I don’t mind admitting it, I’ve become somewhat of a pro when it comes to packing my hiking snacks. Something sweet, something salty, punch of protein, and carbs to keep the tank full and fuel to burn. You can expect I’ll have some Babybel cheese, energy bites, beef jerky, and now, fruit nut bars.

The beautiful thing about these snacks is how incredibly easy they are to make and in short order. Using the base recipe of three ingredients (dried fruit, nuts, and chia seeds), you can easily modify the snack using a variety of fruits, keeping it new and refreshing.

Fruit Nut Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 cup dried fruit: Cranberries, apricots, mango
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup almonds

Directions

1. In a food processor, chop the dried fruit until they are large chunks.
2. Add in nuts and blend until the nuts are small bits, but not turning into nut meal.
3. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and spread the mixture into an area 6″ x 8″ approximately.
   
4. Fold over the wax paper along the edges of the mixture and lay another sheet of wax paper on top.
5. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the mixture until the top and sides are even.
6. Refrigerate overnight, then slice into squares or rectangles.
7. I’m still working out the best way to wrap them, but so far, folding them into wax paper and storing in a plastic container is the most convenient. Let me know what you find!