Whole food energy bars - My favorite flavor combinations and a tutorial

Several years back I started making my own energy bars from simple, whole food ingredients. I called them JouleBars and I even opened up an Etsy shop where I could sell them before some good things in life got in the way of my Etsy ventures.

Cinnamon raisin: raisins, dates, vanilla extract; almonds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed meal, sunflower seeds, cinnamon

I started making these energy bars to solve a problem I was running into. When I was out and about and unprepared, I would find myself eating nothing but junk food when Hunger would strike. Energy bars can be a great way to pack a health snack while you're on the run. The problem is that so many seemingly healthy energy bars are also loaded with so many ingredients, so it pretty much defeats the purpose.

Almond biscotti: dates, prunes, raisins, vanilla extract, anise extract; almonds, walnuts, flaxseed meal, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon

Today I will share the method that you can use to make these energy bars at home so that you can always have a healthy snack on hand. Also, beneath each photo is a list of all of the ingredients for each flavor. You can adjust the proportions as you like.

Banana nut: dried bananas, dates, raisins, vanilla extract; almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, cinnamon

All of the recipes call for dried fruit, nuts and seeds, and spices. Here are the steps, which are the same regardless of which flavor energy bar you are making.

Blueberry pie: dried blueberries, lemon juice and zest, vanilla extract, dates, raisins; almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal

Each recipe uses roughly a 1:1 ratio of nuts/seeds to dried fruit. This will vary slightly depending on the level of moisture in the fruit and personal preference. Too little fruit and your bars will be crumbly and not hold together. Too much fruit and your bars will be too squishy and not hold shape. Adjust as needed.

Peanut butter and chocolate: dates, prunes; peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed meal; mini chocolate chips

• In your food processor, add all of the nuts, seeds, and dry spices that are called for. Pulse until you have the nuts down to the size of uncooked rice or couscous. Set the nut, seed, and spice mix aside in a medium sized bowl while you get your fruit together.

Café Java: dates, vanilla extract; finely ground coffee beans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed meal, walnuts, cinnamon

• Add all of your dried fruit (and extracts of the recipe calls for it) to the food processor and pulse until the dried fruit is a very dense paste and forms a ball on its own.

Cranberry walnut: dried cranberries, dates, prunes, vanilla extract; walnuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, pumpkin seeds

• If your recipe calls for mini chocolate chips, (because let's live a little), keep them aside until this next step and add them in at the same time you knead the fruit and nuts together.

Fig bar: dried figs, dates, raisins, vanilla extract; almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, pumpkin seeds

-Take your ball of dried fruit paste and, using your hands, knead it into the nut mixture until it is fully combined. This will take a couple of minutes.

Lemon ginger: dried ginger, lemon juice and zest, prunes, dates; pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseed meal

• Grab a pinch of the mixture and taste it. Is it good? Too crumbly? Add more fruit. Too squishy? Add more nuts. You get the point. Now is the time for last minute tweaks.

Lime coconut: dates, lime juice and zest, raisins, prunes; sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed meal, flaked coconut

• Line a loaf pan or cake pan (something with square edges) with wax or parchment paper, and press the mixture into the pan evenly. Use the wax paper to lift the entire thing out onto the countertop. Use a sharp knife to cut your bars into whatever shape you prefer, and wrap them well with plastic wrap or a baggie.

Peach cobbler: dried peaches, dates, raisins, vanilla extract; almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, cinnamon

• Store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. I've kept mine for up to a month in the fridge. For longer term storage, use the freezer. Actually, these bars are actually really good straight from the freezer if you decide that you like the texture.

Sweet sesame: dates, prunes; sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, flaxseed meal

That's it! You really can let your imagination run the show with these energy bars, and they are pretty hard to mess up. Switching up the spices and fruits will change the flavor the most, so start there with your modifications.

Trail mix: prunes, dates, dried peaches, raisins; peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, flaked coconut

Now go forth! Run those errands or take that hike knowing that you are armed with a homemade, whole food burst of energy that's ready for duty.

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Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, check out my other food and recipe posts:

• "Big-ass salad" - My go-to lunch - Food GIF and Photos
• Coffee Banana Crumb Cake - Recipe and Food Photos
• Cherry vanilla sherbet - Food Photos and Recipe
• Blueberry (cutie) pies and a lattice top photo tutorial

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All photos by @jaymorebeet, taken in July 2012; Canon Rebel xTi.