2020-02-01 Cooking Light

Brown-Bag Lunches & Snacks

LOW-SUGAR RECIPES^45

3. Place cashew butter, brown rice
   syrup, and oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
   Microwave at high until warm, about 30
   seconds; whisk until smooth. Whisk in
   vanilla, salt, and egg white.


4. Add cashews and apricots to oats.
   Pour cashew butter mixture over oat
   mixture; stir until well combined. Using a
   spatula, press mixture very firmly into
   prepared pan.


5. Bake at 350°F until lightly browned,
   20 to 22 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire
   rack 15 minutes. Remove from pan using
   parchment paper. Cool completely on
   rack. Cut into 12 (4- x 1^1 ⁄ 3 -inch) bars.

SERVES 12 (serving size: 1 bar); CALORIES 181;
FAT 9g (sat 3g, unsat 6g); PROTEIN 4g; CARB
22g; FIBER 2g; SUGARS 9g (added sugars 6g);
SODIUM 122mg; CALC 2% DV; POTASSIUM
4% DV

4. Almond-Cherry Bars

Photo p. 43

HANDS-ON 1 5 M I N.
TOTAL 1 HR. 40 MIN.

Making snack bars at home doesn’t
have to be complicated. These take
just 15 minutes to make and use
wholesome ingredients such as oats,
almond butter, and maple syrup for
a sweet-but-healthy treat.

2 cups old-fashioned oats

(^1) ⁄ 3 cup almond butter
(^1) ⁄ 4 cup pure maple syrup
11 ⁄ 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
(^1) ⁄ 2 tsp. kosher salt
1 large egg white
(^1) ⁄ 2 cup coarsely chopped unsalted
roasted almonds
(^1) ⁄ 3 cup chopped unsweetened dried
cherries

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an
   8-inch square metal baking pan with
   parchment paper; let excess hang
   over the edge.


2. Spread oats onto a baking sheet.
   Bake at 350°F until toasted, about 12
   minutes. Place in a medium bowl; cool.


3. Place almond butter, maple syrup,
   and oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
   Microwave at high until warm, about 30
   seconds; whisk until smooth. Whisk in
   vanilla, salt, and egg white.


4. Add almonds and cherries to oats.
   Pour almond butter mixture over oat
   mixture; stir until well combined. Using a
   spatula, press mixture very firmly into
   prepared pan.


5. Bake at 350°F until lightly browned,
   20 to 22 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire
   rack 15 minutes. Remove from pan using
   parchment paper. Cool completely on
   rack. Cut into 12 (4- x 1^1 ⁄ 3 -inch) bars.
   SERVES 12 (serving size: 1 bar); CALORIES 173;
   FAT 10g (sat 2g, unsat 7g); PROTEIN 5g;
   CARB 18g; FIBER 3g; SUGARS 7g (added sugars
   4g); SODIUM 103mg; CALC 5% DV; POTASSIUM
   3% DV

Syrup Savvy

Pure maple syrup is made

by concentrating the sap of

sugar maple trees through

a process of heating

and evaporation. While

it is a form of sugar, pure

maple syrup does contain

valuable nutrients such

as calcium, potassium,

magnesium, zinc, iron, and

B vitamins. When buying

maple syrup, read labels

carefully to make sure you

are buying pure maple

syrup and not maple-

flavored syrup.

Although the

values are similar,

almond butter

has slightly more

vitamins, minerals,

and fiber than

peanut butter.