With no added sugar, these fruit and nut energy bars recipe makes for a smarter on-the-go snack
I’ve rarely met a packaged energy bar I’ve liked.
They are almost always too something — too sweet, too pasty, too artificial-tasting. But, because bars are the ultimate on-the-go nourishment, like just about everyone else in America (judging from the endless number of bar options at the grocery store), I couldn’t live without them. So I started making my own.
Over the years, I’ve played with variations: some cakier, some chewier, trying out different fruits and nuts, and they have always been worth the little effort it takes to make them. The bars are gently, rather than overly, sweet and the flavor of whole, quality ingredients shines. You can taste that they are freshly made, even when thawed from frozen. (I usually wrap the bars individually in wax paper and put them in a resealable freezer bag).
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In the past, I had always sweetened my bars with either maple syrup or honey, included some kind of grain and used egg as a binder, but here I took a shot, using only nuts, seeds and dried fruit, and it seems I scored a big hit. Everyone who has tried them loves them! With no added sugar, the bars get their sweetness from dried dates; almond meal becomes the flour; and “chia eggs” (chia seeds soaked in water until thickened) act as a binder.
The bars are slightly chewy with a nutty crunch, and the simple goodness of their ingredients really comes through. I must warn you though, once you try them, you might never want a packaged one again.
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