I used to be obsessed with nutrition; I studied nutritional therapy and would spend hours in the kitchen creating new and exciting healthy treat recipes in order to ditch the processed sugar that was seemingly in all other delicious foods. I wanted to create an alternative to energy bars or convenience snacks, something that I could take with me to training, have after the gym or just have in the house for when you get a craving. I read and tried so many recipes and blogs and in the end, after the years of creating, I have a really simple go to recipe for delicious bars that are super easy, fuss free and can be varied as much as your imagination allows.
A HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS ENERGY BAR RECIPE TO MAKE AHEAD OF YOUR NEXT PADDLEBOARDING ADVENTURE
Heres my basic energy bar recipe:
Equipment: I use a food processor to chop and blend all the ingredients.
I don’t use scales; I just mix according to eye- if its too wet mix in more oats, if its too dry add more date paste and nut butter… etc.
Ingredients:
A large handful of dates (preferably Majool dates, if you can’t get a hold of them use regular dried dated soaked in boiling water for 5 mins and drained).
A few good spoons of a nut butter of your choice (I love peanut and almond).
A good half a cup – cup of oats. I blend these in a fod processor first to make a sort of flour out of them.
A couple of tablespoons of Chia seeds. These help to bind the mixture together and absorb any excess wetness.
Sea Salt, just a pinch of the good stuff.
Cocoa powder, depending on how chocolaty you like them, around 1-2 tablespoons (you can omit if your not a chocolate fan).
Vanilla essence, just a dash.
Directions:
- Blend the oats in a food processor to make a flour and set aside.
- Add the dates, nut butter and vanilla to processor and blend until smooth.
- Add in the oats, chia, sea salt and cocoa powder and blend until well mixed.
- You can either press the mixture into a tin lined with parchment or roll tablespoons of the mixture between your palms to make balls. If you make balls you can coat the outside with extra cocoa powder or coconut flakes so they don’t stick together.
These keep best in the freezer and take no time to defrost. If you press the mixture into a tin, chill in the fridge for 20 mins before chopping into bars and freezing individually.
Here are some optional add ins that taste great but you are only limited to your imagination with these energy balls so get in the kitchen and start creating!
Optional add ins:
Peanut butter powder / plant based protein powder
Shredded coconut
Ground nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and a pinch of cayenne pepper
Dried apricot or cranberries
Rough chopped almonds or hazelnuts
Chocolate chips / cacao nibs
Leave a comment below if you tried the recipe and what variations you came up with!
AUTHOR BIO
JEN CHRIMES
Jen Chrimes is a marketing and design professional that has worked with the outdoor industry for over 9 years. She is also a professional kayaker and avid outdoor enthusiast who loves sharing her knowledge and passion through her work. You can find more about Jen and her work at jenchrimesdesign.com.
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