Homemade Energy Bars

So I just got done making these and was so excited to share the recipe with you! I have been making them for two years now and just love them! These make a great breakfast, snack, or even dessert. They are a great alternative to granola bars or nutrigrain bars. My boys consider them a special treat...but they are so good for you! They are my favorite!!! I got the recipe from CNN-accent health. They freeze really well. I usually freeze 4-6 in a quart size Ziploc freezer bag. There is a lot of prep involved, so they are probably best to make during nap times or in the evenings. I get a lot of the ingredients in bulk at Costco. They are probably not the most "frugal" bars to make, but considering they would probably cost $1-$1.50 each at a health food store or coffee shop, the $5-$7, I may have spent on ingredients (gross estimate) to make a double batch (55 of them), I consider them well worth it. Actually, I didn't have to buy anything this time because I already had the stuff around the house. I do make them more like large cookies, rather than bars.

Homemade Energy Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• ½ cup ground flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter
• ½ cup sugar (I've used Splenda too)
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 small apple; peeled and chopped
• ½ cup dried goji berries or raisins (I use Crainsins)
• ½ cup chopped, dried dates or apricots
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)
• 1½ cups coconut
• 3 cups old fashioned oats
• ¼ cup applesauce

Procedure

1. Stir together dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, and spices).
2. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars.
3. Add in honey, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Slowly add in dry mixture and beat together.
5. Stir in oats, applesauce, coconut, fruit, and nuts.
6. Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet.
7. Bake 12-14 minutes at 350°F.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 bar)

Calories:		218		Carbohydrate:		34g
Calories From Fat:		72		Dietary Fiber:		4g
Fat:		8g		Cholesterol:		28mg
Saturated Fat:		5g		Sodium:		77mg
Protein:		26g