Homemade oat bars: Easy recipe for a healthy breakfast boost
Some mornings, there's just not enough time to prepare a nutritious and healthy breakfast. It's beneficial to be prepared for such occasions. Instead of grabbing something quickly, opt for homemade oat bars. They provide everything your brain needs to operate at full power, without causing a sudden spike in blood sugar and cholesterol.
Consider making oat bars in advance. After cooling, store them in a container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They're perfect for packing in your child's lunchbox or bringing to work. If you forget breakfast or need a snack, an oat bar will keep you satisfied for a few more hours.
A healthy alternative to store-bought snacks
High-protein bars that athletes usually reach for can often contain unnecessary sweeteners or preservatives. By preparing a homemade version, you have full control over the ingredients. Choose additions according to your preferences: mix in almonds or hazelnuts, and add dried or fresh fruits or pieces of dark chocolate. This way, you'll create a tasty and nutritious snack.
Add spices—not just for better taste
Add cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg to the oat bars. This will not only enhance their flavor but also offer health benefits. Cinnamon and ginger provide warming effects and help fight infections. This information is especially useful during early spring when the weather is quite unpredictable.
Use oats in traditional recipes
Practical oats can be used not only to prepare healthy bars but also in various other dishes. They can even replace breadcrumbs in meatballs. Adding oats will reduce the calorie content of the dish and enrich a traditional meal with valuable nutrients. You can add soaked oats to the meatball mixture and coat them with dry oats before frying. They positively influence digestive processes, providing a benefit in daily diets.
How to make healthy oat bars?
Choose regular or rolled oats for the bars. Instant oats are partially processed, so they contain less fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Ingredients:
- 2 handfuls of dried cranberries
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- A pinch of salt
- 4 tablespoons of honey
- 1 mashed apple
- Approximately 2 ounces of coconut milk (rounded from 50 ml)
- Seeds from a vanilla pod
- Grated zest from 1 lemon
- 2 cups of oats
- Half a cup of chopped nuts
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- Half a teaspoon of baking soda
Instructions:
- Soak the dried cranberries in warm water for 30 minutes.
- Separate the egg whites from the yolks. Beat the egg whites into a foam with a pinch of salt. Mix the beaten whites with one yolk.
- Incorporate honey, mashed apple, coconut milk, seeds from the vanilla pod, and grated lemon zest (ensure the lemon is thoroughly washed and scalded beforehand). Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, combine oats, chopped nuts, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix them together.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until a cohesive mass forms.
- Drain the cranberries and add them to the bar mixture.
- Spread the mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Distribute it evenly and bake in a preheated oven at 355 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes (rounded from 180 degrees Celsius).
- Remove the baked dessert from the oven and place it on a rack to cool. Once cooled, cut into rectangular bars.
