These bars are quick and easy to make…they are a perfect mid-day snack dipped into Greek yogurt or an after dinner dessert paired with organic soy ice cream.

I love experimenting in my kitchen-I devised this recipe one afternoon when searching through my cabinets for a snack.  When I finally realized I had all of the ingredients needed to make a bar- I simply played around and came up with a masterpiece.  No baking required is a plus, especially in the warm weather…simply pop these bars into the fridge and they’ll be ready in no time.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Steel Cut Oats
• 4 Tbsp. Honey
• 1/2 cup Dried Cherries
• A dash of Cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp. Ground Flax Seeds
• 1/4 cup Slivered Almonds
• 2 Tbsp. Cashew Butter (or any nut butter of choice)
• Zest of 1 Orange

Directions

• Combine all above ingredients and mix well until it forms a sticky, firm consistency
• Mold mixture in a square 9 x9 pan
• Refrigerate for 2 hours
• Cut into bar- like shapes and enjoy!

To store these bars, simply wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.  These will keep in the refrigerator for about 1 week.  For longer storage, you can freeze these bars for up to 3 months.

I love making my own bars–it’s so much fun to experiment in the kitchen with healthy ingredients such as seeds, nuts, dried fruits, sweeteners (such as stevia, agave and honey) and a whole grain base (oats, bran, cereal, rice, bulgar, quinoa, etc.)  My list could go on forever–it’s easy to create your very own custom bar…just take a look at what you have in your cabinets and fridge and experiment with new ingredients each time!

What are your favorite ingredients to incorporate into your homeade snack bars?