Hawaii Energy Bars (no marshmallow)
Fun memories with family happen when you make these Hawaii Energy Bars.
Equipment
- 1 9" x 13" baking pan
- parchment paper
- 1 5 Quart pan or 11" chicken fryer
- 1 medium pot
- 1 large cutting board
Ingredients
- canola oil spray
- 1 cup unsweetened peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (½ of one stick)
- 2 ½ cups crisp rice cereal
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup sesame seeds (or flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (or walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds)
- 1 cup dried apricots (or raisins, cranberries, mangoes) chopped
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 peanut 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 pumpkin seeds or nuts and toast over medium high heat for about 5 minutes.
- Pour peanut butter mixture onto cereal mixture and add dried fruit. Stir until well combined and everything is coated with the peanut butter mixture.
- Press everything firmly into the prepared baking pan using parchment paper so your hands don’t get sticky. Cool and cut into bars. (If you have the patience, put them in the fridge once they are cool before cutting; they’ll harden up more and won’t fall apart so much as when they are at room temperature.) 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. I suggest putting the pan with the bar mixture in the fridge or even the freezer so it can firm up before you cut it.
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.)