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No-bake Chewy Fruit and Nut Bars





Yields
Makes 20 (serving size: 1 bar)



Total Time
20 mins

Like a cross between Rice Krispies Treats and Italian panforte (fruitcake), these bars are based on a recipe from Healthy in a Hurry (Weldon Owen, 2012; $30) by Karen Ansel and Charity Ferreira.

su-No-bake Chewy Fruit and Nut Bars




Photo: Annabelle Breakey
 1 1/2 cups puffed brown rice cereal*
 1 cup dried tart cherries
 1 cup whole roasted unsalted or raw almonds
 2/3 cup chopped dried apricots
 1/4 cup finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
  About 2 tbsp. butter
 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
 1/2 cup brown rice syrup*
 1/4 cup creamy almond butter
 1/4 teaspoon salt
Step 1
1

Line an 8-in. square pan with foil. Butter foil. In a large bowl, stir together cereal, cherries, almonds, apricots, and chocolate.

Step 2
2

Combine 2 tbsp. butter, the sugar, syrup, almond butter, and salt in a small saucepan and cook, stirring, over medium heat until butter melts and mixture is smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Immediately pour bubbling mixture over cereal mixture and stir until well combined.

Step 3
3

Press mixture firmly into prepared pan, using lightly buttered hands. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. Tip out of pan onto a work surface and peel off foil. Using a sharp buttered knife, quarter mixture and then cut each quarter into 5 bars.

Step 4
4

*Find at natural-foods stores and Whole Foods Market.

Nutrition Facts

0 servings

Serving size

Amount per serving
Calories162
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8g11%

Saturated Fat 1.8g9%
Cholesterol 3.6mg2%
Sodium 68mg3%
Total Carbohydrate 21g8%

Dietary Fiber 1.9g7%
Protein 2.9g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.