Chia with Dried Fruit Bars Recipe

Snacks can be healthy and fun too! Take this dried fruit chia bars recipe. Easy and fun to make, these bars will not only be a favourite to health conscious mums but also to little picky eaters. Start the year right with nutritious snacks for your kids this back to school season.

With the mix of berries, nuts, and seeds, these healthy chia bars are just as filling as they are delicious. Perfect for on the go mornings, they are also easy to make ahead with the help of a powerful blender.

Equipment

• Vitamix blender
• Digital scale
• Measuring cups and spoons 
• Spatula
• Glass jar
• Loaf pan (preferably 23cm x 13cm)
• Mixing bowl
• Cling wrap

Ingredients

For the chia gel

• 120ml (1 ½ cup) water
• 3 tbsp chia seeds

For the chia bars

• 85g (½ cup) almonds, blanched
• 50g (½ cup) pecan halves, roasted
• 30g (¼ cup) sunflower seeds, roasted
• 35g (¼ cup) flaxseed
• 40g (¼ cup) dried blueberries
• 35g (¼ cup) dried cherries
• 25g (¼ cup) dried cranberries
• 2 tbsp dried goji berries
• 1 tbsp lucuma powder
• 2 tbsp hemp seeds
• 80ml (⅓ cup) chia gel
• 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for a vegan recipe)

Instructions

To make the chia gel

1. Place water and chia seeds into the Vitamix container and secure lid. 
2. Select Variable 1, start the machine, and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High. Blend for 35 to 45 seconds. 
3. Transfer into a glass jar then set aside.

To make the chia bars

1. Spray coat the loaf pan with coconut oil and set aside.
2. Add almonds and pecans into the Vitamix container and secure lid. Select Variable 7 and pulse two to three times.
3. Transfer chopped nuts into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
4. Rinse container then add sunflower seeds, flaxseed, all the dried fruits, and lucuma powder. Select Variable 7 again and pulse 15 to 20 times. Add mixture to the chopped nuts.
5. Combine hemp seeds, chia gel, and honey in a separate mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.
6. Press mixture into prepared loaf pan. Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate overnight. Slice into six bars.

Recipe and image adapted from Vitamix.