Easy Fruit & Nut Snack Bars

If you're looking for a nutritious snack that the whole family will enjoy, these snack bars are a fantastic option. They're naturally sweet, packed with fibre, rich in plant foods, and incredibly versatile. Whether you're adding them to lunchboxes, enjoying one with your morning coffee, or satisfying a post-dinner sweet craving, these bars are a delicious choice.

One of the things I love most about this recipe is that it combines a variety of nutrient-rich ingredients in every bite. The dried apricots and cranberries provide natural sweetness and antioxidants, while the oats contribute fibre that helps support digestive health and keeps you feeling fuller for longer. Nuts and seeds add heart-healthy fats, plant protein, and minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

These bars are also a simple way to increase plant diversity in your diet. Research suggests that eating a wider variety of plant foods may support gut health by encouraging a more diverse gut microbiome.

The best part? They're incredibly easy to make. Everything comes together in a food processor before being pressed into a tray and chilled. 

Ingredients

• 180g dried apricots, plus extra for topping

• 80g dried cranberries, plus extra for topping

• 160g oats

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 40g butter, melted

• 30g coconut oil, melted

• 50g walnuts (or mixed nuts)

• 50g almonds

• 20g pumpkin seeds

• 20g flaxseeds (or mixed seeds)

• 50g dark chocolate, melted

  
  

Method

1. Add the dried apricots, cranberries, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and melted butter to a food processor and blend until smooth.

2. Add the oats and blend again until a dough-like mixture forms.

3. Roughly chop the walnuts and almonds, then stir them into the mixture along with the pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds.

4. Line a tray or baking tin with greaseproof paper and firmly press the mixture into the tray.

5. Decorate the top with extra chopped apricots and cranberries.

6. Melt the dark chocolate and drizzle over the top.

7. Place in the freezer for around 1 hour until firm.

8. Slice into bars and enjoy.

   
   

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. They also freeze well, making them perfect for batch preparation and quick snacks whenever you need them.