Pack It and Go Energy Bars

Sharon123's Note:

This is a great recipe for taking on a hike, a picnic, camping, or just to have in the car for a pick me up! From Foodnetwork.com

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 18 bars

• 1 cup quick-cooking oat
• ½ cup sliced almonds
• ½ cup dark raisin
• ½ cup golden raisin (I sometimes sub prunes or dates,cut up)
• ½ cup dried apricot
• 1⁄3; cup unsalted butter , room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar , firmly packed
• ¼ cup golden molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder
• ¼ cup toasted wheat germ
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pinch salt (mineral salt from the health food store is good)
• ½ cup milk (2% is preferable)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Place oats and sliced almonds on a baking sheet.
3. Toast in oven for 10 minutes.
4. Set aside.
5. Turn the oven to 325°F.
6. Place raisins, apricots, oats, and almonds in a food processor.
7. Pulse about 10 times until coarsely chopped.
8. Set aside.
9. In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter, brown sugar, molasses and egg until light and fluffy.
10. In a separate bowl, combine both flours, dry milk, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and salt.
11. Add to the creamed mixture.
12. Add the milk and mix thoroughly.
13. Add dried fruit mixture.
14. Butter a 13x9-inch baking pan.
15. Pour in the batter and spread evenly.
16. Bake for about 30 minutes, until set.
17. Cool in the pan. Cut into 18 (1 x 4-inch) bars.
18. To store, wrap bars individually in plastic wrap or those little snack baggies.
19. Will keep for about 1 week. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.

Reviews

[Peachie Keene]

These ckae bars had a yummy flavor but did not hold for very long :( They were at their finest just freshly baked, otherwise they were just so-so.

[Geniale Genie]

I never would have thought about grinding the nuts, fruits, and oats, but it makes all the difference in the texture; it's not like a cake-y pastry holding together large chunks. I didn't have any almonds, so I substituted them with 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds and used 1 3/4 cups of mixed fruit and nuts. I also didn't have any wheat germ, so I used wheat bran instead. The result was delicious... thanks Sharon!

[CoffeeB]

I also made these my own after reading previous reviewers. I used a combination of fruit and nut medley for my 1 1/2 cups of dried fruits. Also added a 1/4 cup whey vanilla protein powder and 1/4 cup dry milk. Beefed up the whole wheat flour some and - from the white. Thanks Sharon. I've been meaning to make this for quite some time. I should mention too that I made and wrapped them individually for the freezer for easy snacking whenever. Made for Cook-Book Tag~