Whether it's to boost energy between school breaks, satisfy a sweet craving at 4 p.m. at work or during a park outing with the kids, energy bars are a tasty, fun and crunchy solution that's always good to have in your bag.
This time, the focus is on energy bars made with oats, a wholesome whole grain that’s both filling and binds well with soft ingredients like maple syrup or tahini thanks to its ability to absorb liquids.
These oat-based energy bars can be shaped into bars or crumbled after baking to create a crunchy granola that's great with yogurt.
Three important tips:
- If you like a really crunchy texture, return the cut bars or crumbled granola to the oven for an extra five minutes after baking.
- Don’t skip the chocolate. When it melts, it helps bind the nearby ingredients, and once cooled, it firms up and keeps the bars from falling apart.
- Store the bars or granola in a completely sealed container outside the refrigerator to maintain their texture and prevent moisture buildup.
Oat energy bars with almonds and dark chocolate
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups quick oats
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup tahini
- ¼ cup shredded white coconut
- ½ cup sliced almonds, almond slivers or ground almonds
- 100 grams dark chocolate
Instructions:
- Chop the chocolate into small chunks.
- In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly. The mixture should be slightly moist and sticky. At this stage, taste and, if needed, add 2 to 3 more tablespoons of maple syrup for extra sweetness.
- Spread the mixture evenly in a 20x20 cm baking pan lined with parchment paper. Press it down firmly with slightly wet hands to prevent crumbling after baking.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 20 to 30 minutes, or until nicely golden.
- Let cool, slice and store in an airtight container.