Do-it-yourself Vitality Bars (Simple and Customizable Recipe)

December 14, 2023

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These do-it-yourself vitality bars are really easy to throw collectively, and so they make such a wholesome snack. The recipe is straightforward however scrumptious – no refined sugar or gluten right here! With a number of fiber and protein-packed in, these bars will hold you feeling glad all day lengthy, and I really like having them available for a fast grab-and-go breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up.

These vitality bars are healthful however nonetheless tasty sufficient to fulfill a candy tooth. Since they’re appropriate for therefore many various diets, they’re excellent to maintain round for snacking or to provide as presents.

And one of the best half is that these do-it-yourself vitality bars are tremendous simple on the abdomen. We’re going old skool right this moment – again to the fundamentals. It’s again to the gasoline that took you thru so many playground hours: applesauce!

Significantly, these do-it-yourself bars have turn into a staple in my kitchen. They supply long-lasting vitality, and so they’re simply really easy to make! I extremely suggest whipping up a batch to have available for busy days.

Why Take into account Making These Do-it-yourself Vitality Bars

One of many drawbacks to many retailer purchased vitality bars is the tremendous candy style.

And perhaps you’ve tried vitality bites, however they simply aren’t sufficiently big!

I’m a sugar lover, however for some motive, throughout a protracted hike, I don’t need 200 energy of overpowering sweetness hitting my style buds. These cookies strike the right steadiness of getting the wholesome sugars we have to hold our muscle tissue firing with out a very candy style.

Plus, in cookie measurement, you may determine simply how a lot you want as a substitute of feeling compelled to eat the prepackaged bar.

And what’s finest is that they retailer rather well! You possibly can freeze them for as much as three months. Merely pull one out and place it in a tiny ziploc bag, and let it thaw whilst you run or hike!

The very best half is that they’re full of vitamins and don’t have any chemical compounds or preservatives. I like having these round as a result of they provide me vitality on busy days however aren’t simply empty energy.

What Makes These Vitality Bars Wholesome?

As at all times, I wish to share why these make such a fantastic alternative as a operating gasoline.

Applesauce

First applesauce is a good low-calorie carbohydrate with some fiber as nicely! You don’t have to digest it on the run. It’s merely ready-to-use gasoline.

Cinnamon applesauce on this recipe helps to maintain blood sugar ranges steady or persist with the unsweetened talked about above for under pure sugar.

Coconut Oil

We all know that coconut oil has tons of nice advantages for us, however on this cookie it’s a pleasant little method so as to add some satiety to your carbs and assist them last more. We additionally comprehend it’s going to serve your coronary heart by reducing LDL and enhancing your cardiac output!

Dairy and Gluten Free

These are the 2 commonest digestive disruptive for athletes, so why not hold them out of your operating gasoline to make sure all is nicely?

Even when they don’t usually trouble you, it’s potential to have points throughout a run when there’s much less blood going to your digestion and your physique is battling irritation.

Hemp Seeds

That is the one “excellent plant protein” containing all 20 amino acids. It’s additionally a fantastic supply of Omega 3’s and 6’s, once more to assist hold our hearts comfortable.

The protein will assist these gentle cookies to stay with you longer and the Omega’s will begin your restoration earlier than you even end the exercise.

Carob Chips

In addition to being a fantastic dairy free chocolate supply, carob has some critical advantages!! It’s used for treating eh hem rest room points, so it’s nice to stop runners’ trots and enhance digestion.

It’s excessive in vitamin E to assist with getting over a gold and incorporates calcium to assist strengthen these bones!

Substances to Make Do-it-yourself Vitality Bars

Dry Combination

Gluten-Free Oats: Oats are a fantastic supply of advanced carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. They provide a sluggish launch of vitality, conserving you fuller for longer.
Almond Flour: Almond flour is a improbable gluten-free different to common flour. It’s loaded with protein, Vitamin E, and magnesium. It’ll make your vitality bars not solely scrumptious but additionally nutritious.
Hemp Seeds: Often known as a “excellent plant protein”, hemp seeds include all of the important amino acids. They’re additionally a fantastic supply of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, that are useful for coronary heart well being.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These substances assist the bars rise and provides them a lightweight, fluffy texture.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon provides a heat, candy taste to the bars, and it’s additionally identified to assist stabilize blood sugar ranges.
Mini Carob Chips: These dairy-free chocolate options usually are not solely tasty but additionally useful for digestion and excessive in Vitamin E and calcium, strengthening your bones.

