Energy bars – yea or nay?
I know there are many out there that aren’t considered very healthy (lots of sugar, etc.), but there are a few I do enjoy. However, relying on those premade versions can get a little expensive. I thought I would finally attempt to make my own and save a little money. Plus, it would be nice to have complete control over the ingredients.
The result is these vegan almond butter pecan energy bars. They are delicious, filling, and a snap to put together on a weekend morning.
Disclosure: I received a free box of Wholesome Pantry snacks from ShopRite. I received no other compensation and the opinions contained herein are my own and reflect my experience with the products. Your own may differ.
As you (hopefully) know, I’m working on a couple of healthy goals this year. And, the idea to make my own energy bars was inspired by a jar of almond butter and package of pecans in a Wholesome Pantry healthy snacks package. You can read more about Wholesome Pantry snacks here.
So, yes, I wanted a snack that had healthy fats, wasn’t too sweet, and that would be filling. I also didn’t want the process of making them to be too labor intensive, hence I went with a no-bake creation. For sweetness and to help create a stable base I went with a no-bake classic – pitted dates. To further create a stable bar I selected another no-bake classic – rolled oats. Together with the pecans and almond butter, I knew the bars wouldn’t crumble as soon as you lifted them out of the container.
From there I played a little, and you could easily mix and match with whatever you have on hand. I added hemp hearts which are another good source of protein, fatty acids, and iron. Things weren’t tasting sweet enough (which is strange for me to say) so I poured in just a hint of maple syrup. Then I went to the spice rack. I love cinnamon with nuts, and it reportedly has good anti-inflammatory properties. I think grated ginger would also be a delicious choice.
I am really happy with the end result and have been enjoying them all week. I think I could get into the habit of making all kinds of homemade energy bars and bites.
Do you make your own energy bars? What are your go-to ingredients?
No Bake Almond Butter Pecan Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1/2 cup organic Wholesome Pantry whole pecans
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts
- 1/4 cup salted Wholesome Pantry Almond Butter
- 1 tablespoon real maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
- Pulse the dates and pecans in a food processor until they form a dough.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until a thick dough forms.
- Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper, leave plenty of overlap on all sides. Press the dough firmly and evenly into the pan.
- Cover and refrigerate for three or more hours.
- Carefully lift up out of the pan. Slice into 8 bars.
- Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
These would be awesome high protein snacks for breastfeeding! Great recipe – thank you <3
Thanks Meghan.
these look great and super easy! yummmmm
These look awesome!
These sound delicious and seem easy enough to make. Looking forward to trying this recipe!
I need to try these! Sounds easy enough for me to do!! LOL
I hope you do try them. So easy and the taste is better than store bought.
Thanks! Just finished a batch yesterday.
Thank you. So delicious!
They really are so easy! They have to sit in the fridge longer than it takes to whip 'em up.