Energizing Quinoa Fruit & Nut Breakfast Bars: Your Perfect Vegan Grab-and-Go! 🏃♀️✨🍓
Ingredients:
1 cup (170g) cooked quinoa, cooled
1 cup (80g) rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
1/2 cup (70g) mixed dried fruit, chopped (e.g., apricots, cranberries, raisins)
1/4 cup (35g) chopped nuts or seeds (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup (60ml) unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup (60ml) maple syrup
2 tablespoons (30g) nut butter (e.g., almond or peanut butter)
1 teaspoon (5ml) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Directions:
1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, rolled oats, chopped dried fruit, and chopped nuts/seeds. Stir well.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the applesauce, maple syrup, nut butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
4. Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until everything is well combined and the mixture is sticky.
5. Press into Pan: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Using a spatula or your hands (dampen them slightly to prevent sticking), press the mixture down very firmly and evenly. This is key for the bars to hold together.
6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the top feels firm.
7. Cool Completely: Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 1 hour (or longer). This is crucial for them to set properly.
8. Cut: Once fully cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift the slab out of the pan. Cut into bars of your desired size.
Recipe Information:
Preparation Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes | Total Time: Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes (including cooling) | Calories per Serving: Approx. 160-190 (if cut into 9 bars) | Number of Servings: 9-12 bars
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