Do you also feel like spending less time at the stove in spring and summer? I always prefer to reach for something ready and run outside again, enjoying the beautiful weather and nature. It is precisely at these moments that it is useful to have a healthy homemade snack on hand that will keep you full for a long time or survive a longer stay in your backpack.
Homemade and healthy
Purchased muesli and energy bars or other goodies are usually very good and great for their practicality, but unfortunately they are full of unnecessary artificial ingredients, which are not so great anymore. Fortunately, it is not difficult to make your own bars, which are tasty for both children and adults, they fill you up, they last a long time in the fridge and are cooked only from healthy and nutritious ingredients.
On a trip and to school
And if you're still wondering what to take in your backpack on a trip or what good (but healthy) to throw to your children at school or afternoon club, these sweet snacks will be perfect for you.
Homemade muesli bars with nuts and dried fruit
Vegan, gluten-free, no refined sugar, no-bake
What will be needed?
- 2 cups of (gluten-free) oatmeal
- 3/4 cups of sliced almonds (or other chopped nuts, such as hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts,...)
- 1/2 cup of sesame
- 1/2 cup of grated coconut
- 1/2 cup of peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 1/2 cup of maple syrup
- 3/4 cups of dates cut into small pieces (if you soak them in hot water for an hour beforehand, the sticks will stick better)
- 2-3 tablespoons of raisins, goji berries, figs or other favorite dried fruit (or perhaps chopped chocolate) cut into small pieces
How to do it?
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper. Pour in the flakes, almonds or other nuts you use. Bake for about 13 minutes or until everything is golden and nicely browned. Stir every few minutes. Add the coconut and sesame for the last 5 minutes. When you like everything, take the baking pan out of the oven and put it aside (skip this step, but the roasted nuts are much tastier and crunchier). In the meantime, heat the peanut butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup in a liquid form in a saucepan and mix well. In a large bowl, mix the chopped dates, toasted flakes, nuts, sesame and all the other ingredients you want in the sticks (dried fruit, seeds...) and pour the liquid mixture on top. Mix everything well and use a spoon to bite the dates a little, then the sticks will come together better. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish, spread it evenly and press it down well. Cover with baking paper and use a rolling pin or a glass to press down well. Don't skip this stage, otherwise the bars will crumble when you cut them. Then put the baking pan in the fridge for at least an hour. Cut the hardened mixture into bars or squares (or any other shape you like). Best stored in an airtight jar or box in the fridge, the bars will last for 3 weeks. In the freezer for over a month.
