In India, there is a special postpartum diet, that contains only healthy ingredients, more calories (like clarified butter) but less spicy. However, when I left the hospital, the lactation consultant told me, watch for lentil, cabbage, cauliflower etc, as they tend to produce gas and little guy also is going to get gas, if I ate gassy food. He is not interested in burping, end up getting more gas himself without my contribution.
Some time ago, I have seen a dry fruit and nut bar in Alice Meredith’s book. I even bought Hazelnut to make that, after keeping it for sometime Hazelnuts had gone rancid, I have to throw entire nuts in garbage; it was a painful moment for me, as Hazelnuts cost a fortune. So I decided to keep quiet for some time and not venture into any baking.
Due to breastfeeding by afternoon, I need a strong snack; otherwise, I am having headache indicating that my blood sugar is low. So I decided to make these energy bars. The store bought energy bars has only a few dry fruits and nuts, either cranberry or raisins or almonds or pistachio. I haven’t seen anything with combo of dates, figs, apricot, coconut, currents, dry mango and cashew nuts etc. I made with almost all the dry fruits and nuts available in my pantry. Since I used dates, and sweetened cranberries, I used only two tablespoon of brown sugar. I used 2 tablespoon of All- Purpose flour and ¾ of egg as binding agent. If you want gluten free, just add arrow root flour/corn flour and to make it vegan add flax seed meal or egg replacer. I haven’t tried the replacement combinations. I still used flour and egg is used in less quantity, but I think substitution will work. I am curious to know about the feedback.
These are chewy and crunchy with dry fruits and nuts, but at the same time, very tasty and addictive energy bars. These are a grab and go healthy breakfast as well as a perfect snack for evening hunger prangs.
When I bake some cookies or cake my hubby take it to office for munching it as his afternoon snack. He then also shares it with his friend Emanuel, who is also his colleague. I call him my second taste tester, as he tests and give exact opinion. He was so impressed that when my hubby called to talk to me, he came on the line and told me it was great. Best part according to him is the addition of Figs.
As I had baked an 8 inch square pan I thought that it is going last for two weeks or even a month. Trust me it got finished within 4 days. It is very hard to stop after eating one; you will go for the second and third helping. Here is the recipe.
One year ago: Mexican Scrambled Eggs
Two year ago: Kadala parippu pradhaman/ Chana dal Jaggery Pudding
Print recipe from here
What you need
Barely adapted from Alice Meredith "Pure Dessert"
Dates: 1 cup (About 21) coarsely chopped
Figs: ⅔ cup/ 5 oz (about 6 no) coarsely chopped
Dried sweetened cranberries: ¼ cup coarsely chopped
Dried apricot: ¼ cup (about 7no) coarsely chopped
Raisins: ¼ cup coarsely chopped
Currants: ¼ cup coarsely chopped
Dried mango: 1 tablespoon (about 3 no) coarsely chopped
Mystic gum/Edible gum/Gond: 2 tablespoon
Poppy seeds: 1 tablespoon (lightly toasted)
Coconut chips: ¼ cup (lightly toasted)
Baking powder: Half of ⅛ teaspoon
Baking Soda: Half of ⅛ teaspoon
Salt: ⅛ teaspoon
Brown sugar: 2 tablespoon
Almond: ¼ cup (blanched and chopped coarsely)
Pistachio: ¼ cup chopped coarsely
Cashew nuts: ¼ cup chopped coarsely
All purpose flour: 2 tablespoon
Egg: ¾ of one egg
Ghee / clarified butter: 1 tablespoon
How I made
Preheat oven to 325 F and line with Parchment paper on bottom, sides of 8x8X2 baking dish. Leave the edges of parchment hanging that way it is easy to remove the bars after baking.
In a small skillet heat 1 tablespoon Ghee/clarified butter and fry mystic gum, until it puffed up like popcorn. It will take about 2 minutes to gets done and set aside. Using a food processor grind them into fine powder.
In another skillet dry roast poppy seeds until it becomes slightly brown. It takes about 2 minutes and set aside. In the same skillet dry roast the coconut chips until slightly brown and release aroma. It takes about 2 minutes and set aside.
In a medium bowl mix all the ingredients (coarsely chopped dry fruits and nuts, poppy seeds, coconut chips, mystic gum) including flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar and ¾thof egg. Mix well to incorporate everything uniformly. Spread into the prepared pan, pressing to even it out.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until it is golden brown and has pulled away from the sides of the pan. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. 
