apricot Archives • A Sweet Pea Chef

Take just 7 ingredients and 5 minutes, and you've got yourself one tasty, sweet, high-fiber, and high-energy Apricot Bar snack. These homemade flaxseed and apricot energy bars use nothing but real ingredients and are super tasty! No baking involved! Ever since I've started living a clean lifestyle, I've found fun new ways to enjoy snacking. Because, let's be honest, snacking is awesome. Snack time is like a special little moment when you can treat yourself, whether it's savory or sweet. It's some of my fave times during the day. Problem with so many snacks, though, especially convenience snacks, is that they're LOADED with added, refined sugars, and are highly processed. With these apricot, almond, and flaxseed meal homemade energy bars, I got to include all sorts of my favorite flavors and textures. First, I adore dried apricots, shredded coconut, and almonds so those totally needed to be included. I also love adding in flaxseed meal for a power-packed addition, including omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. Plus, it adds a mild, nutty flavor which really enhances these bars. Mmmm. Using dates for a little bit of added sweetness, the shredded coconut for texture, and then the punch of lemon zest to brighten everything up. That lemon zest punch, tho. Perfection. Enter the homemade energy bar. It's really a game changer, as it enables you to control all the ingredients and flavors. Life, prepare to be changed. Why You Should Make Your Own Energy Bars To break it down for ya, making your own homemade apricot bars is totes awesome for the following reasons: no need to rush to the store when you're hungry (read: hangry - let's be honest) because you already have your tasty snack waiting for you in the fridge they take no time at all to prepare no baking required - yep, we're talking vegan and raw, baby! you can add all the flavors and textures you want (bwahahaha!) no refined sugars (read more about why refined sugars suck here) not processed one bit Hence, this is why I love me some homemade energy bars and energy balls and energy bites, however you like to call them. How to Make Homemade Apricot Bars One of the biggest reasons why to make your own homemade energy bars is how easy they are to make. Just add everything to the ol' food processor, blend, and then form into tasty bars or balls or bites (<--- I honestly never know what to call them...what do you call them?). To show you how simple it is, here are the steps for how to make them: Add almonds to the food processor and process until crumbly. Add dried apricots, dates, unsweetened shredded coconut, flaxseed meal, fresh lemon zest, and cinnamon. Process until it forms a ball or sticks to itself. Transfer and press into rimmed baking dish lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate 20-30 minutes to harden. Slice into 12-14 bars. TIP: I use a second sheet of parchment paper to push down the mixture evenly into the dish so it doesn’t stick to my hands. You're welcome :) How to Store Homemade Energy Bars These homemade apricot energy bars can be stored in an air-tight container in either the fridge, freezer, or on the counter. I either use one of these handy re-usable storage bags or my go-to glass meal prep containers, and I separate the bars using parchment paper. You could also make the decision to divide the bars into smaller portions and make them into squares or roll them into balls, whichever works best for your needs. Personally, I like to keep them in my fridge and can pull them out anytime and enjoy, but you could also freeze to preserve them longer. How Long do Apricot Bars Last? If stored in an air-tight container like this, these apricot bars will last... On The Counter (Or Pantry): Up to 2 weeks. In The Fridge: Up to 1 month. In The Freezer: Up to 6 months. The better you wrap the bars using parchment paper, the better they'll hold up over time as well. If frozen, just remove from the freezer, allow to come to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes), and then enjoy. You could even stick them in your lunch, frozen, for a healthy snack! So, if you're looking for a snack to enjoy that is high in fiber, will give you energy, has no refined sugars or added processing, this apricot homemade energy bar is the solution. Take a few minutes today and you'll have a tasty grab and go treat all week long. Plus: SNACKS! Apricot, Almond & Flaxseed Homemade Energy Bars Recipe Video Flaxseed Apricot Bars Take just 7 ingredients and 5 minutes, and you’ve got yourself one tasty, sweet, high-fiber, and high-energy Apricot Bar snack. These homemade flaxseed and apricot energy bars use nothing but real ingredients and are super tasty! No baking involved! 1 1/2 cups raw almonds1 1/2 cups dried apricots1 cup dates, (pitted)1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut3 tbsp flaxseed meal1 tsp fresh lemon zest1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Add the raw almonds to the food processor and process until they’re crumbly, but not fully obliterated.Add in the dried apricots, dates, unsweetened shredded coconut, flaxseed meal, fresh lemon zest, and the cinnamon.Process everything together now until it forms a ball or sticks to itself and is fully combined. You may need to press it down a few times using a spatula to get everything even incorporated.To press the mixture into the bars, use a small, shallow baking dish and line it with parchment paper, then place the processed mixture into the baking dish.TIP: I use a second sheet of parchment paper to push down the mixture evenly into the dish so it doesn’t stick to my hands.Using your hands, evenly press into the dish, taking care to keep everything as fully packed and level as possible, since the bars will be cut from this mold.Place the mold into the fridge for about 20-30 minutes to allow the bars to harden.Once more solidified, lay the mold out on a cutting board and slice once in half lengthwise, and then again to create the individual bars - you should have about 12-14 bars.I keep these stored in the fridge, separated by parchment paper to keep them from sticking. They’ll last over a week in an airtight container. TIP: The amount of moisture in the dried fruits will have a large effect on how well the mixture holds together. If you find it not sticking together well, you can add a little coconut oil or soak your dates ahead of time to ensure they are full of moisture. This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.