Energy Bars

I figured I would share the secret recipe that we found online.

We (My Wife) make our own energy bars for my many extended length adventures on the bikes.
We have yet to do the cost analysis to verify this supposition, but, I firmly believe that we save a HUGE amount of money by making these ourselves. Find the recipe below.

• 4.5 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup flour
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup butter - softened
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
  
• 1/2 cup choco chips
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds.

(She puts double the dried fruit)


Mix first 4 ingredients first.
Add next 4 and beat with mixer.
Add rest, dump into "lightly greased" 9x15 pan, bake 20 - 25 mins or till golden brown.

Makes approx. 24 reasonably sized bars which we (My Wife) cover with plastic wrap for easy access on the fly.

We (Me) did the math and established that each of the 24 bars has approx. 235 calories each.
Not bad in comparison to other available energy bars out there.

If you are at all familiar with the other options for compact energy replenishment, you will know that taste, texture and chewability (new word) definitely take a back seat to shelf life and calorie capacity. I'm sure there has been exhaustive market research done to determine the viability of the many similar available products, but I have to believe that the corporate decision makers for the manufacturers don't consume their own products. I've tried various assortments, and have been rather disappointed. Hence the search for the cost effective, digestible, and palitable alternative.


The biggest problem that I can see to marketing our little secret is shelf life. Ours hang out in the freezer. Not sure if that's a marketable concept.
No matter - they work for us. And as long as I'm not gasping my way up a long hill, they go down pretty easily.

(Tip: Don't inhale the little crumbs)