Energy Bar Recipes

Due to popular demand I am posting my two go-to recipes for energy bars. I primarily use them as fuel for my long runs and they seem to work very well for me. Most if not all of these ingredients can be modified to fit your dietary requirements so experiment away. 

Apple Pie Caveman Bars

(reposted from civilizedcavemancooking.com)
Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Dates, pitted
• 1/2 Cup Raw Macadamia Nuts
• 1/2 Cup Dried Apples
• 1/4 Cup Raw Almonds
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil, melted
• 2 Tbsp Cinnamon

Process:

1. Place your dates, macadamia nuts, apples, and almonds in a food processor or really strong blender.  I have a Ninja 1100 and it makes short work of this one
2. Pulse until your dates, macadamia nuts, and almonds are in small chunks and transfer to a mixing bowl
3. Add in all remaining ingredients.  Using your hands mix well to ensure an even coating of everything
4. Once mixed, using parchment paper, flatten out your mixture to the size of bars your want or you can use individual ziploc bags and form them inside the bag
5. Place in refrigerator and let cool, then enjoy
6. If these don’t taste like apple pie to you, then play with the spices, you can add some nutmeg or cloves and mix the flavors around.  The possibilities are endless.

***If you have a macadamia nut allergy, replace them with any nut of your choice.  You can just up the almonds.  You can also roast all the nuts prior for a different flavor***

Homemade Energy Bars

(by Nancy Clark, MS, RD for Active.com)
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salted dry-roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup raisins, cranberries or other dried fruit
• 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seed kernels
• 2 cups raw oatmeal, quick or old fashioned
• 2 cups toasted rice cereal
• 1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or creamy
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup rice syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Process:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the peanuts, raisins, sunflower seed kernels, oatmeal and toasted rice cereal. Set aside. 
2. IN a medium microwaveable bowl, combine peanut butter, brown sugar, and syrup. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Add vanilla and stir until blended. 
3. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until coated. 
4. Spoon it inot an oiled 9"x13" pan. Press down firmly.

***I find that this mix by itself usually comes out too dry. To fix this I usually increase the peanut butter and  dribble in more honey during the blending part until I feel that the mixture is sticky enough to press firmly down into a pan. I always have extra crumbs though which I use as a messy snack or eat like it's cereal.