If you have been reading my posts regularly, I am sure you have noticed how much I love food. I do eat a fair share of fruit and vegetables, but am not too worried about having a strict, healthy diet. I just enjoy eating too much for that! However, if I am making treats for Jumpy, I have to be careful as she has quite a few allergies.
I have a lovely cereal bar recipe but it is not suitable for my allergy baby. I had been thinking of adapting it for her but had done nothing about it since she quite enjoyed her shop bought ones. However, as I was chatting to a mum whose little one is allergic to nuts last week, she pointed out that the factory where the free from cereal bars I generally buy for her handles nuts. As a consequence, the ‘Oaty Bites’ she loves could contain traces of nuts. Oh dear, I had never seen that on the packet. I have just checked and it is clearly stated there. I really have to start reading labels more carefully.
That was my cue to start working on those new homemade ‘Oaty Bites’. I surprised myself as they ended up tasting delicious despite the fact they do not contain flour, eggs, oil, nuts or butter! The melted sugar, coconut oil and honey do a good job binding the mixture together and those little treats do not require baking. You can then cut them into 30 cubes (perfect for a toddler) or 12 cereal bars for an adult-sized treat. I have made three batches this week and they have been very popular with the children (and me!). This also made me realise how overpriced the shop bought ones were. Now that is a win, win situation!
If you are not a fan of coconut, dark chocolate or dried apricots, you can substitute these for whatever takes your fancy, really.
Here is the recipe:
Apricot and Coconut Oat Cubes
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil 50g if solidified 50 ml in its liquid form
- 1/4 cup set honey 85g
- 1/3 cup dark brown cane sugar 50g
- 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar 8g
- 1 ½ cups oats 150g
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal 50g
- ½ cup desiccated coconut 40 g
- 1/3 cup dried apricots 50g, chopped
- 1/3 cup free from dark chocolate 50g, chopped
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil, honey and sugars over a medium heat. Reduce the heat as soon as it starts bubbling and simmer for two more minutes.
- In the meantime, mix the oats, rice cereal and desiccated coconut in a large bowl.
- Pour the contents of the saucepan over the dry ingredients, and mix well to ensure the oats and cereal are coated in the sticky mixture.
- Add the chopped dried apricots and stir. Leave to cool slightly for 5 minutes and add the chopped chocolate.
- Pour into a 22 x 17cm (8.5x6.5 inches) rectangular dish and pack the mixture down as tight as you can so that everything sticks together.
- Let it set in the fridge for fifteen minutes and give it another hour at room temperature.
- Cut into cubes or bars.
- They can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
To ensure your treats are gluten free, use certified gluten free oats.
You can replace coconut, dark chocolate and dried apricots with anything you like.
These healthy treats are perfect for lunchboxes!
They can be frozen individually for later.
They. Look, gorgeous.
Thanks Abby, I can hardly believe that something this healthy can taste so good! Mel
They look so good x
They are! We finished the last batch after school… x Mel
Oh! These are perfect! I love oats and granola!
Thanks!
These look delicious, obsessed with my oat and coconut cookies-do link up to #tastytuesdays or maybe you’d rather wait for next week, missed you this week!
Hi Vicki, I was planning to post the recipe in time for this week’s Linky but did not get round to it. Life got in the way! Will be Linking on Tuesday! x Mel
These look fab Mel! I think you should get a job as professional food photographer!
Oh Sam, that is such a nice compliment, thank you thank you! I do love taking photos but I doubt I have the talent (or creativity) to make it a job. I have a huge grin on my face right now though! xxx Mel
I think you underestimate your talents Mel! X
You are making me blush now Sam! I was starting to doubt my photography and wonder whether all my photos looked the same… My Art teacher at school always said I had great ideas but no skill to put the ideas to paper and even though that sounds harsh, he was definitely right (you should see my drawings… stick men are all I can manage!)! x
Art comes in many forms – my dad is a graphic designer but I didn’t inherit any of his art skills! I think with photography ideas play as big a part as actual execution – you clearly have an eye for attractive arrangements and pretty touches. I think you could probably work as a designer of some sort if you wanted to (and you don’t need to be able to paint anyone’s portrait to do that!) X
Thank you so much for being so kind and complimentary; your lovely comments mean a lot to me. I love cooking and I have to say I feel proud when I manage to take pictures of the process or the final product that are pleasing to the eye. It is definitely something I enjoy as you can look at the photos again and again. I had honestly never thought anyone would want to employ me to do just that and I love my career so going for a reconversion has never occurred to me. x
Well I’m not sure if I know what it is you do as a profession but its always good to have a second string to your bow! x
You definitely have a point there! x
Oh no worries darling, the linky is open all week so don’t worry if you can’t post on the day, be lovely to have you next week though, hugs x
I would have linked if I had time to comment on all the other posts as I would normally do on Tuesdays, but I am working all day tomorrow and I would not be able to look at all the other recipes! Linking with WotW in the morning (if I manage to get writing tonight) so that is my evening sorted tomorrow, hihi! I will be over next Tuesday (will check your recipe now before I start with my next post actually!). x Mel
Mel, this is a lovely recipe. A perfect healthy treat.
It does not hurt to be healthy from time to time (and cater for Jumpy’s needs!). Thanks for the comment Julie. x Mel
This looks amazing! Yum!! x
Thanks Steph!
Oh yum, so up my street, husband is obsessed with dates (to eat, and the odd one with me-ha) so might make these and not use sugar and add dates, gorgeous post! Thanks so much for linking up to #tastytuesdays x
Dates sound like a nice alternative to apricots. I am not sure they would hold together without the sugar though. Always a pleasure to link up to Tasty Tuesdays! x Mel
What pretty little bites. And pretty healthy, right? Thanks so much for linking up with #recipeoftheweek. I’ve pinned this post and have scheduled to tweet shortly 🙂 Hope to see you linking up again soon! 😀 x
Undoubtedly healthy… and ever so slightly addictive! Thanks for commenting. Mel
oh I like the sound of these, healthy, great fibre and iron content. Could you replace the honey with maybe agave or malt as cant eat honey? Thank you for linking up
You could probably replace it with golden syrup. Can you have that? Mel
yes we can, thank you for that. Will get some this week and give these a try.
Let me know what you think once you have tried them! Mel