Just in time for Back To School the Recipe Redux monthy challenge is all about snazzifying lunchboxes with healthy bars and bites and these Honey Nut Snack Bars are just the ticket!!
I was so excited to attack the challenge of making a healthy snack. I love the way these sunflower protein balls came out. And from the great response to this 40 back to school snack round-up, I know there are lots of other moms and dads who are looking for healthy snack ideas.
I started off with a plan to make some 3-ingredient paleo snack balls with dates, coconut flour and cashews. But they didn’t really clump together, and they tasted kind of um… not so good. So I took that mixture and added some eggs and baked it with the hopes I could just turn them into bars. They looked great, but again… yuck. So then I was like okay, how about if I add in some all-purpose gluten-free baking mix which I had on hand from making the GF Plum Clafoutis. And I added in some honey and a little butter to make them slightly more bar-cookie-esque.
They looked pretty good, see above, but I offered samples to my wee little taste testers, who actually carry the lunchboxes in question, and they were unequivocally given two thumbs down. I wondered if the cashews were going to have to go, that maybe they were inherently un-kid-friendly.
But then I started thinking about honey nut cheerios, and those are the epitome of kid friendly. That’s when I had the idea to top the bars off with cheerios.
I haven’t been in the habit of buying cheerios since my girls were toddlers, so I went to the market for those. I ended up buying some Barbara’s Multi-grain O’h cereal. I changed the batter quite a bit too at that point. I increased the honey to three tablespoons, to give it that honey nut taste. But since they were already sweet from the dates, that was plenty and it still only adds about 4 grams of added sugars per serving. I ditched the GF flour and used regular old ap instead. I added in some oats for fiber and some baking powder for an airy lift. The results got two thumbs up from my back-to-schoolers and from me too!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 1 cup pitted and quartered soft dates
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup oats
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped lightly salted cashews, divided
- ½ cup o-shaped cereal
Instructions
- Pour 3/4 cup boiling water over the dates and let sit until completely soft, 25 to30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8X8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Transfer date mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Add eggs, butter honey and vanilla and puree until smooth. Pour into a medium bowl.
- Mix flour, oats, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add flour mixture and ½ cup cashews to the date mixture and stir to combine. Scrape into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining ½ cup cashews and cereal. Bake until puffed and golden, 34 to 37 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan. Cut into 12 bars.
Notes
Protein: 4 grams. Fiber: 2 grams. Carb: 25 g.
i just got a cheerios delivery and was laying in bed this morning thinking about making snack bars with the honey nut ones. YUM!!
Lindsay recently posted…Fitness Friday 68
That is so funny Lindsay! Great minds 😉
Katie recently posted…pickled beets
Twitter: realfoodrecipes
on August 22, 2014 at 7:19 am
Great idea! My kids would love this. I was a big fan of Honey Nut Cheerios when I was a child.
Annemarie (Real Food Real Deals) recently posted…How to Make Protein Bars
My girls liked these far better than the others, and I froze some for the first week of school next week. Hope your kiddos do too.
Katie recently posted…tomatoes with thai basil dressing
I really enjoyed reading about your thought process. Don’t you just love experimenting and having fun in the kitchen? At the same time, your mind can go in million different places. I’m glad that you didn’t kick the cashews to the curb bc it truly is one of my fav nuts. Cheerios are a lovely addition, indeed ;). I normally don’t purchase it either, but I just couldn’t pass it up when I saw that it was on sale at Costco. Now I have 2 hugemongous boxes…
Min recently posted…Spicy Cheerio Nut Bars
This recipe made much more of an evolution than most of my recipes, so I thought I would share in this case. I do love the testing process, but sometimes it can be frustrating. I see you did a cheerio snack too, I’ll have to click through to see what you made.
Katie recently posted…tomatoes with thai basil dressing
They look so good! Sounds like you worked hard on that recipe and it paid off. Way to hang in there :0)
Julie recently posted…Tropical Sunshine Smoothie
It wasn’t as easy as I had envisioned that’s for sure! I thought it would just take a few minutes, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to have to turn on the oven. That said, I am so glad I did stick with it since I have a new go-to snack recipe for my girls.
Katie recently posted…best catering in burlington vermont ~ thursday things
Twitter: healthynibs
on August 22, 2014 at 11:26 am
That recipe development process sounds so familiar! These bars look delightful!
