Mornings can be hectic, and it can be challenging to find time to prepare a healthy breakfast before rushing out the door. That's where breakfast bars come in – they're easy to make, portable, and packed with nutrients to fuel your day. In this article, we'll share a delicious breakfast bar recipe that you can customize to your liking.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need:
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as almonds or walnuts)
1/2 cup dried fruit (such as raisins or cranberries)
1/2 cup seeds (such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup nut butter (such as peanut or almond butter)
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
Here's how to make these delicious breakfast bars:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and shredded coconut.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the nut butter, honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and sea salt until smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press down firmly to create an even layer.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares or bars.
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Nutrition
These breakfast bars are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. Here's the nutrition information for one bar (assuming 12 bars per batch):
Calories: 275
Protein: 6g
Fat: 16g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 16g
These bars are a great source of energy to start your day, with a good balance of protein, fat, and carbs. The nuts and seeds provide healthy fats and fiber, while the dried fruit adds natural sweetness and additional fiber. The nut butter and coconut oil provide a good source of healthy fats, and the oats provide complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.
Customizations
One of the great things about this breakfast bar recipe is that you can easily customize it to your liking. Here are some ideas:
Swap out the nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for your favorites. Try pistachios, hemp seeds, and cherries, or cashews, chia seeds, and apricots.
Use a different nut butter, such as cashew or hazelnut, or swap it out for seed butter if you have a nut allergy.
Try using molasses or brown rice syrup instead of honey or maple syrup for a different flavor.
Add in some spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger, for extra flavor.
Drizzle some melted dark chocolate over the top of the bars for an extra decadent treat.
Conclusion
Breakfast bars are a convenient and nutritious way to start your day, and this recipe is easy to make and customizable to your liking. Whether you're rushing out the door or enjoying a leisurely breakfast at home, these bars are sure to be a hit. Give them a try and let us know what you think!
