Name: Nutritious Cacao, Fruit & Popcorn Energy Bars Recipe
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 1 Cup Raisins; 1 Cup Apricot (Dried); 1 Cup Apple (Dried); 1 Cup Cranberries (Dried); 1 Tbsp Super Mushroom Nutri-Complex; 1 Tbsp Reishi Mushroom Powder; 1 Cup GF Oats; 5 Cups Ready-To-Eat Unsalted Popcorn; 1 Cup Cashew Nuts; 1/2 Tsp Salt; 1/4 Cup Butter; 1/4 Cup Honey; 1/3 Cup Yacon Syrup; 2 Cup Melted Chocolate; Colourful Sprinkles; Dried Banana Pieces

Nutritious Fruit & Popcorn Energy Bars Recipe

These energy bars are the perfect snack for a sweet tooth or for the kids. Made with popcorn and chocolate, a sweet tooths favourite - but sneaked in is some superfood mushroom nutrition to make these slightly less guilty & to get some goodness into your kids lunchboxes.

Equipment

Large Bowl
2 x Wooden Spoon
2 x Mixing Bowls
2 Square Tin Baking Trays
Baking Paper
Chopping Board & Knife
Fridge

Ingredients

1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup Apricot (Dried)
1 Cup Apple (Dried)
1 Cup Cranberries (Dried)
1 Tbsp Super Mushroom Nutri-Complex
1 Tbsp Reishi Mushroom Powder
1 Cup GF Oats
5 Cups Ready-To-Eat Unsalted Popcorn
1 Cup Cashew Nuts
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/4 Cup Butter
1/4 Cup Honey
1/3 Cup Yacon Syrup
2 Cup Melted Chocolate

Optional topping

Colourful Sprinkles
Dried Banana Pieces

Method

Firstly, grease both square tin trays with a bit of extra butter.
Place the baking paper on top of each buttered tray, make it slightly bigger so that you can get the bars out at the end.
Using a sharp knife and chopping board, chop the dried fruit into bite-sized pieces.
Next, in a large bowl combine the oats, popcorn, cashew nuts and raisins. Stir together well.
Add the butter, honey, yacon syrup & melted chocolate to the dry mixture and keep stirring until you have a fully combined texture.
Evenly seperate this mixture into two mixing bowls.
BOWL 1: Chocolate, Apricot & Popcorn Energy Bars
Place the chopped apricots and super mushroom nutri-complex into 1 of the mixing bowls and stir into the already created mixture.
Once combined, pour this mixture into one of the lined trays and spread out evenly with a knife. Pat the mixture down gently, but not too much that you squash and break up the popcorn.
If you'd like to, top with colourful sprinkles & dried banana at this point.
Put in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
BOWL 2: Chocolate, Apple & Cranberries, Popcorn Energy Bars
Place the chopped dried apple and cranberries with the reishi mushroom powder into the remaining bowl with the leftover mixture.
Stir together well and as above pour this mixture into the second lined tray and spread out evenly. Pat down as before but make sure it's not too hard.
If you'd like to, top with colourful sprinkles & dried banana at this point.
Refridgerate for at least 4 hours with the other bars.
Once both set and cool, take out and with a sharp knife cut into bite sized bars.
Share, pop into lunch boxes and enjoy!

Click to enlarge

Ethan & Evelyn

Su is a stay at home mum to her 2 beautiful children, Ethan and Evelyn. She writes about her gentle parenting style, giving helpful tips discovered through her own successes and experiences. Follow her blog for yummy yet healthy recipes, lifestyle hacks and crafty creations for both adults and children.