Fruit, nut and honey bars
Judging by the number of different energy bars on the market these days, we all ought to be bursting with vitality and joie de vivre. This is Pam's take on the theme: packed with loads of fruit, nuts and seeds, these natural snack bars are easy to make, nutritious and much cheaper than shop-bought alternatives.
Preparation 15mins Cook time 30mins
Ingredients
Makes 15-16
- 125g unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 100g light soft brown or demerara sugar
- 100g honey
- 150ml fresh apple or orange juice
- Finely grated zest of 1 orange
- 200g porridge oats (or 150g oats plus 50g puffed rice or wheat flakes)
- 100g dried dates, chopped
- 100g dried apricots, chopped
- 50g chopped walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds
- 125g mixed seeds such as pumpkin, linseed, poppy, sunflower
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4.
Put the butter, sugar, honey, fruit juice and orange zest into a large saucepan over a low heat and stir from time to time until the butter has melted and the ingredients are blended together.
Remove from the heat, add the oats, puffed rice or wheat if using, dried dates and apricots, nuts and 100g of the mixed seeds. Stir well.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking tin and level the surface with the back of the spoon. Sprinkle the remaining seeds evenly over the top. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on top.
Leave in the tin to cool before turning out and cutting into squares or fingers with a sharp knife.
They will keep for 10 days stored in an airtight tin.