Breakfast Energy Bars – Getting Back in the Groove

/ Jodi

breakfast energy bars cover

My glorious two-week holiday “vacation” has come to an end, and it is time to get back to work – – – and back in the groove – of a structured work schedule – and a better eating and exercising habit too after a month or so of glutenous indulgence!

So yesterday, I made a batch of breakfast energy bars to have a go-to breakfast or protein and energy-packed snack.  I have made a similar version of these before and blogged about.  The beauty of this recipe is you can use whatever you have on hand (within reason) to create a unique bar each time.

I received several gorgeous sets of measuring utensils as Christmas gifts, so I was excited to get to use some of them for photographing below.  (Really don’t need to measure these things precisely…. but it made for a fun photo to share 🙂 ).  I gathered some creamy peanut butter, coconut oil, honey, oats, shredded coconut, a variety of seeds (pumpkin and sunflower), dried cranberries, and chopped some dates and some beautifully healthy English walnuts.

breakfast energy bars ingredients

To begin, melt the peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey in a good size saucepan.

breakfast energy bars saucepan

When melted, remove from heat and add your chosen dry ingredients.

breakfast energy bars saucepan and dry ingredients

Mix all ingredients until incorporated.


breakfast energy bars saucepan mix

Then spread in a 13 x 9 pan and chill for several hours until firm.

breakfast energy bars pan

Once completely chilled, cut into bars.

breakfast energy bars cut

I packed them in pairs in Ziploc bags and placed in the freezer – ready to grab for a quick breakfast at home…

breakfast energy bars home

or on the go…

breakfast energy bars on the go

Here is the recipe you can use to tweak with the ingredients you like:

Breakfast Energy Bars

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil (solid form)
2 1/2 cups oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped dried dates
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds

Melt peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil in a saucepan.
Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients.
Spread in a 13 x 9 pan.
Refrigerate approximately 2 hours.
Cut into bars and wrap or bag individually.
Return to refrigerator or freeze.

Feel free to substitute other dried fruits (golden raisins, dried blueberries or cherries) or nuts (slivered or chopped almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts) or even chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, white, peanut butter, butterscotch).

I am going to share this recipe as my first at Fiesta Friday #49.  Fiesta Friday is an online ‘party’, where bloggers share posts in a link up.  Everyone ‘brings’ (shares) a recipe, photograph, craft, memorable story, etc. to the party  I have been hearing about it from several others and decided to join the party this year.  Gotta love a good party – right?  🙂

Groovy Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

23 thoughts on “Breakfast Energy Bars – Getting Back in the Groove”

  3. Yummy!! Those look delicious! I will have to try to make them sometime. Your new camera is creating beautiful images! This morning I went into my iPad and my Apple Id expired. I have been on the phone for 30 minutes trying to get that straightened out. So glad I finally got it solved. I think the Tech I talked to was working from home because in the background were many children yelling and screaming loudly! I finally told him I could not stand the background noise any longer and to call me back when it was quiet. Plus, his phone kept cutting out and I couldn’t understand what he was trying to tell me. 😡

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    • Oh dear – what a sign of the times – eh PJ?!? Times are a changing! Glad you got it fixed, and hope you make and enjoy these. They are truly great for mornings on the fly and quick nutritious snacks when you need to grab something quick. Hope the rest of your day goes better! 🙂

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  4. Presentation’s just lovely, J. I make something similar. So you eat your oats raw, huh? I would toss in a reminder to go easy on the p butter even though that’s the glue bc it slows liver metabolism and makes it a double fat, so to speak, with the oil (that’s already “fatty”). I cook nuts and their butters on very low, as they’re volatile in heat and will go rancid easily.

    Diana

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  7. You inspired me to make these bars this morning. Still cooling, but looking good. I threw in the last of the trail mix and some pecans and almonds. Good thing they freeze, because this makes lots. Thanks!

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  8. Beautifully photographed, Jodi. These look so good! I could make these for Roger to have in his office drawer for those times that I know he works through lunch which he shouldn’t do! Somehow I am like a caged lion by noon, prowling around the house waiting for it to be lunchtime. I’d never miss a meal!! LOL!!

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  10. Pingback: Fiesta Friday #49 | The Novice Gardener

  11. Thank you so much for bringing these energy bars to Fiesta Friday; I’m sure they’ll be a hit with everyone as they head back to work. I must admit that working in hospitality, we’re just coming out of our busy season. 🙂

    I absolutely love all your new measuring cups, they make for such a beautiful picture and I’m sure they’ll be useful in the kitchen as well. Happy 2015!

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