Blueberry Bliss Breakfast Bars (No-Bake, Vegan, Gluten Free, Naturally Sweetened)
 
 
A delicious all natural protein bar that is gluten-free, vegan and naturally sweetened
Author:
Serves: Makes 16 bars
Ingredients
  • 1 + ½ cups 100% pure, uncontaminated, rolled oats certified Gluten Free
  • ¾ cup whole almonds
  • Heaping ½ cup dried blueberries
  • ½ cup pistachios
  • ⅓ cup ground flaxseed
  • ⅓ cup walnuts
  • ⅓ cup pepitas
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or honey
  • ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1 cup almond butter
Instructions
  1. Line an 8"x 8" (or so) baking pan with parchment or wax paper such that the paper hangs over the edges (the pan I used is 7" x 10").
  2. Combine the first 8 ingredients in a large bowl and mix to combine.
  3. Add maple syrup or honey and apple sauce and mix to combine.
  4. Add almond butter to mixture and mix until combined.
  5. Place batter in prepared pan pressing down firmly with palm of hands (or mini-roller if you have one) and distributing as evenly as possible.
  6. Allow pan to sit in freezer for approximately 1 hour.
  7. Remove pan from freezer. Lift singular slab from pan by lifting up on paper. Set slab down and gently peel paper away. Slice slab diagonally into 8 long bars and then cut each long bar in half to create a total of 16 bars. I find these bars keep best in a sealed container/bag in the freezer.
Notes
The Crumble Factor - all natural bars do not contain fillers and binders that allow the bars to gel together the way manufactured commercials bars do. You will sacrifice some integrity (and have to put up with some crumbling) but on balance, I think the natural bar is worth the slight inconvenience. Outside the freezer these bars do not do as well but you could use travelling/lunchbox ice packs to keep them together somewhat.
Substitutions & Deletions - you can substitute any nut/seed of choice (or nut/seed butter) or dried fruit as desired (sliced apricot, cranberries, cherries, dates & fig are all delicious here). However if you remove ingredient classes without replacing them, these bars will not work in the same way.
Are Oats really Gluten Free? - pure oatmeal does not contain gluten however many commercially sold oats do due to cross-contamination issues. If you are gluten sensitive or have celiac disease, be sure to seek out certified 'gluten-free' oatmeal.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 52 grams Calories: 232 Fat: 16.2 g Saturated fat: 1.6 g Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 15.2 g Sugar: 5.1 g Sodium: 2 mg Fiber: 3.8 Protein: 8.1 g Cholesterol: 0 mg
Recipe by Inspired Edibles at https://www.inspirededibles.ca/2013/05/blueberry-bliss-breakfast-bars-raw.html