food 4 tots

Homemade snack bars

snack bars, nuts, seeds, oat, kid, toddler, food for tots

This homemade version snack bar is a MUST TRY for everyone including people who have never cooked in their lifetime. It makes an excellent start to the day especially with yogurt and fresh fruit ie strawberries, bananas etc. It can also be a healthy snack during teatime. It is also cheaper as compared to those healthy bars sold in the supermarket.

snack bars, nuts, seeds, oat, kid, toddler, food for tots

All you need to prepare is: the ingredients, non-stick pan, wooden spoon, baking tin (or any rectangular-shape container), greaseproof paper and presser.

I had adapted and combined 2 recipes from Children’s Healthy & Fun Cookbook to derive at this simplified version.

Ingredients:
40g rolled oats
40g sunflower seeds
40g pumpkin seeds
Handful of black and white sesame seeds
3-4 tbsp clear running honey (I used no water added honey)

Methods:

  1. Heat up the pan.
  2. Put the black and white sesame seeds in a non-stick and dry fry (without oil) with a wooden spoon over a medium-low heat until they are fragrant. Set aside.
  3. Put the oats and dry fry for 3 mins. Turn the oats occasionally to make sure they cook evenly.
  4. Add the sunflower and pumpkin seeds and dry fry for another 2 minutes or until light golden. Take care – the pumpkin seeds may pop a little!
  5. Return the roasted black and white sesame seeds to the pan and dry fry for Β½ min.
  6. Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the honey – it will sizzle at first but keep stirring until the oats and seeds are coated. Allow to cool slightly.
  7. Line a 20cm x 10cm baking tin with greaseproof paper.
  8. Spread the mixture evenly on the paper and line another one on top of the mixture.
  9. Use a presser (or chopping board) to apply pressure to the mixture.
  10. Chill for at least 1 hour, or until solid. Turn it out of the tin and peel off the greaseproof paper. If you have problem to peel off the paper, leave it at room temperature for 1 min and try again. Cut into bars.
  11. Keep it in an air-tight container and store in the fridge. Best to be consumed within a week.

Note: The combination of oats and seeds is subject to personal preference.

Photobucket

I am submitting this recipe to Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipe Carnival hosted by Fun and Food Cafe.

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48 Comments

  1. noobcook says:

    wow looks lovely … your photos are great πŸ˜‰ judging from their appearance, I won’t know they are relatively easy to make, hee

  2. Pam says:

    These look really delicious. I am sure my whole family would enjoy them. Your photos are really nice!

  3. tigerfish says:

    I have only sunflower seeds now. I can’t make this unless I get other ingredients ready!

    You have nice blog. Will be visiting again πŸ™‚

  4. MyF says:

    cool, these would be perfect for those hungry moments especially while driving to work… πŸ™‚
    Love your pictures, u have good angles!

  5. Food For Tots says:

    Hi noobcook,
    It is so simple n easy than we can’t visualise. Give it a try!

    Hi pam,
    Thanks for your kind comments. These bars are my son’s favourite too.

    Hi tigerfish,
    Thanks for dropping by. Hope to see you again!

    Hi myf,
    I am still a novice in photography. Tks for your compliments.

  6. Piggy says:

    wow, looks so good!! Thanks for the recipe, can’t wait to try it out soon!!

  7. Bentoist says:

    They remind me of those sold by Mrs May’s but are expensive. My husband and I love them and I think I will try to make some for my bentos. Thanks for sharing!

  8. K and S says:

    sounds great! will give it a try!

  9. lisa is cooking says:

    They look delicious and so pretty! I have to try these.

  10. Super Healthy Kids says:

    I love recipes with simple ingredients! thanks!

  11. Food For Tots says:

    Hi piggy,
    Thanks! Hope you will like it πŸ˜‰

    Hi bentoist,
    Homemade food is always cheaper provided we have the time and interest to explore further.

    Hi K and S,
    Tks for dropping by.

    Hi lisa is cooking,
    Tks for your kind comments.

    Hi Super Healthy Kids,
    I share the same view too!

  12. banana blossom says:

    Hello,
    I just want to stop by to let you know how I enjoy your blog very much. I hope to use your recipes soon.
    Thanks for sharing.

  13. Beachlover says:

    that is my favourite snack!! I always buy peanut only bars at store but without pumpkin seeds!Look great!

  14. Food For Tots says:

    Hi banana blossom,
    Tks for your support. I can’t wait to see your recipes too.

    Hi beachlover,
    I luv peanut bars too! It was my childhood’s favourite. I made this seed bars becos I haven’t introduced peanuts in my son’s diet.

  15. Nate-n-Annie says:

    Ooh, I wan leh!

    Instead of honey, can we make a cane sugar syrup? Hmm, I wonder even if brown rice syrup would work…

  16. Food For Tots says:

    Hi Nate n Annie,
    I will make some for u if u happen to be in Singapore. πŸ™‚

    Not sure about that but sounds ok to me. Just my wild guess. I have another recipe for fruit and nut bars. It uses a combination of dried fruits and orange juice instead of honey. So I think as long as the ingredients are well-coated with concentrated syrup and chilled in the fridge, the bar will become hardened.

  17. Sophie says:

    Those snack bars are beautiful! The photo captures every little ingredient, they look delicious. Nothing beats homemade :)!

