Breakfast and Snack Bar - my husband's favorite

Date Mixture:

1/2 cup diced dried dates

1/2 cup water

Flax Mixture:

5 teaspoons freshly ground flax seeds

1/2 cup water

Dry Ingredients:

3/4 cup quick oats

1/4 cup whole spelt flour (try a different flour if you'd like)

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or more if desired

1/3 cup chopped raw almonds

1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/3 cup dried cherries, chopped if they're large

1/3 cup diced dried apricots

1/3 cup diced dried pears

1/3 cup diced dried apples

Lightly coat a 9"x9" baking pan with cooking spray or oil and set aside.

Prepare Date Mixture: Add 1/2 cup water and diced dates to a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dates are soft. (Mixture will be thick.) Allow to cool.

Prepare Flax Mixture: Combine 1/2 cup water and 5 teaspoons ground flax. Set aside for five minutes to thicken then stir.

Mix all dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Add flax mixture to date puree, stir well, and pour into dry ingredients. Mix to combine and press into baking pan.

Bake at 350 F for approximately 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Yields 15 bars.

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