How to Prepare Energy Bars

Whether you are engaging in strenuous sports activities, playing hard or just getting through your day, an energy bar may be just what you need to give you a boost of energy. Instead of purchasing ready-made energy bars that are not only expensive but may contain processed ingredients, make your own homemade energy bars. Preparing energy bars at home in your kitchen for eating when you need a snack is a quick and easy kitchen project. This recipe makes two dozen energy bars.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups raw oatmeal (old-fashioned)
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup diced dried fruit (apples, papaya, pineapple or cherries, for example)
• ½ cup chopped nuts (cashews, almonds or peanuts)
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ½ cup oil
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• Large bowl
• Medium bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Baking pan (9 by 13 inches)
• Oven
• Cooling rack

Instructions

1. Grease the baking pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Measure and pour the oatmeal, raisins, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into the large bowl.

3. Measure and pour the oil, sugar, egg, applesauce and vanilla into the medium bowl.

4. Combine the moist ingredients and the dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir the ingredients well.

5. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake the energy bars for 35 minutes until they are light brown. Remove the baking pan from the oven and cool the energy bars in the pan on the cooling rack until they are completely cool.

6. Cut the energy bars into individual bars and store the bars in a sealed container.

References

• Recumbent Bikes: Energy Bars