23 May 2012

Chewy Cereal Bars...

...this is basically a tray-bake...but one with a purpose...it is there to pick you up mid-morning if you skipped (or didn't have time for) breakfast (not that I am advocating missing your brekkie in any way shape or form!!)...or it is simply a different type of breakfast, one that you pick up and run with...(again, not advocating running whilst eating!)...as in a "take-it-and-go" style brekkie...That said, it is also a delicious after school snack too...


...and like many of the things I bake and experiment with, it is quite simple to bake...


To make 16 bars you will need:
*1 tin condensed milk (in UK we get 397g tins)
*225g oats (not fast oats)
*75g mixed seeds, I use Virginia Harvest ground mixed seeds
*75g dessicated coconut
*75g dried cranberries
*100g raisins
*100g chopped mixed nuts, I used half macadamia, half almonds


Start by getting your dry ingredients sorted...
 I put all my fruits and nuts in one bowl...don't they look good...this mix would make a greta topping for cereals...
 ...this is the oats and milled seeds...whole seeds are great too for added texture, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower would all work well...I just didn't have any, so used the same mix that I often add to my loaves!
 ...heat the condensed milk up in a large saucepan, do it slowly, you don't want it to catch or burn...when it is steaming but not yet bubbling, add in all the dry bits and bobs and stir it up...it gets quite sticky...
 ...turn this mix into a baking tray...mine was 22x30x4cm...and press it in well...you want it to be fairly compacted or else the bars will fall apart as you cut them...a great tip here is to use a piece of cling film to help you...that way no mixture on spoons, spatulas or fingers!!! and it doesn't stick to the cling film...
 ...look...all pressed in and ready to go into a really low oven Gas 1/2 or 130c for about 50 minutes to an hour...
 ...once baked, leave it in the tin for about 20 minutes to cool...
 ...before turning out and cutting...
 ...I cut mine into "bar" shapes, but you could easily do a 4x4 square cut...
 ...these bars are chewy, sticky, and packed full of flavour...
...ideal for breakfast, coffe time, packed lunches or after school snacks...and they keep about 5 days in an airtight tin...and of course you can add any mix of fruit and nuts to suit your own tastes...

2 comments:

  1. Sadly also not good for those watching their weight!

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    Replies
    1. except at 7 weight watchers pro-points per bar if cutting into 16 they are great as a breakfast...and as stated in recipe can also be cut smaller, if in half, and making 32 squares there are only 3.5points, so a great snack...

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