Pecan Energy Bar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes energy bars stick together? ›

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe. Vanilla extract – It amps up the bars' warm flavor.

Granola bars are typically a lighter mix of nuts, grains and dried fruit. While many granola bars make a great snack in between meals, energy bars are often higher in protein and calories and better for a post-workout refuel -- or in some cases, a small meal.

Another study concluded that an energy bar made from underutilized Chironji seeds was safe to consume within 15 days after production if kept at room temperature . Additionally, energy bars made from sorghum were found to be acceptable up to 60 days of storage and had good shelf life .

Freezing: Energy bars can also be frozen for extended storage. Individually wrap each bar in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before consuming.

Ingredients to avoid: High-fructose corn syrup: Added as an inexpensive sweetener, it is worse than regular white sugar. Soy isolate: It may sound natural and healthy, being a soy product, but it's not something you could make yourself (warning sign!).

Like other processed products, energy bars commonly contain GE ingredients. Keep a look out for corn syrup and soy lecithin, especially.

Not necessarily. The problem is, instead of using a bar as a replacement for breakfast or lunch, people end up eating it in addition to whatever else is on their plate, pumping up the calories in their daily tally.

One or two protein bars a day are well within the recommended intake. But remember: the more protein-rich fruit and nut bars you eat, the more calories you're getting – something to bear in mind if you want to stick to a balanced diet.

The cost of ingredients, research and development, manufacturing and packaging, distribution and marketing, and the limited economies of scale all contribute to the expensive nature of protein bars.

Read the Ingredients: Look for energy bars with natural and wholesome ingredients. Avoid bars with high levels of added sugars or artificial ingredients. Nutritional Balance: Choose bars that offer a good balance of macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

What are the side effects of energy bars? ›

Moreover, the inclusion of added sugars or artificial sweeteners can disrupt blood sugar levels, contribute to sugar cravings, and negatively impact gut health. Furthermore, digestive issues may arise from consuming protein bars regularly, particularly due to the high fibre content or the presence of sugar alcohol.

While eating only energy bars isn't that realistic, it's reassuring to know that they can provide you with all the nutrients you need.

While it's generally best to avoid eating close to bedtime, there are situations where you just get hungry. In those cases, energy bars can be a suitable late-night snack, as long as you eat them in moderation.

If you're up for an early morning cycle on an empty stomach, then an energy bar eaten 30-60 minutes before exercise will give you a decent start.

A full meal may take up to two-three hours to fully digest. For energy bar top ups, we recommend taking on fuel around 30 minutes to an hour before exercise, as this will give your body the chance to start to absorb the carbohydrates so it can use them.

When dampened, chia seeds gel and swell to several times their original size, plus they get very sticky. Since they're already used as egg alternatives in baking, it's not surprising that chia seeds act as the ideal granola binder, but it is strange that they do it better than eggs.

Honey: Since it's a granola bar, refined sugar is not used in the recipe as it's meant to be healthy. So to provide appropriate sweetness, honey is used. Also, honey acts as the primary binding agent.

While the oats and nuts bake, you can make the sticky glue that holds our bars together. You'll melt butter, honey, and brown sugar in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Mix this sticky mixture with the toasted oats and nuts.

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.