After spending a bunch of money on energy bars last hunting season (and wasting energy trying to find energy bars I really liked), I decided to make it my mission to come up with a homemade energy bar recipe that would prove itself to be both delicious and wholesome.
I gave up for several months after a few attempts that resulted in bars that were either too dry or too melty. But with the arrival of turkey season, I decided to give it another go and am finally happy with the results!
My husband actually gave these bars a thumbs up, too, and lovingly dubbed them “moose poop”. I guess I can see the resemblance, especially if I make them into balls rather than bars.
A few notes: I used coconut rolled dates from a local health food store that sells them in bulk and they had just the right amount of moisture for this recipe. If all you can get your hands on are medjools, then I would suggest increasing the almond butter by a couple teaspoons.
Also, I used my Vitamix to make these and it worked beautifully, even with the thick “dough” that forms. I personally don’t know how anyone can live without a Vitamix, but a food processor would work, as well.
Disclaimer: If you are looking for a weight-watcher, low-calorie recipe, this one’s probably not for you. I specifically designed these to be a calorie-dense snack that could help fuel my body when it puts in some major mileage out in the field.
Here’s the recipe if you’d like to try making some “moose poop” for yourself!
Moose Poop Hunting Bars
Wholesome, Gluten-free Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats if gluten intolerant)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 3 coconut rolled dates
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup dried unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup honey (I used local raw honey)
- Optional: 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or 2 tbsp. coarsely ground espresso beans
Instructions
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Grind the oats using your Vitamix or food processor (I ground them in my Vitamix for about 8-10 seconds on medium-high speed). You want it to be slightly coarse, rather than a fine flour. Pour into a mixing bowl and set aside.
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Place remaining ingredients (minus the optional mix-ins) into Vitamix or food processor and process on medium-low speed until a smooth dough forms. You may have to stop and scrape the edges or use a tamper, as the mixture will be thick.
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Pour the mixture into the bowl with the ground oats and any optional mix-ins. Knead thoroughly to combine.
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Press into a small baking dish (I used a 6x8 glass pan) and cut out five uniform bars or roll into balls (makes about 15 balls, depending how big you make them).
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I recommend refrigerating them for optimal freshness, but it's not required. Obviously you're not going to if you put them in your day pack. I actually "field-tested" them by accidentally leaving a bag of them in my purse. They were still good after six days 😉
There you have it: a homemade energy bar that is complete with fruit, protein, complex carbs, fiber, healthy fats, and even a bit of vegetable (cocoa comes from the cacao bean, which is a legume, so there’s your veggie). Enjoy.
You may also like: Kid-friendly Healthy Chocolate Pudding