Oats and Prune Energy Bars

I don't know about you, but around 10:00 a.m. or so I'm always ready for a mid-morning
snack to keep me going until lunch.  I've been trying really hard to make wise choices for
healthy snacking in the new year and I have found by making my own snacks and
bringing them with me to work, I stay on track and avoid the temptation of the office donuts.

Homemade granola bars, muffins, energy bars and smoothies are my go-to snacks
and they are so easy to make using healthy whole grains, dried fruit and nuts.
Sunsweet® prunes and juices are perfect ingredients for nutritious snacking 
and help you stick with your healthy eating resolutions for 2015.

Prunes get a bad wrap, but these little gems are a good source of fiber for only 100
calories per serving! Prunes also have a low glycemic index, which means they keep
you filling full longer.


My Oats and Prune Energy Bars packed with oats, nuts, dried fruit and fiber-rich
Sunsweet® prunes to keep you full between meals and they are perfect for
breakfast on the go.


Make sure to line your bake dish with parchment paper to allow for easy removal
from the pan.  My little trick is to use clothes pins to hold the parchment in place
while I'm filling the pan.  Be sure to remove them before placing the bake dish
in the oven!

After the bars have cooled, cut them into squares, wrap them individually with
plastic wrap in keep in the freezer for a healthy snack on the go.

Here's to healthy snacking in 2015!

Oats and Prune Energy Bars

1 1/4 C rolled oats
1/2 C chopped nuts (I used almonds, pepitas, walnuts and sunflower seeds)
1/4 C Sunsweet Pitted Prunes, chopped
1/4 C dried cranberries
1/4 C golden raisins
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C unsweetened almond milk
t tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line a 8 x 8 bake dish with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl add all dry ingredients.
Pour almond milk and vanilla over the oats and let it sit for 10 minutes for the
oats to absorb some of the milk.
Pour mixture into the prepared bake dish, pressing down with the back of a flat
measuring cup to even out.  Bake for 35- 40 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack and then cut into squares.

I like to wrap them individually with plastic wrap and freeze.
On busy mornings I can toss one in my bag and eat for a mid-morning snack.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.