Chewy Fruit Bars

Published : June 28, 2015

These make a delicious and healthy snack.

Ingredients

100ml/3 1/2f fl oz/scant 1/2 cup orange juice
100g/3 1/2 oz/heaped 1/2 cup unsulphured dried apricots, chopped
1 tsp grated orange zest
50g/1 3/4 oz/1/3 cup almonds, chopped
50g/1 3/4 oz/1/2 cup desiccated coconut, plus extra for sprinkling
50g/1 3/4 oz/3 cups puffed rice
100g/3 1/2 oz/1 cup ground almonds
4 tbsp clear honey
50g/1 3/4 oz/scant 1/2 cup dried fruit, such as raisins, apple or peach, chopped
toasted flaked almonds, for sprinkling

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C and line a baking tray with foil.
Pour the orange juice into a medium-sized saucepan and add the apricots and orange zest.
Bring to the boil over a medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed and the fruit is soft.
Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Put the chopped almonds and coconut on two separate baking trays.
Bake the almonds for 3-4 minutes until hot, and the coconut for 1 minute, or until lightly golden.
Add the puffed rice and ground almonds to the apricot mixture and stir well.
Mix in the toasted coconut, toasted almonds, honey and dried fruit.
Using your hands, shape the mixture into a large ball and flatten.
Transfer to the foil-lined baking tray and, using your fingers, push the mixture to the edges of the tin evenly.
Sprinkle the mixture with a little coconut and the flaked almonds.
Cut into 12 bars and chill in the refridgerator for about 3 hours to set.

Store in a sealed container in the fridge and use within 1 week.

This is an edited extract from The Natural Menopause Plan by Maryon Stewart. Published by Duncan Baird. $27.99. Available at leading independent book stores.