When Phoenix came to me one afternoon and said he wanted to make a healthy snack, we decided to get creative in the kitchen together. With a bit of experimenting we came up with these nut bars. We normally make nut and date balls but at the moment my Thermomix is packed away so we had to get creative. Crunchy, chewy, and just the right balance of sweet and salty. They’ve quickly become a family favourite, and I love that they’re not only delicious but also a snack we can feel good about.
If your children are not allowed nuts at school then can replace almonds and peanuts with more crushed brown rice cakes and perhaps add some dried fruit like apricots, berries, dried bananas or strawberries.
Phoenix’s Nut Bars
2 cups almonds
1 cup salted peanuts
2 cups crushed brown rice cakes
3/4 cup pepitas
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 cups pure maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut
Melted chocolate for drizzling on the top (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius
2. Put all ingredients into one bowl (except coconut + chocolate)
3. Mix to coat all ingredients with maple syrup
4. Line baking tray with baking paper
5. Press mixture tightly into baking tray
6. Bake for 30mins. Keep an eye on it!
7. Lightly toast coconut in a pan and sprinkle over the top once out of the oven.
8. Melt chocolate in a water bath and drizzle over the top
9. Put in fridge for chocolate to set
10. Cut into bars and enjoy!
I kept bars in a container in the fridge. They are super tasty and hit the sweet spot while still being relatively good for you!
We hope you enjoy making these bars as much as we enjoyed inventing them. They’re perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon pick-me-ups, or just when you need that little something to hit the sweet spot.
Happy Snacking!
Anna + Phoenix
If you want to see us making nut bars - check out our Recipes Passed highlight reel on Instagram here.