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Home made energy bars and granola bars?

  • 21-02-2012 07:12PM
    #1
    skerry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭


    Bit of a Darina Allen one here. I've been trying to round up some good recipe's for bars and the likes to be eating while out on the bike. I remember someone posted a recipe for bars here ages ago but I couldn't find it when I searched. Just wondering if anyone has any good recipes for energy bars or homemade granola bars. I made the ones in the link below and they turned out OK if anyone is interested in giving them a whack, kinda Elevenses bar type thing although not as dense and a bit easier to get down on the bike (I thought anyway). Also, do people find the the Elevenses/ cake type bars better for on the bike than granola type bars. Be interested to hear opinions and any recipes, I'll be awaiting with rolling pin in hand.

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/michaels-energy-bars-recipe/index.html


«1

Comments

  • #2
    QueensGael
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 709 ✭✭✭QueensGael


    Here's my mother's recipe - I made a few batches recently, and they turned out great, been scoffing them on my training spins the last few weekends! Sadly, Mamma is not a cyclist, and hence doesn't use the metric system, so apologies in advance for the oz and F. The last line is an actual instruction from her :)

    Oatmeal Bars

    6oz porridge oats
    2oz plain flour
    4oz soft brown sugar
    4oz butter
    2 tablesps. golden syrup
    5oz cooking chocolate

    Combine oats flour and sugar. Melt butter and syrup together and pour over dry ingred. Mix well and press into greased tin. Bake 350Fdeg. for 20 - 25 mts. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Melt chocolate and pour over, then cut into squares after the chocolate has hardened a little. Then eat them all up.


  • #3
    Caroline_ie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,400 ✭✭✭Caroline_ie


    I have made some a couple of times in January. I used condensed milk like Nigella would do, no butter syrup etc. Mines were made with oats, piscacchio, sunflower seeds dried cranberries and dates. they were really good.
    http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/breakfast-bars-55


  • #4
    skerry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭skerry


    QueensGael wrote: »
    Here's my mother's recipe - I made a few batches recently, and they turned out great, been scoffing them on my training spins the last few weekends! Sadly, Mamma is not a cyclist, and hence doesn't use the metric system, so apologies in advance for the oz and F. The last line is an actual instruction from her :)

    Oatmeal Bars

    6oz porridge oats
    2oz plain flour
    4oz soft brown sugar
    4oz butter
    2 tablesps. golden syrup
    5oz cooking chocolate

    Combine oats flour and sugar. Melt butter and syrup together and pour over dry ingred. Mix well and press into greased tin. Bake 350Fdeg. for 20 - 25 mts. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Melt chocolate and pour over, then cut into squares after the chocolate has hardened a little. Then eat them all up.

    I'm liking this one, sounds like a good old timely recipe. Looks nice and handy too. Similar ingredients to the link I posted, but with chocolate.

    I'll be trying both these and Nigella's ones in the coming weeks. Elevenses bars are good but probably make as good yourself for half the price. Cheers guys.

    Is it a bad thing that only females have replied so far. Keep em coming anyway.


  • #5
    Holyboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 869 ✭✭✭Holyboy


    Caroline_ie wrote: »
    I have made some a couple of times in January. I used condensed milk like Nigella would do, no butter syrup etc. Mines were made with oats, piscacchio, sunflower seeds dried cranberries and dates. they were really good.
    http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/breakfast-bars-55

    I shall be expecting a few when you next visit the cave, they sound yummy :)


  • #6
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,081 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Caroline_ie wrote: »
    I have made some a couple of times in January. I used condensed milk like Nigella would do, no butter syrup etc. Mines were made with oats, piscacchio, sunflower seeds dried cranberries and dates. they were really good.
    http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/breakfast-bars-55

    Just an update to this. I tried the recipe as written and it was sh1t. They were way too... gnawing.

    So I've made them a couple of times since with some alterations. Same amount of porridge, but the rest made up with much much more dried fruit, and I also added a good healthy dollop or two, like maybe 4 tablespoons, of honey to the mix. And I've cut the oven time down to about 45 minutes. Makes them much softer and chewer, and they seem to keep that soft chewiness, rather than going rock hard like the original lot.

    I also substituted some of the dry nutty ingredients for one of those milled linseed/etc Omega 3 cereal topping mix things that Aldi/Lidl do. Nice way of introducing some of that to your diet.