  18. pinkzen says:

    Hmm Yum Yum ! Can try to make and give as gifts for festive or sell to make some xtra pocket $$Lazy people like me will sure to buy in large quantity to treat my kids & nephews and nieces.Good job!

  19. LindaLow says:

    wah…this one looks good man!! I wish I’m living next to you so i can just hop over to get a bite…:)

  20. Food For Tots says:

    Hi sophie,
    Totally agreed. Homemade is always the best.

    Hi pinkzen,
    Tks for your great ideas. You are such a generous mom cum auntie!Will I be invited to your house during CNY? Hehehe..!

    Hi linda,
    You are always welcome to drop by! Who knows we may just live in the same neighbourhood?

  21. gkbloodsugar says:

    This is exactly the kind of thing I love – and it looks as though I’m not alone!

    Nice one.

  22. My Sweet & Saucy says:

    What a great healthy snack! I love them!

  23. Food For Tots says:

    Hi gkbloodsugar,
    Taste good too! Give it a try!

    Hi my sweet & saucy,
    Tks for your comments. πŸ˜‰

  24. Veggie Wedgie says:

    Stunning pictures of these bars!So simple…

  25. Thayn says:

    I wonder, don’t they need a little salt? Has anyone tried them with salt? I’d love to know before I try them.

    Thanks!

  26. Food For Tots says:

    Hi veggie wedgie,
    Tks for your compliments. I am flattered! πŸ˜‰

    Hi thayn,
    Not sure about it. I think it is no harm if u add a pinch of salt in making these bars. It is all up to the individual preference. Alternatively take a look at those ingredients listed on the packaging of those commercial snack bars sold in the supermarket. If u have any further queries, u r welcome to drop me an email. Hope it helps. πŸ˜‰

  27. Mansi says:

    Those look absolutely SUPER!! I love the texture..thanks so much for sending these in for my Thanksgiving event!:)

  28. Food For Tots says:

    Hi Mansi,
    I am thrilled to join the fun. Tks again for your kind comments and invitation. πŸ˜‰

  29. Anonymous says:

    Thank you for sharing this simple yet delicious recipe. My family loves the snack bar so much. Care to share the fruit and nut recipe?

  30. Food For Tots says:

    Hi anonymous,
    Glad to know the outcome. I shared your joy too! I will only try the fruit n nut recipe after I have introduced nut to him at a later date. But if u r keen, drop me an email at foodfortots@yahoo.com, I can share with u the recipe. πŸ˜‰

  31. skinnymum says:

    not sure whether you can help. i made these today and they were yummy. after storing them in air-tight containers for 2 hours, they “fell-apart” i.e. when i tried to get a piece from the air-tight containers, they were gluey.

    do you have any idea what i did wrong? must i store the containers in the fridge?

  32. Food For Tots says:

    Skinnymum: Yes, ur guess is absolutely correct! Maybe u had missed out my step (11), “Keep it in an air-tight container and store in the fridge.” If they become “gluey”, u can still “salvage” them by simply putting them back into the fridge and chill until they turn solid again. If u want to make those solid bars sold in the supermarket, u need to bake them first. But the recipe will be slightly diff. I have 1 recipe “fruity flapjacks” which requires baking, if u r interested, drop me a line at foodfortots@yahoo.com. πŸ˜‰

  33. delia says:

    yum, yum….these are delicious. my kids love it but my hubby prefers one with peanuts. thanks for sharing.

  34. jjcht says:

    Thanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it out. So simple to make. But i think mine i flatten too much. Your snack bar is quite solid looking, with about 1cm height. How do you make sure you level evenly each layer ?

    • food-4tots says:

      jjcht: You’re welcome. I’ve checked out your snack bar post. They look absolutely perfect to me. Use a spoon to spread the ingredients evenly first before pressing it with something flat. Hope it helps. πŸ˜‰

  35. jjcht says:

    Thanks FFT. I’ll make some more this weekend. My kids love it! 40g per ingredients not enough for them. Have to double/triple recipes πŸ˜€

    • food-4tots says:

      jjcht: Tks for your kind feedback. Yeah, should double/ triple the amounts if you have such a supportive team at home. Since your kids love snack bars, do try out the power-packed oat bars in my blog. They are very delicious and easy-to-make too. πŸ˜‰

  36. jjcht says:

    Actually my kids don’t really like oats. Whenever i made cereal/oats for them, they refuse to take it. These snack bars even though made by oats, but the sunflower seeds & pumpkin seeds made them crunchy. They thought got nuts inside. They love nuts. hehe.

  37. Lorrie says:

    I make these often but also use chia seeds, flax seeds, raisins, pecans and chopped almonds. I find if I simmer my honey for 5 minutes and then add all the extras, it hardens better

  38. Torie1112 says:

    Hi,
    Are these quantities correct? They seem very small….
    Thanks.

    • food-4tots says:

      Torie1112: The amount is meant to suit the size of baking tray I mentioned in the recipe. You can put all the dry ingredients on the tray and judge it yourself. If they are not enough, then adjust the recipe accordingly. πŸ™‚

  39. Regan says:

    Can these be frozen?

  40. Madelynn says:

    How many does your recipe serving make?

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