Recipe – Rude Health No-Bake Cereal Energy Bars

My recipe for High Energy Flapjacks has always been a favourite on the blog. So, when I spotted this great looking recipe on the Rude Health website, I thought it needed to be shared with the cycling world—these are a great homemade cycling energy food bar.

Combining Rude Health's Puffed Oats with seeds, fruit, and nuts, these make a great snack either for on the bike or for those mid-afternoon stomach rumbles. Best of all, there is no need to bake.

Ingredients (makes 8 breakfast bars)

• 2 ½ cups (65g) Rude Health Puffed Oats 
• ¾ cup (150g) dates (about 7 medjool dates) 
• ¼ cup (80g) honey (or substitute in maple syrup, for a vegan option) 
• ¼ cup (60g) almond butter 
• ¼ cup (50g) almonds 
• ¼ cup (50g) pecans 
• ¼ cup (35g) sesame seeds 
• ¼ cup (50g) sour cherries or dried blueberries

Method 

1. Line an 8×8 inch (20×20cm) pan with parchment paper
2. Add the dates into a food processor and run until the dates are well chopped. If the dates form a large ball in the process, stop the food processor and break apart the ball, to make sure there aren't any large pieces of dates remaining
3. In a small microwave-safe bowl, stir together the almond butter and honey. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds. Remove it from the microwave and give it another quick stir. Microwave the mixture for another 10 seconds, or until the mixture is runny
4. In a large bowl, add the dates, almond butter and honey mixture, puffed oats, almonds, pecans, sesame seeds and sour cherries (this is everything else). Mix well. Start mixing with a spatula, but finish mixing with hands and fingers, to make sure there were no clumps of dates. Get ready for an arm workout! 
5. Using a small piece of parchment paper to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands, press everything evenly into the pan
6. Freeze the pan for 30 minutes. Remove from the freezer and cut into pieces
7. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator