VEGAN BREAKFAST BAR/TRAILMIX BAR RECIPES

The great thing about these is that you control the ingredients, low or no salt, reduced sugar or no refined sugar, and nuts of choice and they are not 80% rolled oats as with most commercial granola-energy bars.

makes 1  13 x 9 x 2 inch ovenproof dish

3 cups any breakfast cereal (bran flakes, oatmeal, Weetabix, any of your favorite)
1 cup roasted nut/seed butter
1/2 cup tahini
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract
2 cups muesli/granola
1/2 cup flax seed or wheat germ
1/2 cup mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup any raw seeds or nuts

Lightly grease the ovenproof casserole dish.
Place the breakfast cereal in a sealable plastic bag and crush the large flakes/pieces, if using smaller cereal omit this step.
Combine the maple syrup, nut butter and tahini in a small saucepan and heat slowly to combine.
Remove from heat and add flavoring and the crushed cereal, muesli, flax seed (or wheat germ) dried fruit and nuts and mix well.

Press firmly into the greased dish and smooth top.

Cover and chill for 1 hour before cutting into bars.

Wrap the bars in waxed paper and store in sealable plastic bags in a cold place.


Variations:
 If using rolled oats, toast them first in a dry skillet and allow to cool before adding to the mix, this imparts a great toasted/nutty  flavor.
Add banana chips, coconut, carob or chocolate chips, dried cherries...or any of your personal faves. 
If tempted to add and pre-ground spices, cook these with the tahini, nut butter and maple syrup, to release their natural oils and kill off any bacteria.

Add chia seeds and you have a meal replacement bar.