Hard to Believe They're Good for You: Super Tasty SUPERFOOD Trail Mix Bars

I love cooking, but above all else, I'd call myself an avid baker.  I love the precision of measuring out my ingredients, mixing them all together, and trying to not eat ALL of the batter before baking whatever is left.  The whole house fills up with the warm aromas of whatever tasty goodness is coming together in the oven, and it's always nice to have a handmade treat (along with my hubby and kitty, Bella) to welcome me when I come home (something I usually start looking forward to about halfway through my evening Spinning class).  What and when can I eat?

I've had to tone down my baking all month since this household is on its Quarterly Cleanse and sweets are off limits. However, today I found a way to get my bake on, creating a warm, chewy, dense, perfectly satisfying bar that's so packed full of good-for-you ingredients, the word "treat" seems like a misnomer.

These Superfood Trail Mix Bars are literally PACKED with Superfoods - maca, chia, hemp, flax, dark chocolate, etc., naturally fortifying them up with protein, fiber, omega fatty acids and antioxidants.  Plus, they're loaded with vitamins and minerals and are Vegan, using whipped ground flaxseeds in place of eggs and Vegan butter substitute.

Equally good for a nutritious breakfast as they are for dessert, these bars can also be tucked into kids' (or adults') lunch boxes as part of a healthy, filling homemade meal or snack. This is another "use what you have on hand" recipe, (my favorite way to cook), substituting peanut or sunflower seed butter for almond butter, walnuts or pecans for almonds, golden raisins or chopped dates for cranberries -- whatever you want to make this your own. I omitted the chocolate today, but you can throw some in if it strikes your fancy, and simply swap out the spelt flour and increase any of the other flours by 1/4 cup to make these gluten-free.

Enjoy!
Xoxo

P.S. Happy 1st Birthday today to my beautiful niece, Sophia!!
Can't believe it's already been a year since you were born!  XOXO  :)

Superfood Trail Mix Bars
~Makes 24 large bars
Printable recipe here

1 cup almond meal/flour
1/2 cup garbanzo bean flour
1/4 cup spelt flour
1/4 cup lucuma powder
1/4 cup maca powder
3/4 cup maple or coconut sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup raw almond butter
1/2 cup cold Earth Balance
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/3 cup filtered water
1 cup hemp, soy, or hazelnut milk
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup hulled hemp seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries &/or dried cherries
1/2 cup dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup flaked dehydrated unsweeteneed coconut

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch square (preferably glass) baking pan.

In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, combine the flours, sugar, spices, almond butter, Earth Balance and salt, blending at low speed until the mixture cokes together and is crumbly.

In a separate small bowl, with a whisk or fork, whip the ground flaxseeds and water until frothy, ~1 minute. Pour the whipped flaxseeds, hemp or preferred milk, baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract into the crumbly mixture, and stir well to combine. Add in the seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, nuts and coconut and stir just until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the center of the oven for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. I like my baked bars very moist and chewy, so I tend to under bake these by a few minutes and allow them to firm up as they cool.

Allow to cool slightly, cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

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