Theres nothing better than a delicious, satisfying, and energizing breakfast. Unless its a delicious, satisfying, energizing breakfast on-the-go that you can make yourself in large batches--and store on hand so theyre ready to go when you are. Theres something to be said for being able to wake up, roll out of bed, and have a filling breakfast ready and waiting. The nice thing about breakfast bars is theyre easy to make with a little forethought and prep, and you can make enough to feed a crowd or fuel your whole week. There are a few things that breakfast bars need to be a real breakfast. They have to be nutritious, obviously, but more than that, they need to be loaded with the right kind of nutrition. Things like good-for-you whole grains, filling protein and fiber, delicious fruit, and healthy fats keep you feeling satisfied and sustain you through your busy day.You can, of course, get all of those things in a power-packed smoothie or a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal, or some other appropriately healthy breakfast. But sometimes you just want to mix it up a little, right? Your taste buds need a little variety, and thats exactly what these DIY grab-and-go breakfast bars provide. Dont say we didnt warn you!
Talk about an all-purpose, good-for-any-day-of-the-week sort of breakfast bar. These blueberry breakfast bars are loaded with sesame seeds and almonds, which give them a toasted flavor, and are warm and inviting with the aroma of oats, cinnamon, and brown sugar. The blueberry filling is made with a base of unbleached all purpose flour and natural cane sugar, along with freshly squeezed lemon juice, tangy grated lemon zest, and lots of fresh or thawed frozen blueberries.The whole grain crust contains whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and rye flakes (which can be subbed out for more rolled oats if you prefer), as well as light brown sugar and baking powder. Of course, your standard baking ingredients like eggs, unsalted butter, salt, water, and cinnamon are all tossed into the mix, and raw, sliced almonds and raw sesame seeds add protein, fat, and texture. To make the filling, simmer ingredients over medium heat so the berries begin to break down and everything begins to thicken.Then you can set it aside and focus on making the crust. The crust is made using a food processor, and the ingredients are all pulsed together to make a nice, clumpy, mealy mass. Use half the crust mixture to coat the bottom of your pan, and then spread the filling out on top of it. Use the rest of your crust mixture to scatter along the top of the fruit spread. It doesnt have to be perfect, just make sure its sprinkled evenly so that it bakes into the fruit evenly.Then just bake until they are golden brown, let the mixture cool, and cut it into breakfast bars. You can wrap them and store them at room temperature for a couple days, or store them longer in your fridge. You can also try this recipe with other types of seasonal berries if youre not a blueberry fanatic.
This is another great breakfast bar option that is loaded with fruit, nuts, flax, and whole grains. This means they are packed with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, plus they taste amazing. You can also modify these bars by omitting the orange flavors and zest, or make them gluten free by using gluten free oat flour and muesli. You can even make them vegan by swapping out the honey with maple syrup if you dont mind the flavor swap.These bars are made with a base of Old Country Style Muesli, whole grain oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and flaxseed meal. A sprinkle of cinnamon gives them warm spice and a dash of salt brings all the flavors out to play. Cranberries, orange juice concentrate, orange zest, and honey give these bars sweet, fruity goodness. Make a batch, wrap them up, and store them for the week ahead, whether you eat them for breakfast or a midday snack.
These breakfast bars are created with gluten free rolled oats and coconut flour, along withbaking powder, salt, and coconut oil. Sorghum molasses and almond extract give them flavor, while orange juice and dried, tart cherries give them plenty of tang. The crumb topping is made from brown sugar, toasted, slivered almonds, cinnamon, coconut oil, and unsweetened shredded coconut. Even better, these gluten free bars taste delicious!