Dec
02
2012
Vegan PB & J Energy Bars
It’s Sunday already, whaaaa?! The weekend is almost over, what the heck, where did it go?! Hmmph.
If you’ve got 10 extra minutes this beautiful Sunday, why don’t you make some of these energy bars as a breakfast on-the-go or a healthy snack to have during the week – you can take them to work to perk you up in the afternoon, have them for the kids to enjoy after school before sports, or munch on these pre-workout! Enjoy in moderation of course … these ARE “energy bars” so they do pack calories and natural sugars!
A peanut butter and jam sandwich… just the thought makes my mouth water and brings back memories of being a kid.
Peanut butter and jam is just truly a match made in heaven… unfortunately not always the healthiest match. I guess this all depends on how you make it, but typically – what I remember from my childhood sandwiches was hydrogenated sweetened peanut butter with sugar-laden jam on top of two slices of glistening white “roll-it-into-a-ball” Wonderbread. Nutritional value = zilch, nada, nil, zero.. you get the point.
Well, these energy bars, actually, no-word-of-a-lie, taste like a PB & J sandwich.. and they sure pack a punch! They are high in energy, high in fiber, a good source of protein, delicious tasting, and you can whip them up in less than 10 minutes (plus 30 min freezing time).
They are made with only 5 ingredients which is great because many energy bars out there on the grocery store shelves have a Novel of an ingredients list; filled with added sugars, stabilizers, fillers, flavors, preservatives, and more. And well, your body just doesn’t need that junk-o-la! So make these lovely bars instead, and bring yourself back to the days of PB & J!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and stay tuned for some more amazing recipes on the blog this week!
Vegan PB & J Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 1¾ cup pitted dates (soaked in warm water for 15 minutes, then drained)
- ½ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter (no added sugars or oils, just peanuts)
- ¼ cup whole raw almonds
- ½ cup instant plain oats (gluten free if you need!)
Instructions
- Soak the dates in warm water for 15 minutes, and drain.
- Place dates, dried cranberries, almonds, peanut butter, and oats in a food processor and blend until combined well.
- Scoop mixture into a square baking pan, and firmly press down to make an even layer.
- Place in the freezer for 30 minutes to set, then cut into 8 rectangle bars.
- Store in the freezer or fridge.
#version#
02
2012Vegan PB & J Energy Bars
It’s Sunday already, whaaaa?! The weekend is almost over, what the heck, where did it go?! Hmmph.
If you’ve got 10 extra minutes this beautiful Sunday, why don’t you make some of these energy bars as a breakfast on-the-go or a healthy snack to have during the week – you can take them to work to perk you up in the afternoon, have them for the kids to enjoy after school before sports, or munch on these pre-workout! Enjoy in moderation of course … these ARE “energy bars” so they do pack calories and natural sugars!
A peanut butter and jam sandwich… just the thought makes my mouth water and brings back memories of being a kid.
Peanut butter and jam is just truly a match made in heaven… unfortunately not always the healthiest match. I guess this all depends on how you make it, but typically – what I remember from my childhood sandwiches was hydrogenated sweetened peanut butter with sugar-laden jam on top of two slices of glistening white “roll-it-into-a-ball” Wonderbread. Nutritional value = zilch, nada, nil, zero.. you get the point.
Well, these energy bars, actually, no-word-of-a-lie, taste like a PB & J sandwich.. and they sure pack a punch! They are high in energy, high in fiber, a good source of protein, delicious tasting, and you can whip them up in less than 10 minutes (plus 30 min freezing time).
They are made with only 5 ingredients which is great because many energy bars out there on the grocery store shelves have a Novel of an ingredients list; filled with added sugars, stabilizers, fillers, flavors, preservatives, and more. And well, your body just doesn’t need that junk-o-la! So make these lovely bars instead, and bring yourself back to the days of PB & J!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and stay tuned for some more amazing recipes on the blog this week!
Christal
Nutritionist in the Kitch