Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Energy Bars
Equipment
- 1 9" x 13" baking pan
- parchment paper
- 1 medium saucepan
- 1 large saute pan
- 1 large cutting board
- 1 chef's knife
Ingredients
- canola oil spray
- ½ cup unsweetened macadamia nut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (½ stick)
- 2 cups crisp rice cereal
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup sesame seeds (or pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)
- ¼ cup macadamia nuts chopped
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with canola spray. You will have a hard time getting the bars out of the pan without it.
- In a medium pot, add macadamia nut butter, honey, and butter and melt on low heat. Stir until well combined. Keep warm on low heat, stirring occasionally.
- In a large saute pan or fryer pan, combine rice cereal, oats, sesame seeds, and macadamia nuts and toast over medium high heat for about 5 minutes.
- Pour the macadamia nut butter mixture onto the cereal mixture and add the cranberries. Stir until well combined and everything is coated with the macadamia nut butter mixture.
- Press everything firmly into the prepared baking pan using parchment paper so your hands don’t get sticky. Top it with the white chocolate chips and press them into the bars with parchment paper.
- Coolin the freezer for 30 minutes. Cut into bars. Wrap in wax paper for sharing (optional).
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Can I use quick-cooking oats?
Yes, quick-cooking oats can be swapped for the old-fashioned oats. Since the oats don’t cook for very long and you’re not adding moisture to it, there isn’t too much difference in the texture of the final bar.
What other sweetener can I use?
I haven’t tried it with other sweeteners. Maple syrup is a close option, but your bar may not hold together well because maple syrup has more moisture and stays in a liquid form in the fridge where honey will firm up in the cold.
If you really want to use marshmallows instead of honey for a stickier treat that will hold up well when it’s sitting out on the dessert table, use 6 ounces of marshmallows. Add it to the saucepan with the butter and macadamia nut butter.
How long does this last in the freezer? What about the fridge?
These bars stay fresh in the fridge for 7 to 10 days. They keep very nicely in the freezer for 3 to 4 months depending on how they are stored (e.g., individually wrapped, freezer bag, etc.)