Paleo Dan Bars

A day after arriving in Colorado I felt inspired to get back in to my paleo cooking and training schedule and while planning a trip to climb some peaks in the Rockies I realised I was going to need my trusty go to bar.

This is my go to survivor food! I make a batch every week for on the go breakfast especially when hiking. It's great as a sugar craving snack or just snack in general.  I even sometimes break it all up and use it as granola/muesli.

For those of you on a clean eating challenge here is your paleo snack bar, non cheat food that tastes like cheat food.

It's gluten and dairy free and if you want to take out the eggs it's vegan too.
See notes bellow for endless variations.


SCRIPT

1C Almonds halved
1/2 C Pecans chopped
1/2 C Walnuts chopped
1/4 C pumpkin seeds
1/4 C sunflower seeds
1C Coconut flake, shredded or desiccated
1C Dried Cranberries
2 eggs
3T unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 C 72% Dark chocolate pieces or cocoa nibs
1/4t ground cinnamon
1/4t ground ginger

METHOD

-Preheat oven to 360f or 180c
-Put all ingredients into a large bowl and stir together until well combined
-line a slice tin or baking tray at least 1 inch in height with baking paper
-press mix firmly into chosen tray and place in the oven
-cook for 10-15 minutes or until desired texture
-slice up into squares and refrigerate in an air tight container

           

NOTES

This recipe has endless variations...

-add seeds such as chia and sesame seeds as an extra binding agent
-use other dried fruit such as dried apricots, blueberries etc
-for lower cholesterol and fat use egg whites instead of whole eggs
-make it vegan and blend up some almonds to make almond flour and add 1/2 C and a dash or two of water to help bind it
-Protein load it for pre/post workout with 1-2 scoops of chocolate or vanilla protein powder
-Try a Tablespoon of almond butter mixed in as a binding agent
-Play with quantities to make more or less bars

Play with your favourite nuts, fruit and seeds and see what you come up with.  I'm so curious to what people will do with this since every time I make it it's a whole new bar.


*For those of you with questions about Dark Chocolate and Cocoa nibs being Paleo check out what this guy has to say and decide for yourself.
http://paleodietlifestyle.com/chocolate-coffee-alcohol/