    So, on top of the porridge, Nigella has about 425 grams of stuff, 125 of which is fruit. I've weighted that balance way-hey in favour of the fruit. Maybe 75-100g mixed nuts, 75-100g of that seedy stuff, and then the rest was raisins/sultanas/dried cranberries/dried apricots etc.

    Just pulled a batch outta the oven now and they're nice. Needs the honey too.


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  • #7
    skerry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭skerry


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Just an update to this. I tried the recipe as written and it was sh1t. They were way too... gnawing.

    So I've made them a couple of times since with some alterations. Same amount of porridge, but the rest made up with much much more dried fruit, and I also added a good healthy dollop or two, like maybe 4 tablespoons, of honey to the mix. And I've cut the oven time down to about 45 minutes. Makes them much softer and chewer, and they seem to keep that soft chewiness, rather than going rock hard like the original lot.

    I also substituted some of the dry nutty ingredients for one of those milled linseed/etc Omega 3 cereal topping mix things that Aldi/Lidl do. Nice way of introducing some of that to your diet.

    So, on top of the porridge, Nigella has about 425 grams of stuff, 125 of which is fruit. I've weighted that balance way-hey in favour of the fruit. Maybe 75-100g mixed nuts, 75-100g of that seedy stuff, and then the rest was raisins/sultanas/dried cranberries/dried apricots etc.

    Just pulled a batch outta the oven now and they're nice. Needs the honey too.

    Might give them a try this weekend. Sounds promising. Tried QueensGael's recipe myself, came out grand but think I might have left them in a few minutes too long as they were a bit hard. Good to munch on when your stopped up but a bit of work to get down while on the bike, might try adding some dried fruit to them next time.


  • #8
    thebouldwhacker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,565 ✭✭✭thebouldwhacker


    There was a vid about the forum a year or so ago showing a chef to the pro's making a rice snack which looked really nice.
    I had a look but failed to find it...


  • #9
    Lucifer-0
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭Lucifer-0


    Here's a recipe I used a few times, they're yum - http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/glutenfreesnackrecipes/r/glutenfreeenergybars.htm


  • #10
    Peterx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭Peterx


    http://www.davidgillick.com/gilly-bars.html


  • #11
    ednwireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,732 ✭✭✭✭ednwireland


    thebouldwhacker wrote: »
    There was a vid about the forum a year or so ago showing a chef to the pro's making a rice snack which looked really nice.
    I had a look but failed to find it...

    allen lim's rice cakes ?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UiuqIWGe_s


    although i dont ink i'd put bacon in them

    http://lavamagazine.com/training/recipe-allen-lims-rice-cakes/#axzz1pAmyxWzj

    My weather

    https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=96CT1F



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  • #12
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,285 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    ednwireland wrote: »
    although i dont ink i'd put bacon in them

    Eating pig makes us go faster. FACT!


  • #13
    doozerie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,830 ✭✭✭doozerie


    I've not tried these but they don't look bad and I appreciate the nutritional comparison against some of the commercial bars. What puts me off making them though is that they don't have a long shelf life and commercial bars are much more convenient from that point of view - yes, I could make a smaller mix and produce less bars but that would require some maths to reduce the volumes of ingredients and I can't afford the calories to fuel that effort :)

    For the real hardcore nutritional DIY-er, what about home made energy gels...

    Re the Allen Lim rice cakes, I've read a few references online to those being a potential food poisoning risk if heated in your back pocket for a while before being eaten (one claim I read was that the pros avoid this by being handed them straight from a cool box in the team car shortly before eating them). I imagine it's hard to gauge the real risk, and any heat-based risks simply might not arise in Irish weather anyway, but it's something to consider for any food that you carry.