Moist Combination

Nut Butter: Nut butter provides a creamy texture and a great dose of wholesome fat and protein to your vitality bars. You should utilize any you want finest or have available, comparable to almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, and even tahini, which is a seed butter.
Unsweetened Applesauce: Applesauce is a good low-calorie carbohydrate. It provides moisture to the bars with out further fats or sugar.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a wholesome fats that provides satiety to your snack, serving to you’re feeling full longer. It’s additionally identified to decrease LDL ldl cholesterol and enhance coronary heart well being.
Honey: Honey provides a contact of pure sweetness to the bars. It’s additionally identified for its antioxidant properties.
Vanilla NuStevia: This pure sweetener provides a touch of vanilla taste and sweetness with out the additional energy or sugar.
Egg or Flax Egg: An egg or a flax egg (to make it vegan) binds the substances collectively and provides a little bit of protein to the bars.

Ingredient Substitutions

This recipe for do-it-yourself vitality bars is extremely versatile, so in the event you don’t have any of those substances be happy to make use of one of many substitutions I’ve talked about down under:

Almond flour: You possibly can substitute almond flour with different nut flours like cashew or hazelnut flour. For a nut-free possibility, attempt utilizing sunflower seed flour.
Hemp seed: Chia seeds or flax seeds can be utilized instead of hemp seeds. All of them present a great supply of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
Carob chips: When you can’t discover carob chips, dairy-free chocolate chips can be utilized as an alternative.
Nut butter: You should utilize any nut butter you want on this recipe. Almond butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter are all nice choices.
Applesauce: You possibly can substitute applesauce with mashed bananas or pumpkin puree for a special taste.
Coconut oil: When you don’t have coconut oil, you should use one other neutrally flavored oil like avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
Honey: For a vegan possibility, you may substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.

The right way to Make Do-it-yourself Vitality Bars

Making these vitality bars at house is tremendous simple. Right here’s tips on how to make them step-by-step. For extra detailed directions, take a look at the recipe card on the finish of this publish.

Step 1: Preheat your oven

Begin by preheating your oven to a temperature of 350 levels Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Put together Your Dry Substances

In a big bowl, combine collectively all of your dry substances totally collectively.

Step 3: Put together Your Moist Substances

In a separate bowl or meals processor, combine collectively all of your moist substances.

Step 4: Mix Each Mixtures

Pour your dry combination into the moist combination. Use a spatula to fold and stir every thing collectively till nicely mixed.

Step 5: Form the Bars

Utilizing a cookie dough scoop or your fingers, drop the combination onto a 8 x 8-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper. Flatten the combination right into a pan, until you like a extra rounded form. These bars gained’t unfold or puff throughout baking, so it’s okay to press them down a bit.

Step 6: Bake the Bars

Place the baking dish in your preheated oven and bake for about 9 minutes. Keep watch over them to ensure they don’t overcook.

And that’s it! Your scrumptious do-it-yourself vitality bars are prepared!

Taste Variation Concepts

The very best factor about this do-it-yourself vitality bar recipe is you could customise them based on your preferences! Listed here are some enjoyable variation concepts:

Chocolate-Peanut: Who doesn’t love the traditional peanut butter and chocolate combo? You possibly can add an additional chocolate punch by mixing in a handful of chocolate chips. The melty chocolate chips will create pockets of wealthy, chocolatey taste all through every bar. And so they pair so properly with any nut butter base, however particularly peanut butter.