Lisa recently posted…Chili Mango Snack Bars {Recipe Redux}
Ha ha yes I am sure I am not alone with this type of challenge.
Katie recently posted…melon mint salad
The only problem with those snack bars is that I can’t stop eating just one. They look fantastic, Katie.
Angie recently posted…Matcha Spelt Madeleine
I had to put these in the freezer so that I wouldn’t eat too many. Out of site out of mind. Ha ha.
Katie recently posted…multi-grain pizza dough
Twitter: delishknowledge
on August 22, 2014 at 12:35 pm
I love the idea of adding honey nut cheerios! One of my favorite cereals and your post now has me craving a big bowl of cereal AND these bars! Pinned for later 🙂
Alex recently posted…Vegan Chia Pancakes with Peanut Syrup
I am sure the real deal honey nut variety would be great on these. Give it a try!
Katie recently posted…link love ~ thursday things
Twitter: zenandspice
on August 22, 2014 at 5:20 pm
Ooooooo these look so tasty and kid friendly!
Emily recently posted…Peanut Butter & Apple Date Bites
The girls loved these so I can confirm that they are indeed kid approved.
Katie recently posted…5-ingredient grilled pesto pizza
these snack bars look SO delicious, definitely craving a bite of one right now!
Thalia recently posted…Earl Grey Tea Loaf Cake
Thanks so much and I’m glad you stopped by.
Katie recently posted…gluten free plum clafoutis
I’m adding this to my snack list this week! Evan starts Kindergarten so I’m racking my brain out for ideas – this helps a lot! Thanks Katie!
Amber recently posted…Spaghetti Squash Boats with Bean and Corn Salad
I can believe my little one is starting Kindergarden too next week. Eek!
Katie recently posted…attitude adjustments ~ thursday things
I don’t have kids but I know this grownup kid would love these! Great post, Katie!
Bill recently posted…Ancho Pork Belly Tacos with Pickled Onions and Avocado Mayo
I have to say, this grown up kid HAS been eating her fair share too. Ha ha. I had to freeze them so there would be some left for the start of school this week.
Katie recently posted…attitude adjustments ~ thursday things
Twitter: thespicyrd
on August 23, 2014 at 12:43 pm
These look so moist and delicious-glad you figured out the perfect ingredient combo 🙂 I’d love to try making a gluten-free version w/ GF flour, oats, and “O” cereal! Enjoy the rest of your summer Katie!
EA-The Spicy RD recently posted…Recipe ReDux Mediterranean Feta & Quinoa Egg Muffins
That sounds great. Let me know if you do end up trying it. I am sure readers here would love to know of a GF option.
Katie recently posted…attitude adjustments ~ thursday things
Twitter: kumquatblog
on August 23, 2014 at 4:24 pm
cookie bar concept + o-shaped cereal = always a win!
gretchen recently posted…Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Oat Balls
I love that Gretchen!
Katie recently posted…pickled beets
What a fun recipe, and they sound delicious!! The addition of o-shaped cereal will be a perfect choice. Kids would devour them with the cereal! Take care, Terra
Terra, thank you for coming by and for the kind words.
Katie recently posted…tomatoes with thai basil dressing
Yummm, looks great! I\’m a part of the \”21st posting\” RR group so I typically don\’t see the recipes from the other group, but I\’m glad I decided to look at this link up as well!xoxo Sarah Grace, <a href
I know I miss the 21st too a lot of the time, glad you came by, I’ll have to check out your bars!
Katie recently posted…best catering in burlington vermont ~ thursday things
My big guy only eats Honey nut cereal he will love these in his lunch!
Cindys Recipes and Writings recently posted…Chocolate Crumb Bottom Blondies #RecipeRedux
I hope he likes them Cindy!
Katie recently posted…melon mint salad
Oh man, these look amazing Katie! Is it okay if I make them for my own lunchbox?!?!
Chris recently posted…Delicious Recipes – Peach Vanilla Cheesecake Trifle
Twitter: wrytoasteats
on August 26, 2014 at 12:01 pm
I am a snacking sucker and these look AWESOME. personally this comes off as more of a breakfast item for me, since I am always craving bar-type carby things in the am – Either way, loving it!
Christine recently posted…Creamy Provolone Baked Quinoa with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Pancetta & Onion
What a fun treat! I always run out of creativity when it comes to packing lunches. Love that these are refined-sugar free!
Emily recently posted…Chipotle Chicken with Mango-Tomato Salsa