I’ve started making homemade energy bars.  I got tired of big brand bars with chemicals, preservatives, or too much fiber. A lot of the bars I bought in stores give me an upset stomach and deplete my energy.  By making my own bars, I can control exactly what I’m eating. 

Homemade Energy Bars

My bars start with 4 basic ingredients, and then I add extras for many flavors.  I buy almost everything I need to make these at Trader Joe’s.  The basic ingredients are as follows:

• 24 Dates
• 1 Cup of Almonds
• 3/4 Cup of Cashews
• 3/4 Cup of Egg White Powder

Adding Some Flavor

For the last few months, I’ve tried different flavor combinations. Here are some of my favorites:

• Loco Coco Chili: 2 Tbsp Coco Powder + 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
• Salty Maple: 2 Tbsp Maple Syrup Powder + 1 Tsp large grain salt
• Cardabomb: 1/4 Cup Pistachios (shelled) + 1 Tbsp Whole Cardamom + 1 Tbsp Ginger Powder + 1 Tsp Turmeric Powder
• Hawaiian: 1/4 Cup Banana Chips + 1/4 Cup Shredded Coconut + 1/4 Cup Macadamia Nuts

How to Make Home Made Energy Bars

Making the bars is easy, but you need a food processor and a dehydrator.  Here’s how to do it:

• Remove the pits from the dates
• In a large bowel, combine the dates, almonds, cashews, egg white powder and your flavors

• Scoop about 1/3rd of the ingredients into your food processor
• Add 2 Tbsp of water
• Pulse the food processor on and off until the ingredients resemble a granular paste
• Add another 1/3rd of the ingredients and repeat
• Add the final 1/3rd of the ingredients and repeat again.
  • During this process, your food processor may bind up and overheat. If this happens, remove some of the ingredients and continue with smaller batches.
• You’re done processing when your ingredients resemble a fine paste with bits of nut
• Remove the paste and work it into a ball on top of a baking sheet or wax paper

• Using a rolling-pin (or your hands over another sheet of wax paper) to flatten the paste
• Cut the paste into your desired serving size. I get 10-12 servings.
• Place all the pieces into your dehydrator and run at 135 degrees for 3 hours

• Move the dehydrator racks into your refrigerator to set for another 3 hours
• Package your bars zip lock bags or packaging of your choice.
• Store in the refrigerator until ready for use.

Nutritional Facts for Home Made Energy Bars

The nutritional content of your homemade energy bars will vary depending on your flavoring ingredients and the size you cut them into. Here are the approximate facts for my Loco Coco Chili Bars. (My nutritional facts are based on labels for the ingredients.)

	1 Bar	% Daily Value
Calories	202	10%
Fat	9.5g	15%
Sodium	162mg	7%
Fiber	3.4g	14%
Sugar	10g	25%
Protein	15g	28%
Magnesium	15g	15%