  • #14
    granda
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 726 ✭✭✭granda


    here's my recipe, all the ingrediants are bought in aldi
    pack of dried seeds
    pack of trail mix or dried fruit
    honey
    jam
    oats
    optional is protein powder
    just mix it up till its quite thick and gooey
    put the mix in a baking tin and then in the oven for about half an hour on a low heat
    remove let it cool and cut into bars and wrap in baking parchment and freeze till you need them


  • #15
    ednwireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,732 ✭✭✭✭ednwireland


    doozerie wrote: »
    Re the Allen Lim rice cakes, I've read a few references online to those being a potential food poisoning risk if heated in your back pocket for a while before being eaten (one claim I read was that the pros avoid this by being handed them straight from a cool box in the team car shortly before eating them). I imagine it's hard to gauge the real risk, and any heat-based risks simply might not arise in Irish weather anyway, but it's something to consider for any food that you carry.

    no prob i'll just put em in the team car :D

    My weather

    https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=96CT1F



  • #16
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,081 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Freezing em is a good idea cos by the time you need to eat them, an hour into your spin, they'll be ass-defrosted. :)

    Wrt convenience, it's great to throw them in after dinner, say you had the oven on for a chicken or some fish or something, instead of just switching it off and letting if cool, reduce to heat to 130, mix the stuff together, bung it in the oven and 45-60 minutes later you have a decent batch.

    I find myself munching on a couple for breakfast or bringing them with me for lunch as well so they don't go to waste.


  • #17
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    doozerie wrote: »
    I imagine it's hard to gauge the real risk, and any heat-based risks simply might not arise in Irish weather anyway, but it's something to consider for any food that you carry.

    I had a bottle of high-5 get a bit lively on me last summer, and thinking about it, bacteria from the mouth mixed in with a sugary solution is an effective enough way to get a brew going. These days I sterilise the bottles, and particularly the valves, before and after a long spin.

    For anyone wanting to lose a lot of weight quickly, and in a dramatic fashion, stale High-5 is the way to go.


  • #18
    skerry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭skerry


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Just an update to this. I tried the recipe as written and it was sh1t. They were way too... gnawing.

    So I've made them a couple of times since with some alterations. Same amount of porridge, but the rest made up with much much more dried fruit, and I also added a good healthy dollop or two, like maybe 4 tablespoons, of honey to the mix. And I've cut the oven time down to about 45 minutes. Makes them much softer and chewer, and they seem to keep that soft chewiness, rather than going rock hard like the original lot.

    I also substituted some of the dry nutty ingredients for one of those milled linseed/etc Omega 3 cereal topping mix things that Aldi/Lidl do. Nice way of introducing some of that to your diet.

    So, on top of the porridge, Nigella has about 425 grams of stuff, 125 of which is fruit. I've weighted that balance way-hey in favour of the fruit. Maybe 75-100g mixed nuts, 75-100g of that seedy stuff, and then the rest was raisins/sultanas/dried cranberries/dried apricots etc.

    Just pulled a batch outta the oven now and they're nice. Needs the honey too.

    Made up a batch of these as per the changes above, came out quite nice. Can't say I made the original recipe but the fruit really makes them. Put them in for 45 min, thinking I might even take that down another bit to add a bit more chewiness. Had two long spins this weekend and they went down really well. I'm presuming they're OK to freeze and use as needed, have enough to keep me going for weeks.


  • #19
    feck sake lads
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,889 ✭✭✭feck sake lads


    probably the worst cook /baker on the planet so my tip of the day
    buy a fruit cake.cut into generous slabs wrap and eat when hungry ;)


  • #20
    Four of a kind
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,055 ✭✭✭Four of a kind


    Peterx wrote: »
    http://www.davidgillick.com/gilly-bars.html

    In the process of making these.


  • #21
    2 Wheels Good
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭2 Wheels Good


    Make these when I'm in my healthy phase, nice and filling!
    http://www.odlums.ie/index.php?page=healthy-breakfast-bars

    Ingredients below, nice thing is you can mix and match
    the fruits if you prefer others/have nothing else in the
    cupboard

    300g/11oz Odlums Harvest Fruit Porridge
    1x 397g Tin Condensed Milk
    125g/4oz Shamrock Raisins
    100g Packet Shamrock Flaked Almonds
    100g Packet Dried Cranberries or Blueberries
    75g/3oz Shamrock Desiccated Coconut
    2 tablespoons Linseeds


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  • #22
    cdaly_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,440 ✭✭✭cdaly_


    granda wrote: »
    here's my recipe, all the ingrediants are bought in aldi
    pack of dried seeds
    pack of trail mix or dried fruit
    honey
    jam
    oats
    optional is protein powder
    just mix it up till its quite thick and gooey
    put the mix in a baking tin and then in the oven for about half an hour on a low heat
    remove let it cool and cut into bars and wrap in baking parchment and freeze till you need them
    Tried them, they're very nice. I left out the oats though. Must add cranberries...


