Say hello to your new favorite snack! These bars, courtesy of Blue Zones*, are chewy, nutty and just the right amount of sweet. Packed with protein, fiber and feel-good ingredients, they’re perfect for powering through your day (or just treating yourself because, well, you deserve it). Whip up a batch, grab one on the go and snack happy.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup walnut pieces (or other type of nut)
- 1 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking or instant)
- 1 cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit (or a combination)
- 1/2 cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch-square baking pan.
- Place the walnuts in a dry skillet and toast over medium heat until light brown and fragrant, three to four minutes, shaking often. Transfer them to a food processor.
- Add the oats, dried fruit, chocolate chips, maple syrup, peanut butter, vegan butter and vanilla to the food processor, and pulse until crumbly. Continue to process until the mixture is well combined. Add a little water, a tablespoon at a time, if the mixture is too crumbly to stick together.
- Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to cool, then refrigerate until completely cold. Cut into 2- by 4-inch bars.
- Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap for easy transport.
Yield: Eight bars
View the original recipe on the Blue Zones site.
*HonorHealth is steadfast in its commitment to go beyond the traditional expectations of a healthcare system. We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, along with Cigna Healthcare and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona.
The Blue Zones Project Scottsdale represents a multi-year collaborative effort with the City of Scottsdale that involves the entire community working together toward one common goal – to support and build a culture of community health and well-being.