NO BAKE Fruit and Nut Bars

I like to make different versions of bars for on-the-go refueling. When I travel I find bars a great item to pack as they provide an opportunity to control sodium, sugar, and saturated fat rather than the packaged food on flights or fast food in airports. Sometimes I pack a couple varieties of bars, a dense bar that can be a breakfast bar and a sweeter bar that can be a treat. Bars can be customized to be chewy or crunchy and salty or sweet. Play with your food to find the texture and flavor profile you like and enjoy! Enjoy this Gluten Free YogaLean Recipe!

Base Ingredients:
3 cups Gluten Free Chex Cereal (Rice or Corn Flavor)
1/2 cup ground flax seed meal
2 cups Dried Fruit – use at least 2 kinds (Diced)
2 cups Roasted Nuts
1/2 cup chopped Dark Chocolate or Chocolate Chips
2 TBSP unsalted Butter
2 TBSP packed Brown Sugar (omit if you use Nutella as it has added sugar)
1/2 cup Honey
1/4 cup Nut Butter or Nutella

Options: Add 1 cup of marshmallows (melt with butter in a pan then add to the wet mixture). If you do this…combine the DRY ingredients FIRST, then add the wet.

HINT: Try to use nuts that correspond to the nut butter you will use (cashews with cashew butter, etc)

Directions:
1. Partially crush the Chex Cereal so you have some full pieces and some crumbles
2. Dice the dried fruit you wish to use
3. Spray a glass baking dish with oil
4. Melt the butter
5. Combine the wet ingredients in a mixer (butter, honey, Nutella or nut butter, and brown sugar)
6. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir till incorporated
7. Transfer to a baking dish and press firmly with the back of a spatula (spray spatula so mixture does not stick)
8. Chill in the refrigerator (covered) for 30 minutes then cut into desired size pieces and enjoy!