Secret Recipe Club: Aspen Power Bars

rolled oats, nuts and seeds with dried fruit for the perfect pick me up snack. Works great for on the go.

Course Healthy Snack, snacks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings people

Calories 224kcal

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons rolled oats
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Heaping 1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup nuts or sunflower seeds I used 1/2 cup seeds and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup raisins I used dried blueberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon peanut butter--chunky is best I didn't have chunky, so I went with creamy
1 1/8 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon raspberry jam

Preheat the oven to 400. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, coconut, salt, nuts, seed, powdered milk, raisins and cranberries.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Stir in the honey, peanut butter, vanilla extract and jam until melted and fully incorporated. Remove from heat.
Pour the melted ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until fully mixed (I found the easiest way was with my hands).
Press the mixture into the pan, compressing it as much as possible.
Bake until golden, about 12-19 minutes.
Cool completely on a wire rack.
Once cooled, loosen edges with a butter knife, invert the pan to release, then cut into bars.