[Post sponsored by Volkswagen] I’ve got some delicious (little) snacks for you today! If your energy level is low, these handy granola bars are perfect to give you back the energy you need. They are also good if you just want a snack on your way to work or a trip. Homemade granola energy bars are good in any of these situations.
I guess you experienced this too – during the day you have those moments where you are just out of energy. You can’t concentrate well and everything takes much longer. When I was young, I solved that problem with a little nap. Nowadays in an office, this is a bit more difficult – hardly any beds or sofas there ;) A little snack, which gives you back some energy, is the much better solution here. A car would get some gasoline at the gas station – all YOU need is some granola, dates, almonds etc.
Homemade energy bars or granola bars are much better than anything you can get from the store I think – you can make them with the ingredients you like the most. If you are not a fan of raisins, you leave them in the kitchen cabinets – even though the would give you a nice energy boost. Make the bars with cranberries instead, dried apricots or goji berries – whatever you like! To make it easier, you can also use berry mixes or add a superfood topping mixture. My topping had flaxseed in it as well as white chia, quinoa, and cocoa nibs. Maybe you want some chocolate in there as well? No problem – add some chopped chocolate or brush the bars with some melted chocolate – endless possibilities :)
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
For the bars:
2 cups (300g) soft dates, pitted
1/2 cup (120ml) water
1/2 cup (100g) peanut butter
1.4 oz. (40g) coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 cups (240g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (40g) coconut, shredded
2 tbsp. superfood topping (mixture of flaxseed, white chia, quinoa, cocoa nibs etc.)
1/4 cup (30g) almond, coarsly chopped
2 tbsp. dried soft cranberries
For the decoration:
dried soft cranberries
whole almonds
Für die Bars:
300g weiche Datteln, entsteint
120ml Wasser
100g Erdnussbutter
40g Kokosnussöl
1 TL Vanille Extrakt
1/2 TL Zimt
240g Haferflocken
40g Kokosraspeln
2 EL Superfood Topping (Mix aus Leinsamen, Weißem Chia, Quinoa, Cocoa Nibs usw.)
30g Mandeln, grob gehackt
2 EL getrocknete Cranberries
Für die Dekoration:
getrocknete Cranberries
ganze Mandeln
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
2. Add the dates and water to a medium size pot and heat up over medium low heat. Mix and mash the dates with a fork until you get a smooth paste – takes about 4-5 minutes. Add the peanut butter and mix until well combined. Remove from the heat. And set aside.
3. Melt the coconut oil in the microwave and mix with the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. Take about 1 cup (80g) of the rolled oats, add to a mixer and mix until you get a fine flour.
4. Add the coconut oil mixture to the pot with the dates and mix until well combined. Add the oat flour, shredded coconut, and superfood topping and mix until well combined. Add the remaining rolled oats, half of the chopped almonds and the dried cranberries and fold in – the mix should stick together but should not be wet. Pour the mix into the prepared pan and smooth out the top with a spatula, sprinkle the remaining chopped almonds plus some whole almonds and cranberries on top and press a bit down, so it all sticks together. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.
5. Remove from the pan and cut into bars with a sharp knife. Store in the fridge in an airtight container with parchment paper between the bars so they don’t stick together.
2. Die Datteln mit dem Wasser in einen mittelgroßen Topf geben und bei mittlerer Hitze erwärmen. Die Datteln mit einer Gabel zerquetschen und verrühren, bis eine glatte Masse entsteht – dauert etwa 4-5 Minuten. Die Erdnussbutter zugeben und unterrühren. Vom Herd nehmen und zur Seite stellen.
3. Das Kokosnussöl in der Mikrowelle schmelzen und dann mit dem Vanille Extrakt und Zimt verrühren. Von den Haferflocken etwa 1 Tasse (80g) in einem Mixer zu Mehl mahlen.
4. Die Kokosnussöl-Mischung zu den Datteln dazugeben und unterrühren. Das Haferflockenmehl, Kokosraspeln und das Superfood Topping zum Topf dazugeben und alles gut verrühren. Die verbliebenen Haferflocken, die Hälte der gehackten Mandeln und die Cranberries unterheben – die Mischung sollte zusammenkleben, aber nicht freucht sein. Die Masse in die Form schütten und glattstreichen. Die verbliebenen gehackten Mandeln und ein paar ganze Mandeln und Cranberries darauf verteilen und festdrücken. Die Form abdecken und dann über Nacht in den Kühlschrank stellen.
5. Den Granola Block aus der Form lösen und mit einem scharfen Messer in handliche Rechtecke schneiden. Die Granola Bars im Kühlschrank in einem luftdichten Behälter lagern, die Bars voneinander mit Butterbrotpapier trennen, damit sie nicht zusammen kleben.
To take the energy bars with you, I recommend wrapping them in some paper. Depending on how long your journey is, a little box might be even better to store the bars. This way you make sure they get safe from A to B. You can find this and many other recipes on the Food Bloggers for Volkswagen Pinterest board*. Each week a new recipe inspired by the topics cars and mobility will be added.
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for new post updates and more. You can also contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
Granola Energy Bars
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 600
- Yield: 16 1x
Ingredients
For the bars
- 2 cups (300g) soft dates, pitted
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water
- 1/2 cup (100g) peanut butter
- 1.4 oz. (40g) coconut oil
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 3 cups (240g) rolled oats
- 1/2 cup (40g) coconut, shredded
- 2 tbsp. superfood topping (mixture of flaxseed, white chia, quinoa, cocoa nibs etc.)
- 1/4 cup (30g) almond, coarsly chopped
- 2 tbsp. dried soft cranberries
For the decoration
- dried soft cranberries
- whole almonds
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 inch (23x23cm) baking pan with baking parchment and set aside.
- Add the dates and water to a medium size pot and heat up over medium low heat. Mix and mash the dates with a fork until you get a smooth paste – takes about 4-5 minutes. Add the peanut butter and mix until well combined. Remove from the heat. And set aside.
- Melt the coconut oil in the microwave and mix with the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. Take about 1 cup (80g) of the rolled oats, add to a mixer and mix until you get a fine flour.
- Add the coconut oil mixture to the pot with the dates and mix until well combined. Add the oat flour, shredded coconut and superfood topping and mix until well combined. Add the remaining rolled oats, half of the chopped almonds and the dried cranberries and fold in – the mix should stick together but should not be wet. Pour the mix into the prepared pan and smooth out the top with a spatula, sprinkle the remaining chopped almonds plus some whole almonds and cranberries on top and press a bit down, so it all sticks together. Cover and place in the fridge over night.
- Remove from the pan and cut into bars with a sharp knife. Store in the fridge in an airtight container with parchment paper between the bars so they don’t stick together.
Notes
- Enjoy baking!
*I have partnered with Volkswagen to make this energy bars. That is why I have to declare this here in Germany as Advertising. All I wrote in this article is still based on my own opinion and has not been affected by anybody :)
I love my job, but in between I love to bake and try new things in the kitchen. A lot of my friends and colleagues encourage me to bake - for a very simple reason: they get the leftovers - and it seems they like it most of the time ;) 
These granola energy bars look fantastic! As someone in the protein bar industry, I appreciate recipes that focus on wholesome ingredients and homemade goodness. Do you think adding a drizzle of dark chocolate or a sprinkle of sea salt would complement the flavors, or would that be over the top? Inspired to experiment with this recipe.