  • #23
    Four of a kind
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,055 ✭✭✭Four of a kind


    Peterx wrote: »
    http://www.davidgillick.com/gilly-bars.html

    Made these last night a really like them. Very rich in taste and equally as filling. Got 16 decent sized bars from the batch, which will last me a decent time when I tin foil them up and freeze them.

    Added a few prunes to the mix and that's all the deviation I did from the instructions.


  • #24
    Four of a kind
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,055 ✭✭✭Four of a kind


    Peterx wrote: »
    http://www.davidgillick.com/gilly-bars.html

    love these so I do.

    Wondering how long these keep once frozen??


  • #25
    sea_monkey
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 755 ✭✭✭sea_monkey


    i enjoy these, probably cause i love peanut butter

    16 ounces Natural peanut butter
    8 tablespoons honey
    six scoops of Optimum Chocolate whey protein powder
    1 cup of uncooked oatmeal

    Mix the pb and honey in a bowl, microwave on full for 80 secs. Add the rest and mix together. Can add raisins/nuts etc to taste. Smooth into 13x9 tray and leave for 20 mins. Cut into 10 to 12 equal bars and wrap and store in fridge.

    This is a great tasting recipe that I modified from one I found on 'bolex

    Now here is the breakdown on a batch of the goodies:

    Protein: 254 grams
    Carbohydrates: 282 grams
    Fats: 236 grams


  • #26
    colm_gti
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,505 ✭✭✭colm_gti


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Just an update to this. I tried the recipe as written and it was sh1t. They were way too... gnawing.

    So I've made them a couple of times since with some alterations. Same amount of porridge, but the rest made up with much much more dried fruit, and I also added a good healthy dollop or two, like maybe 4 tablespoons, of honey to the mix. And I've cut the oven time down to about 45 minutes. Makes them much softer and chewer, and they seem to keep that soft chewiness, rather than going rock hard like the original lot.

    I also substituted some of the dry nutty ingredients for one of those milled linseed/etc Omega 3 cereal topping mix things that Aldi/Lidl do. Nice way of introducing some of that to your diet.

    So, on top of the porridge, Nigella has about 425 grams of stuff, 125 of which is fruit. I've weighted that balance way-hey in favour of the fruit. Maybe 75-100g mixed nuts, 75-100g of that seedy stuff, and then the rest was raisins/sultanas/dried cranberries/dried apricots etc.

    Just pulled a batch outta the oven now and they're nice. Needs the honey too.

    Just made a batch of these, they're delish! Be tempted to get out on the bike more this week just for the excuse to eat them!


  • #27
    Pablo Rubio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 365 ✭✭Pablo Rubio


    Anyone tried using QUINOA seeds for making bars. Been hearing some rave reviews from some guys I work with ...contains lots of protein and complex carbs.
    http://www.organicauthority.com/snacks/quinoa-chia-energy-bars.html
    http://www.fannetasticfood.com/recipes/cranberry-quinoa-peanut-butter-power-bars/

    I'm gonna give these a go & Hopefully report back next week.


  • #28
    pprendeville
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭pprendeville


    Maybe merge these into a homemade...super thread?
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056219362


  • #29
    pprendeville
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭pprendeville


    doozerie wrote: »
    For the real hardcore nutritional DIY-er, what about home made energy gels...

    Going to give these a lash. Never thought of them. Any shops in Dublin sell the things the link says holds the gels?


  • #30
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,081 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Chr1st PP, best of luck with making them gels, that's hard core. If you find yourself synthesising your own EPO a la breaking bad, then you know you've gone too far.... :)


    I just made me tastiest batch of those bar things yet. Problem with launching a batch in the oven and then having a few beers is that you devour half the shaggers while they're still molten and fresh from the oven. I don't think the coconut is my thing. These ones had flaked almonds and some ground hazelnuts (lidl) and then the rest was miscellaneous dried fruit - an apple/apricot/prune (yeah, I'm probably gonna regret that last one) mix from aldi, some raisins, some sultanas, a pot of glace cherries (yum), and about a half a jar of crunchy peanut butter.

    Best combo yet. Loadsa sugar in the cherries and salt and protein in the peanut butter, but it also holds them together.... "real nice".


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  • #31
    Seve OB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,259 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    What about Nature Valley Bars. 3 boxes (36 bars) for a fiver at the moment in Dunnes :)


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