Additional Seeds: You can also make these do-it-yourself vitality bars much more nutritious by tossing in all types of seeds. I like utilizing chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. They offer a pleasant crunch and include important vitamins like omega-3s, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin E. Seeds are a fantastic addition since they pack vitamins however don’t change the feel or style an excessive amount of. I often simply sprinkle a tablespoon or two of no matter seeds I’ve into the combination.

Maple Pecan: If you’d like one thing excellent for fall and winter, use maple syrup as a substitute of honey. The maple provides it a pleasant sweetness and heat. I additionally wish to throw in some chopped pecans which add scrumptious crunch and nuttiness. Pecans pair so properly with maple. And add some vanilla extract into the moist combination too – this little tweak makes the bars style like the vacations in snack kind.

Tropical Bars: You may as well add some tropical dried fruits like pineapple, mango, and coconut. They are going to add a pure sweetness and chewy texture and in addition make it style good. Simply don’t go overboard with these since they include lots of pure sugars which aren’t nearly as good for you in extra.

Additional Nuts: When you love nuts, be happy so as to add your favorites to the combination! Cashews, almonds, peanuts, and walnuts all work nice for this vitality bar recipe. Plus, they’ll additionally add a further wholesome dose of protein and wholesome fat.

Protein-Packed: Take into account including a scoop of your favourite vanilla protein powder to spice up the protein in these bars. They’ll hold you satiated for longer and in addition work nice as a post-workout snack.

Add Granola: When you love an additional crunchy texture, attempt including a few of your favourite do-it-yourself granola into it. It’ll add further taste and texture to make it style much more satisfying and switch them into do-it-yourself vitality granola bars!

Suggestions for Making the Finest Do-it-yourself Vitality Bars

Select Your Nut Butter Correctly: When making do-it-yourself vitality bars, you’ll wish to put some thought into which nut butter you employ. Peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter – all of them have their very own distinct taste so decide the one you get pleasure from essentially the most.

Don’t Skimp on the Oats: Gluten-free oats add nice texture and vitamins like magnesium and potassium. Plus, they make the bars protected for folks with dietary restrictions.

Get Inventive with Dried Fruit and Nuts: Now comes the enjoyable half – selecting your mix-ins! Have enjoyable including your favourite dried fruits and nuts. I’m usually instances a fan of almonds and peanuts for his or her crunchy protein. However pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds work nice too! Their vitamin E and wholesome fat take the bars to the subsequent degree.

Use Pure Sweeteners: So as to add only a contact of pure sweetness, drizzle in some honey or maple syrup. Not solely do these sweeteners make the bars style wonderful, however they assist bind all of the substances collectively.

Line Your Baking Dish: Earlier than packing your bars into the baking dish, line it with parchment paper. This makes the bars tremendous simple to carry out after they agency up within the freezer.

Serving Concepts

These do-it-yourself vitality bars are so versatile and helpful! Listed here are a few of my favourite methods to get pleasure from them all through the day:

Breakfast: When you typically are inclined to run late and find yourself grabbing an unhealthy possibility for breakfast, have certainly one of these do-it-yourself vitality bars as a substitute! In addition they go nice with a do-it-yourself protein.

Noon Snack: These bars are nice to provide you a lift of vitality through the center of the day.

Publish-Exercise or Run: One among my most favourite methods to get pleasure from it’s, clearly, after a run! I take them proper out of the freezer and pop them right into a ziploc bag and take them with me. They thaw through the run and are prepared for me by the point I’m carried out.

Dessert: These bars have additionally turn into my go-to dessert! They’re scrumptious and candy sufficient to fulfill my candy tooth with out spiking my sugar ranges an excessive amount of.

The right way to Retailer Leftovers

You possibly can simply retailer any leftovers you might have. Actually, that’s the entire level of this recipe! Make a giant batch of them to get pleasure from for later.

You possibly can hold any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as every week. However a good higher method of storing them is within the freezer!

Merely wrap every bar in parchment paper, place them in a ziplock bag, and retailer within the freezer. They are often stored frozen for as much as three months. Once you’re able to get pleasure from one, simply pull it out and let it thaw! And so they’re able to eat!