There are few things that give me more satisfaction than planning a trip to the mountains, in any given season, and then planning the little “snack menu” that we’ll be enjoying from the top of the trail, that favorite viewpoint, or even bouncing back in the car – sweaty, dirty and content. These Chewy Spiced Almond Butter All Day Bars sprung from a little mission like that.
But, ya know, there’s a lot of stuff that happens between those big missions, that deserve their own snacks. Daily life. Preschool lunches. Our regularly scheduled 4pm snack time. Mornings when I’m heading out early for a run or ride, and need just a little something. And turns out these chewy little bars are excellent for all of those times too.
As the season shifts, I can watch/feel my body start to crave more warming spices. Do you feel it too? It’s real. It’s not just a ploy from that huge coffee company we all love to hate on. It’s real. As the warm weather wanes, our bodies start to crave warm spices because they thermogenically keep our digestive systems warm, which helps us to digets our food better, which helps to normalize metabolism, hormone function, circulation, keeps our extremities warm, and our nervous systems balanced. It’s a really big deal!
Unlike other blender bars or energy truffles that you’d find in this library, that are similarly made with a date base, these little bars are packed with warming spices perfect for fall. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger. They taste like a chewy little cookie, but they are SO much more power packed than I could ever build a cookie to be. Which means that these bars are a smart little swap for your other trail snacks as the weather shifts.
The warmer we can keep our digestive systems, the better our bodies are going to feel and function through the cold weather months. So, the next time you think about eating a half-frozen stale energy bar or chew, think again.
…are so chewy. So moist. So yummy and warming. With hints of ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, they cozy you up at the very first bite. Like an oatmeal cookie, but packed with so much other good stuff! They’re what I’m nibbling on at my 4pm designated snack time. They’re going in my packs and pockets for long adventures this fall, because they offer long-burning fuel for long days. They’re chopped into little pieces for Leo’s lunchboxes, and even Pete is taking them out for moto rides (which is saying something for a chocolate chip cookie devotee!) They’re what I’m reaching for before I head out for an early run…they’re the ALL DAY best thing to nibble on when you need something powerful, intentional, and not a meal.
The recipe is simple, and comes together with the ingredients in your pantry. (Or, at least the ingredients that I recommend you have in your pantry!) And it takes only 5?10? 15? minutes to get everything together, blend it up and pat it out into bars depending on your level of diligence. You will need to chill them for an hour, but this can happen while you sleep, amiright?
A couple of notes on texture: if you want a very chewy, and also more squishable bar, you’ll be adding much more water than if you, like me, want a bar that isn’t too squishy but is still chewy. Don’t guess here. Take your food processor lid off and check the texture with your fingers so you don’t end up with batter that’s too sticky!
And then, enjoy these! Let them carry you into the winter, to all of the ski missions, forest walks and wellness breaks in your lives. : )
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