Delicious homemade energy bars filled with nuts, dried fruit, and oats.
When I walk through the “snack” aisle at the grocery store, there are tons of varieties of energy bars. I have tried several that I enjoy and a few that – well – I didn’t. I thought to myself, “These are such a basic food, why not make them myself?” These make great snacks as well as a grab-and-go breakfast!
My version uses the things that I love and is flexible enough that it can be made a few different ways. I’ll share some of those tips below.
To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
On a baking sheet, spread out 2 cups of rolled oats.
Coarsely chop a cup of walnuts {or pecans or cashews – whichever you prefer}.
Sprinkle the chopped nuts as well as 2 tablespoons of flax seeds over the oats. Bake for 8 minutes.
Sprinkle three tablespoons of unsweetened coconut flakes over the top of the hot ingredients. Bake one minute longer.
Once they are done baking for the final minute, remove them from the oven and turn the heat down to 300 degrees.
While the ingredients are toasting, in a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup of honey and a third of a cup of fresh peanut butter. {You can also use cashew or almond butter in place of the peanut butter}
Add in a tablespoon of coconut oil.
Melt those together over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once it is melted, turn off the heat and stir in a teaspoon and a half of vanilla.
Pour your toasted goodies into a mixing bowl.
Add in a half cup of dried cranberries and a half cup of golden raisins. {You can also use dried dates or regular raisins}
Add in 1/3 cup of sunflower seeds {or pumpkin seeds}.
{If you like, add in a half cup of chocolate chips}
Add in your honey mixture and stir it all together.
Pour the mixture into a 9×9 baking dish that is lined with parchment paper.
Press the mixture firmly into the pan. Really pack it down, you don’t want your bars to fall apart!
Bake for 20 minutes or until just golden. Cool the bars in the pan, until completely cooled. This is very important. If you take these out before they are 100% cool your bars will fall apart.
Once they are cooled, lift them out of the pan with the paper, and cut into bars or squares.
Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
Enjoy!
Homemade Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 c rolled oats
- 1 c coarsely chopped walnuts
- 2 Tb flax seeds
- 3 Tb unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ c honey
- ⅓ c fresh peanut butter
- 1 Tb coconut oil
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ c dried cranberries
- ½ c golden raisins
- ⅓ c sunflower seeds
Instructions
- To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- On a baking sheet, spread out the rolled oats. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts and flax seeds over the oats. Bake for 8 minutes.
- Sprinkle the coconut flakes over the top of the hot ingredients.
- Bake one minute longer.
- Once they are done baking for the final minute, remove them from the oven and turn the heat down to 300 degrees.
- While the ingredients are toasting, in a small saucepan combine the honey, fresh peanut butter, and coconut oil.
- Melt those together over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once it is melted, turn off the heat and stir in a teaspoon and a half of vanilla.
- Pour your toasted goodies into a mixing bowl.
- Add in the dried cranberries, golden raisins, and sunflower seeds.
- Add in your honey mixture and stir it all together.
- Pour the mixture into a 9×9 baking dish that is lined with parchment paper.
- Press the mixture firmly into the pan. Really pack it down, you don’t want your bars to fall apart!
- Bake for 20 minutes or until just golden.
- Cool the bars in the pan, until completely cooled. This is very important. If you take these out before they are 100% cool your bars will fall apart.
- Once they are cooled, lift them out of the pan with the paper, and cut into bars or squares.
- Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
If nutritional values are provided for this recipe, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste or for serving. If nutritional values are very important to you, I suggest using your favorite nutritional calculating tool with the brands you use.
These were easy to make and turned out great. Next time I will add just a bit more honey and some cinnamon. Right now I’m eating them with a thin layer of honey on top and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon – they’re really good!
Constance, we are so on the same wavelength! I love everything about the bars you posted, especially the coconut oil because that is exactly what I was craving when I made my bar version. I’ll *have* to try yours–saving and sharing this, dear!
Mmm! I’m going to have to try these…minus the raisins…cuz eww, I hate them >< Pinning this for later so I can make them once my HHG arrives! (I'm gonna be baking and cooking a week strait once it gets here lol).
It’s such a great idea to make your own energy bars. I made them for awhile, and then got lazy :-(. Thanks for the reminder to make my own. They look GREAT.
The hardest thing about these bars will be waiting until they’re cooled!
Definitely!!!
I really need to make these! I always see energy ball recipes, but not ever bars. It’s time I make em’!
I hope you like them!
I could use some of your energy bars today! They look delicious and perfect for a mid-day pick me up.
Thanks Christy!
Fabulous!! I would totally give my kids these before sports or after school!
Thanks Sarah!
Your energy bars sound wonderful and I do intend on making them…..I have made similar ones from another blog on here , but just wasn’t all that happy with them…..seems they never get firm….I don’t like them rock hard, but I do like for them to stay together…..so looking forward to trying your recipe …..
I hope you like them!
These look so yummy!! I really have to try these, I keep saying I’m going to make my own and never do! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Tammi!
Absolutely wonderful! This is one of my favorite snacks! Making your recipe this week – pinned!
Thank you Amber!
Move over cookies and sugary treats…I’d much rather have your fabulous energy bars for MY snack!!
P.S. Your photos are marvelous!
I think I will have to try these. They sure look good!
I was really shocked to discover all the processed ingredients in so many shop-bought ‘health bars’ – your homemade ones look so much better, tastier and full of goodness! They’re so sweet packaged up as well – I am definitely going to try making some!
Thank you Katy! It’s so nice to know exactly what is going into your food :)
My boys would love to snack on these!
Great step by step instructions! I love bars like this.
Thank you Laura!
Well now I know why my bars fall apart every time! Thanks for the tip – and these look so good, too!
Absolutely Megan! I hope you have much success in your next batch! :)
These are my kind of energy bars (especially with peanut butter and the dried fruit).
Thank you Renee!
Maybe you should market your energy bars, Constance. Between the healthful components of flax seed and coconut oil (Alzheimer fighters) and yummy PB, I do believe you have a winner! (Do you know about ABC’s Shark Tank show?)
LOL! Thank you so much Kimberly!