From the Kitchen of Gluten-Free Kitchen Fun

Recipe:  Energy Bars  

Ingredients:

• 1 c. quinoa flakes or gluten-free quick-cooking oats
• 1 c. GF crisp rice cereal
• 1/4 c. ground flax seed, rice bran or a combination
• 1/2 c. chopped nuts or seeds or a combination
• 1/4 c. finely chopped dried fruit (fruit that is sticky works best)
• 1/2 c. nut butter, your choice
• 1/3 c. gluten-free rice syrup (no barley malt in it) or honey
• 1 t. gluten-free vanilla
• 1/2 t. cinnamon, if desired
  

     Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Melt syrup and nut butter in a microwave safe bowl (45 - 60 sec.) or in a small pan on low heat on the stove top. Do not cook. Add vanilla.

     Pour nut butter over dry ingredients and mix really well. Pour into a lightly greased 8-inch square pan and press down firmly. Refrigerate until firm - about 1 hour.

     Cut into bars and wrap into individual servings, if desired. Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

     Chocolate chips can be added in place of some of the nuts. The flavor combinations are limited only to your imagination. If you like a particular energy/snack bar, check the ingredients to see what flavors, nuts, fruits, spices, etc. that they use to get ideas.

     We tried melting 1/4 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave (30 sec. at a time on 50% power and stirring in between until melted) and adding it to the mixture right at the end. You can still use all of the other ingredients. They turned out great (see above picture). Remember to mix well.