No Bake Fruit and Nut Bars

Dried fruit is something I always have in my breakfast cupboard. I love it chopped on porridge, mixed with my cereal or even to munch on when I feel peckish. One of my family's favorite snack is these dried fruit and nut bars, they are easy to make and perfect for breakfast or snacks.

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No Bake Fruit and Nut Bars

by Nayna Kanabar April-30-2016

Healthy and delicious fruit and nut bars that are perfect for snacks or healthy breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 6 Dried Apricots
• 6 Dried Dates
• 3 Dried Prunes
• 6 Dried Figs
• 1 cup mixed Finely chopped dried pineapple, dried papaya and dried mango
• 1/2 cup Coarsely chopped Almonds and cashew nuts
• 1 tablespoon Golden Syrup
• Vanilla essence 1 teaspoon
• 1 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
• 100 g White Chocolate
• For Garnish 1 tablespoon finely sliced Pistachio nut and Almonds ( I have coloured my almonds red by putting the sliced almonds in a ziplock bag with a couple of drops of food colouring and shaking the bag. Transfer the coloured almonds on to a tray with kitchen paper and allow to dry. Use them for garnish as required)

Method:

1. Line 2 mini loaf tins with cling film and keep aside.2. Make sure there are no stones in the dried apricots and dates .3. Add the apricots, dates, prunes,figs, dried pineapple, papaya and mango in food processor/ blender (I used my Optimum 9400) and pulse to chop the fruit. Do not make a paste of the fruit, it needs to be in small pieces.4. Transfer the chopped fruit to a large bowl, add to it the almonds and cashnuts, golden syrup,cocoa powder and vanilla and mix everything together.You should me able to pinch a fistful of the mixture and it should hold shape.5. Press the mixture tightly in to the two mini loaf tins lined with cling film and pack the mixture tightly, smoothing it with the back of a spoon.6. Break the chocolate into small pieces and put it in a glass microwaveable bowl, Microwave the chocolate in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted.7. Pour the melted chocolate on top of the fruit and nut mixture and tap the tins to smooth out the chocolate.8. Sprinkle on top of the chocolate the sliced pistachio and colourd almonds.Place the loaf tins in the fridge to set for 2 hours.9. Remove the loaf tins from the fridge and using a blunt knife run it around the edge to release the fruit and nut bars. Lift the bars out using the cling film.10. Once de moulded , discard the cling film and slice the fruit and nut bars into 6 mm thick slices using a sharp knife.For a smooth cut, use a serrated knife dipped in hot water .

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: None Total time: 15 mins Yield: 18 slices

For more healthy on the go snack ideas check these recipes out:

Raw Chocolate Truffles by Tin and Thyme

No bake energy Balls

Fruity Flapjack energy bites by Eats Amazing

No bake cookies by Fab Food

I used my Optimum 9400 to chop my fruit and nuts  . The Optimum 9400  is a powerful blender that grinds, pulses, chops, grates, cooks and makes icecreams at a flick of a switch. You can read a review about my Froothie Optimum 9400 here.

At the moment  the Optimum 9400 is available at a special offer introductory price of £339 which includes a 30 day trial so that you can return it back postage free if you are not totally satisfied with it. I love options like this because I feel that if I do invest in a gadget I want peace of mind that I can be100 percent happy with it.Also being a brand ambassador for Froothie any one purchasing through this post can you can get  Extra 2 years warranty to get this use the code "Special Ambassador Offer" on purchase