This delicious and nutritious snack was created as a packable, easy energy bar for a two-day overnight kayaking trip on breath-taking Lake Ouachita in Arkansas. We paddled over 20 miles, and slept on an island. It was a fabulous experience, and everyone loved the Nutty Fruit Bars. Since then, I’ve been making these tasty treats for our guests, and even pack them in the “Grab-N-Go” breakfast bags for early departing guests.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, packed
2 cups walnut pieces, chopped
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup dried cherries or blueberries
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat 8 inch square pan with non-stick spray.
Whisk together in a large bowl the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and brown sugar. Mix thoroughly. Add walnuts and the dried fruit. Mix the ingredients with your fingers until all the fruit and walnut pieces are coated with the dry mixture.
In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg with vanilla until slightly thickened. Using a spatula, thoroughly scrape the egg into the fruit/flour bowl. Once again, mix with your fingers until all of the fruit and nuts are coated with the batter. Spread into the prepared pan.
Bake at 35-40 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on a rack. Cut into 20 pieces.
Note: feel free to experiment with any variety of dried fruits.
Lookout Point Lakeside Inn
http://www.LookoutPointLakesideInn.com
Kristie Rosset
Bed and Breakfast Foodie
These are seriously good Kristie. What a wonderful idea.
I'm off to the store to get these ingredients! After tasting these at the conference I'm adding them to breakfast to go menu and will send hikers & bicyclists off with them as well. Thanks so much for a fabulous presentation.