid into the dry ingredients, until the mixture is uniformly moist and no flour/sugar remains untouched.
• Spoon the mixture into the pan and press it in evenly, so that the mixture forms a compact layer. Add a topping of chopped chocolate or sweetened coconut and gently press it in.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until the topping is lightly browned. Hopefully the bars will pull away slightly from the sides, but you may not notice that. Cool the uncut bars in the pan. When completely cool, remove the entire 8-inch square, using the overlapping parchment or foil "handles." Place it on a cutting board and cut into small squares. Because the square is dense, (carefully) use a cleaver or large, sharp knife.

DRIED FRUIT AND NUT GRANOLA BAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square pan with cooking spray. Spread oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and sesame seeds evenly on a large baking sheet. Bake until the oats are lightly toasted and the nuts are fragrant, stir one halfway through, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in puffed cereal, all the dried fruits until well mixed. Add almond butter, sugar, honey, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly, until the mixture bubbles lightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Right away pour the almond butter mixture over the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until all the dried spots are moistened. Arrange the mixture into the prepared square pan. Coat your hands lightly with cooking spray and press the mixture down firmly to make an even layer. Refrigerate until firm, at least half an hour. Cut into bars; bigger or small, square or rectangular depend on your own interest.

DRIED FRUIT & NUT HEALTH BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Place dates in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a simmer. Drain. Purée in a food processor until smooth.
• Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Mix oats or quinoa flakes, nuts, papaya, cherries, blueberries, bran, flaxseed, wheat germ, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix in purée dates, and brown-rice syrup or honey. Press mixture in pan.
• Bake until center is firm and edges are golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 8 bars.