Cranberry-Pistachio Energy Bars
- 1 cup uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
- 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup salted, dry-roasted pistachios, chopped
- 1/3 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
- 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
- 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup unsalted creamy almond butter
- 6 tablespoons agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Cooking spray
- Preheat oven to 350u0b0.
- Spread oats and quinoa on a baking sheet. Bake at 350u0b0 for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Place oat mixture in a large bowl, and stir in cranberries, pistachios, coconut, flaxseed meal, and chocolate.
- Combine almond butter, agave, oil, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour almond butter mixture over oat mixture; toss well to coat. Press mixture into an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350u0b0 for 13 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in dish. Cut evenly into (1 x 4-inch) bars.
- Cherry-Almond Energy Bars: Substitute coarsely chopped tart dried cherries for the cranberries, and chopped salted, dry-roasted almonds for the pistachios. Substitute honey for the agave nectar.
- Serves 16 (serving size: 1 bar)
- CALORIES 205; FAT 6g (sat 1g, mono 1g, poly 6g); PROTEIN 5g; CARB 25g; FIBER 3g; CHOL 0mg; IRON 1mg; SODIUM 54mg; CALC 47mg
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bars: Substitute golden raisins for the cranberries and chopped salted, dry-roasted peanuts for the pistachios. Omit the coconut and chocolate. Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the oat mixture in step Substitute creamy peanut butter for the almond butter and honey for the agave nectar.
- Serves 16 (serving size: 1 bar)
- CALORIES 179; FAT 6g (sat 2g, mono 8g, poly 2g); PROTEIN 6g; CARB 23g; FIBER 2g; CHOL 0mg; IRON 1mg; SODIUM 94mg; CALC 18mg
- When retesting the energy bars (cranberry and peanut butter), combine the "liquid" ingredients and gently warmed them in the microwave. Also, firmly pressed the mixture into the pan.
rolled oats, quinoa, cranberries, pistachios, coconut, meal, bittersweet chocolate, butter, nectar, canola oil, salt, cooking spray
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-pistachio-energy-bars (may not work)