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No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

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It’s that time of the year where our summer days are becoming shorter and there is a cool crispness to the evening air you can’t deny. Winter is coming.

Back to school shopping is in full swing for supplies, clothes, backpacks and of course school snacks. It’s amazing how much less my kids eat during summer holidays compared to when they are in school and needing fuel throughout the day. Baking snacks in advance, like these No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls, and freezing is one way we like to get ready for back to school before it arrives.

 

Cherry Hazelnut Elderberry Power Balls
Cherry Hazelnut Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

 

 

Elderberries are full of antioxidants, vitamins A, B and C plus are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and are the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. When it comes to antioxidant power, elderberry is higher in flavonoids than blueberries, cranberries, goji berries and blackberries. Known as a treatment for cold and flu symptoms, Feel Good Elderberry Syrup can also be used when cooking or baking as a food flavouring.

Elderberry Plant
Elderberries

No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls are a protein packed recipe you can freeze and pull out for breakfasts, pop into lunches or enjoy while out hiking or camping. Using only 7 ingredients, they are loaded with nutritional foods like elderberry syrup, chia seeds, nut butter, hazelnuts (also called filberts) and dried cherries. This combination of super foods offer immune boosting antioxidants, protein, fiber and healthy fats.

Ingredients for the no bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls
Ingredients for the no bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

Teaching our kids to make healthy choices is easy when you have great ingredients to work with. For more inspiring healthy recipes or back to school snacks check out our Date Energy Balls, or Pepperoni Pizza Muffin recipes.

 

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No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls
Author: 
Serves: 16
 
Ingredients
  • 1¼ cup natural nut butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tsp Elderberry Syrup
  • 2 cups oats (combine large flake oats and quick oats)
  • ¼ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
  • ½ cup dried cherries
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • salt
Instructions
  1. In a whisk together nut butter, honey and Elderberry Syrup.
  2. Add oats, hazelnuts, dried cherries, chia seeds and a pinch of salt.
  3. Stir to combine. Let rest for 15 minutes.
  4. Pick up a small amount and start forming a ball in your hands. Roll into 1 inch balls. You should get close to 16 power balls.
  5. Keep refrigerated when not using due to the natural nut butter. Or freeze and pull out as needed.

 

No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls
No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

We are working in collaboration with Feel Good Syrup on this post. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

Sticky No Bake Cereal Bars

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A no bake cereal bar that is all things sticky, tasty, and the perfect treat to take with you on the road, or hiking, camping, even picnics. Check with your school’s policy about peanut butter before you send them to school however. This recipe came about shortly after my son was born and my desire to create treats vs buying them all the time. Plus I like to know my kids are putting healthy-er things into their bodies.

The first time I made this recipe it called for corn syrup and that’s how it went. Sticky nonetheless. This time I wanted to remove the corn syrup from the mix. Instead I tried cinnamon honey, with a splash of maple syrup and a second splash of regular squeeze bottle honey. While I’m not quite sure the honey keeps them together as well as the corn syrup did (it’s been about 6 years since I last made them), the feeling of knowing we are using natural, healthier choices, made everything ok. Or maybe we need to use less honey, definitely not more I reckon.

Recipe testing can sometimes take several goes before success. I’m sure a few more goes at this one will get it to perfection or close enough. In the meantime it comes together nicely, stays together for the most part after firming up in the refrigerator and tastes delicious.

 

Sticky No Bake Cereal Bars
Sticky No Bake Cereal Bars

 

Substitute any nut butter for the peanut butter and get the kids involved making them. Mine love helping to make these squares. I even let them pick one item out of the pantry to make their own version of these no bake cereal bars (like other dried fruit, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, pepitas). Relatively healthy and I know what all the ingredients are that go into these bars.

They are sticky, gooey and might even fall apart as you eat them, but that’s part of the fun. Wet wipes in the truck go a long way if you are taking them to go.

Print
Sticky No Bake Cereal Bars
Recipe type: snacks, treats, breakfast
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup cinnamon honey (or 1 cup honey with 2 tsp cinnamon)
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter or nut butter
  • ½ cup coconut
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup sunflower seeds, shelled
  • 3 cups shreddies
Instructions
  1. Microwave honey and peanut butter together in dish on med high for 1-2 minutes. Stir until well blended.
  2. Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over top dry ingredients and mix well until evenly coated.
  3. Spread into lightly greased 8 inch square baking pan or glass dish.
  4. Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour or until firm.