Healthy Snack Bar Recipe

If there’s one thing we know about feeding children, it’s that snacks can disappear at an astonishing rate! One minute you’ve packed a wholesome little snack into their bag, and the next you’re being asked, “Can I have something to eat?” again.

So, having a few quick and easy homemade snacks up your sleeve is always a good idea. These delicious snack bars, from Cooking Them Healthy, are just the thing. They’re wonderfully simple to make, packed with nuts, seeds and dried fruit, and make a great alternative to shop-bought chocolate bars, biscuits and other sugary snacks.

They’re full of protein and healthy fats, making them a handy little energy boost for busy days. Pop one into a school bag, take them along for a walk, or keep a batch in the kitchen for those inevitable “I’m hungry!” moments. And the best bit? They’re incredibly easy to make. There’s no complicated baking involved and you only need a handful of wholesome ingredients.

A snack you can make your own

One of the things we love about these bars is how easy they are to customise. Think of the recipe below as a starting point rather than a strict set of rules. You can swap the nut butter for whichever one your family enjoys, change up the dried fruit or add extra seeds for a little more crunch. If your children have a particular favourite, throw it in! They’re also a brilliant way of using up little bits and pieces lurking in the cupboard. A handful of raisins here, some dried apricots there and a sprinkling of seeds can all come together to make something rather delicious.

Ingredients

• 100g ground almonds

• 50g nut butter – cashew, hazelnut, peanut butter or your favourite

• 80–100g coconut oil

• 130g honey

• 150g mixed roasted nuts

• 10g chia and poppy seeds

• 50g raisins

• 70g dried apricots

• 50g dried cranberries

• 70g puffed rice

• 20g mixed seeds

How to make them

1. Roast the nuts.
Preheat your oven to 200°C. Spread the mixed nuts onto a baking tray and roast for around 10–15 minutes, until lightly golden. Keep an eye on them towards the end as nuts can catch quite quickly.

2. Make the sticky mixture.
Place the nut butter, ground almonds, coconut oil and honey into a saucepan. Gently heat everything together until melted and well combined.

3. Add all the good stuff.
Take the pan off the heat and add the roasted nuts, seeds, dried fruit and puffed rice. Give everything a really good stir so that the sticky mixture coats all those lovely ingredients.

4. Press and chill.
Line a baking tray with silicone or non-stick greaseproof paper. Tip in the mixture and press it down firmly and evenly. This is important – really press it down so the bars hold together once they're cut. Pop the tray into the fridge and leave it to set.

5. Cut into bars.
Once firm, remove from the fridge and cut into bars or squares. Store them in an airtight container. Although, if your house is anything like ours, you may find they disappear before you get around to putting the lid on!

Fancy making them extra special?

Here’s our favourite little twist…

Before cutting the bars, melt some dark chocolate and spread it over the top. Pop everything back into the fridge until the chocolate has set, then cut into bars. It adds a lovely chocolatey layer and turns these already delicious little snacks into something that feels like a real treat – without needing to reach for the biscuit tin.

A great recipe for little helpers

These bars are also a fun one to make with children. Older children can help measure the ingredients, while little ones can help add the dried fruit and seeds to the bowl and, most importantly, give everything a good stir. Just remember that the mixture and saucepan will be hot, so an adult should handle the heating and roasting.

Once you've made a batch, keep them somewhere handy for those busy mornings, after-school hunger pangs or adventures out and about. They’re quick, tasty and wonderfully adaptable – exactly the sort of recipe that earns a regular place in the family kitchen.