It looks like Christmas is quickly creeping up on us. Are you prepared? Have you bought your supplies? Have you put up your Christmas tree? I would actually say no to all of these questions, though I have started to make a few preparations - but I am sure there is lots more to do. But to be kind to myself I have been busy the last few weeks getting ready for a Christmas market, and that was taking up my energy, but now that is done I need to get moving.
Today I have a recipe for you. It is not actually a Christmas cooking recipe but it really could be with all those cranberries, dried apricots, mixed fruit and nuts. It is gluten-free and dairy-free (not nut free) and so so easy and yummy.
The recipe is from We are So Vegan - Homemade Energy Bars
I have made a few little changes which you can see in italics below.
Homemade Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup almonds - I cut them in
half - or use any nuts you like
- 1/2 cup raw buckwheat groats (hulled
buckwheat) - I couldn't get the buckwheat groats so I used half
cup of plain flour (as I wasn't worried about gluten free) - but you could
use a gluten free flour.
- 1/2 cup raisins - I used half a
cup of mixed fruit
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup soft dried apricots - soak
in hot water about half to one hour
- 1/4 cup maple syrup - I used
Golden Syrup
- 1/4 cup water
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan / 400°F and line a 7” x 7” square tin with baking paper - I used a 30cm (12 inch) x22cm (9 inch) slab tin
- Line a large baking tray
with baking paper. Spread the oats, pumpkin seeds and almonds evenly
across the tray, then roast for 10 minutes. I didn't do this and
result was fine
- Meanwhile, put the apricots,
maple syrup and water in a blender and blend into a smooth paste. Note: if
you are struggling to blend the ingredients add an extra splash of water.
The paste should be super smooth otherwise the bars might not hold
together and might crumble. For this step I soaked the apricots in
hot water for about half an hour and then blended
- Remove the baking tray from
the oven and transfer the oats, pumpkin seeds and almonds to the large
mixing bowl and give everything a good mix. Leave the oven turned on.
- Transfer the apricot mixture to a mixing bowl, along with the buckwheat groats, raisins and cranberries
- Transfer the mixture to the
lined tin. Smooth over the top using a piece of baking paper, pushing the
mixture down as you go to make sure its compact (this will prevent the
bars falling apart when you slice them later on). Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the tin from the oven
and leave to cool completely. Note: the energy bars might crumble if you
try to slice them before they have cooled completely.
- Take the mixture out of the
tin and slice into 10 energy bars - or just slice into the size
pieces you want.
Recipe notes:
- The apricots and maple syrup help glue all the ingredients together,
while bringing a lovely sweetness to the bars.
- Make sure you blend
the apricots into a thick paste. If you’re struggling to reach the correct
consistency, add a splash more water.
- Leave the bars to
cool fully before slicing them, otherwise they might crumble!
- Press down as much as possible on the mixture in the tin, which will help compact the ingredients so the bars don’t fall apart.
