We are in the full swing of back to school! When our kids come home for the day, they are ready for snacks. These bars are made with all natural sweeteners and the Heritage Apple Fruit Spread that is near and dear to our hearts. Happy October!
Back-to-School Apple Nut & Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats, toasted (optional)
- 1 cup dates, pitted
- ½ + ¼ cup almonds, roughly chopped
- ½ + ¼ cup cashews, roughly chopped
- ½ cup nut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ⅛ cup chia seeds
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- Pinch of salt
- 1 jar Mt. Hope Farms Heritage Apple Fruit Spread
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the oats evenly onto a large baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, tossing every 2-3 minutes. Let cool and set aside.
- In a small saucepan on low heat, add the nut butter, maple syrup, chia seeds, and salt, stirring occasionally. Let the mixture warm through and set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse together the dates, ½ cup of the cashews, and ½ cup of the almonds until just combined. Add oats and pulse until it forms a crumble. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and add the remaining almonds and cashews, shredded coconut and nut butter mixture, stirring until combined.* The mixture should hold its shape when pressed.
- Line a 9x9” baking dish with parchment paper and press half of the mixture into the dish using a measuring cup to press the mix evenly. Using a spatula, spread the Mt. Hope Farms Heritage Apple evenly over the first layer. Place the baking dish in the freezer for 20 minutes so that the jam firms up. Remove from the freezer and evenly press the rest of the mixture on top of the jam layer. Place the dish in the fridge and let the bars firm up overnight before cutting and serving.*
Notes:
- To save time, instead of layering the Heritage Apple with the granola bar mixture, mix in ⅓ cup when the nut butter mixture is added.
- For an easy grab-and-go snack, wrap each bar in parchment paper.
Thanks to @kaylajoycreative for the lovely photos and recipe