When cooled, lift the bars from the pan by the edges of the Parchment paper. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16 squares. Warp them individually with plastic paper; it can be stored for about 10 days at room temperature or longer if refrigerated.
Preparation time: 60 minutes
Yield:16 no
Verdict: Yummy
Will you make it again: Yes I will
I am linking this to Hearth and Soul blog hop #96 hosted here
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
nandoo says
Delicious and healthy snacks. Crunchy bars.
Janani says
wow soooooooooo yummy just loved the way its clicked bookmarked it.
cookingvarieties says
hi swatui, hmmm delicious is all i can say- and yes, very pretty too.
your tester said the fig tastes outstanding, i can imagine why- that tiny crunch effects when chewing the seeds..wow! in that case, i bookmarked this already-with many thanks. have a nice day
Lizzy says
These would not last long in my household either! What a healthy, delicious snack 🙂
G.Pavani says
healthy n colourful bars..
The 21st Century Housewife© says
Swathi, these bars look beautiful! They are so colourful and I can just imagine how delicious they taste!!
spusht says
Ah, so these are the bars you've had on blog header since some time!
Looks great. It's a long list of dried fruits and nuts and a nut lover like me would LOVE these bars!
Guess you'll have to keep making this 'strong snack' regularly if they keep finishing up so quick! 😀
Kaveri Venkatesh says
These energy bars look totally awesome...Homemade stuff is so much better than what we get in the stores, we can make more healthier and tastier
Treatntrick treatntrick says
Such a great combo of healthy ingredients! Perfect and yummy to snack with!
Vimitha Anand says
Swathi those are super good healthy bars packed with flavor and energy... Nice one dear
Elisabeth says
Swathi-I thought I was seeing double...these energy bars are on your blog header!
Just looking at all the fruits and nuts packed into these yummy bars already gives me more energy! Thanks for sharing your fabulous recipe:DDD
Home Cooked Oriya Food says
love it... so healthy and yummy! I would love to have one...
Reeni says
These are full of so many wonderful things! All the things I love especially the figs too!
Srimathi says
Hey Swathi,
I wanted to know if you have tried it without eggs because, I cannot store it that well since it gets really hot out here.
Swathi Iyer says
You can substituted with flax seed ( 1 tablespoon or grind flax seed with 3 tablespoon of water) and try that and let me know.
Tina (PinayInTexas) says
Wow, Swathi! I love how colorful you made those bars! So delicious to look at!
Sensible Vegetarian says
Swathi this looks super delicious, I am bookmarking this. Have to try with substitutes for the egg and will keep you posted when I try it.
Swathi Iyer says
Sure Sadhana, try it and let me know how it turn out.
Spice up the Curry says
wow. so colorful yummy bars. lovely
Madhu says
That is one delicious and healthy bar. And it is so much better that it is not store bought and you know exactly the ingredients that went into it
Rahin says
so colorful n gorgeous
Hema says
Very tempting and colorful, love these healthy squares..
Hamaree Rasoi says
I too want to try this but without egg so that my Granny can also eat this. Such a healthy bite. instant bars I would say...
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Swathi Iyer says
Try Deepa and let me know. Sure they are going to to addictive.
Priya says
Wow well done Swathi,I dont mind inviting myself to ur place to enjoy these yummy bars..
Shobha says
Very very healthy bars...these are all the ingredients (things made with them) our moms would make us eat during pregnancy and after baby;s birth.
Aruna Manikandan says
wow...
sounds healthy and delicious swathi 🙂
Tina says
Interesting one...
Gayathri NG says
Really healthy and tasty bar, very filling for tea time. Well explained dear...
revathi says
Bars look awesome.. That is one lovely mix of fruits and nuts to make our day..:)
Yummy sweet treats
Rasi says
they look soo good & so ideal for the hunger pangs i am so going to make them.. where can i get gond?
Ongoing Event : WTML
Swathi Iyer says
You can get in Indian store.
Sobha Shyam says
absolutely yummy, tempting and healthy bars, great that u are finding time for your blog with ur kids around 🙂 Hope they are doing good 🙂
Alea Milham says
Your high energy bars sound great! How nice to have a second taste tester - for both of you. 🙂