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Energy Bars

Wed, 2006-06-21 05:03 by Tammy   Tags:
Recipe Name: 
Energy Bars
Picture: 
energybarban1.jpg
Description: 

Oats, nuts, and seeds combined to make a nutritious, fiber-rich breakfast bar or snack

Yield: 

36 Bars

Ingredients: 

1 c (2 sticks) butter, melted
1 c white sugar
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c light corn syrup
9 1/2 c quick oats
1 c (mixed) unsweetened coconut, chocolate chips, raisins, almonds, raw sunflower seeds, and flax seeds (*see additional notes)

Instructions: 

1. Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls, then combine and stir well (no big lumps!).

 2. Spread mixture onto two greased cookie sheets/jelly roll pans (ones with 1/2 inch sides) and firmly press down flat using spatula/pancake turner.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes or until edges are turning golden. Remove from oven and place on cooling racks.

4. Wait 10 minutes and then cut into bars using a pizza cutter or butter knife. It's important to wait exactly 10 minutes, because sooner than that will result in hot crumbs, and later will result in hard lumps that can't be easily cut. After you cut the bars, let them cool completely, and they should stay formed.

5. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag.

Additional Notes: 

*My mom uses 1 c chocolate chips, 1/2 c unsweetened coconut and 1/2 c raw sunflower seeds; I usually get creative and do unsweetened coconut, golden flax seeds, chopped almonds, and raw sunflower seeds, and reduce the amount of oats to make up for the extra stuff I add. It's fun to experiment... but I have had them crumble on me because of too much "other" stuff for the amount of sugar and butter. :) I recommend following the recipe accurately the first time you make them... and then getting more creative. :)

Preparation Time: 

20 minutes

Cooking Time: 

18 minutes

Tammy's Review: 

These are a little sugary (I have tried cutting back on the sugar or butter but then they fall apart) but make a great breakfast or snack. We keep them on hand whenever possible! My rating: 8/10. I wish they weren't so fragile when baked, but I'm not sure how to make them that way without just adding lots more fat and sugar. So I'll take the healthy version and deal with a few crumbs. :)

Average vote based on 6 reviews.
8.7
out of 10
User Reviews
8
out of 10
Try toasting the coconut first!

Try toasting your coconut before adding it to the recipe. It adds a nutty, butterscotch flavored crunch that is SO good! I toast mine in a dry cast iron pan. You can add a bit of sugar to it if you want it sweeter.


by Gwen on Sun, 2010-01-31 19:25
10
out of 10
Delish!

These are delicious! I added flax seeds, almonds, coconut, and carob chips to mine and used coconut oil in place of butter and 7 cups of oats instead of 9. Yummy! I did notice that the dry ingredients weren't sticking together, so I added two eggs to the mix. I could feast on these forever!


by jessica on Mon, 2010-01-18 20:27
9
out of 10
Delicious!

We made these and they are great!

I put the whole batch into a jelly roll pan so they were thicker and not as crunchy, but delicious.

Also, because our daughter is extremely allergic to nuts I used shredded coconut (not a nut) and raisins.

I will definitely be making it again. To try and get the crunch of nuts I am going to try banana chips roughly chopped -- and coconut and raisins of course!


by Kristy on Thu, 2007-01-18 23:22
9
out of 10
Our variation

We have made Energy Bars several times now. Here is how we have modified them:

Bake in 1 jellyroll pan rather than 2, increasing baking time to 22 minutes. This makes a thicker, chewier bar that is easier to cut into smaller rectangles and is less crumbly.

Add mini baking m&m's. (Yum!)

Add 1/2C ground flax, 1/2C coconut, 1/2C mini chocolate chips or m&m's and 1/2C sunflower seeds. Reduce oats by 1/2C.

Next, I'd like to try replacing some of the sugar with honey. I'll let you know how it goes.

His, Lisa

aka lisa_iowa

wife to Daryl, momys to 7


by lisa_iowa on Fri, 2006-09-15 12:40
8
out of 10
8/10

Please see my review at the end of the recipe. Thanks! ~ Tammy


by Tammy on Sat, 2006-07-01 05:42
8
out of 10
Nice "base" recipe; best when modified (8/10)

Using the stock recipe, this is a no-frills 'hard' granola bar. Not quite as sweet or hard as the store bought varieties, this granola bar has a pleasant hearty taste--and is an excellent addition to breakfast or as a quick snack.

I would have given the recipe a 7/10, but where this recipe really excells is when you get creative. Add extra coconut (you can never have enough coconut!), chocolate chips, M&Ms, almonds, sunflower seeds, etc and you have a real winner. But do note, as Tammy comments, that if you add extra ingredients that you may need to add some additional sugar and/or corn syrup. If you don't the bars will be fairly brittle. Of course granola bar crumbs make an excellent granola cereal with milk. So when life gives you a lemon...


by Joshua on Sat, 2006-07-01 05:41

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