Hummingbird Power Bars

Hummingbird Power Bars

I will make practically any recipe that has the word Hummingbird in the name.  Hummingbird cake is my favorite of all.  When I found this recipe in Southern Living magazine, I read the description of the recipe which stated, "What could be better than a breakfast that tastes like the classic Hummingbird cake without the colossal calories?"  This recipe had to be a winner.

I did change the recipe a little.  Instead of using walnuts, I used pecans, and instead of oat bran (I figured the bars already had oats) I used ground flax seed.    This recipe uses some of my favorites as ingredients - flaked coconut, dried banana chips (I love them) and dried pineapple.  These bars also have regular oats (not quick oats) high-fiber cereal, I used Fiber One like the recipe testers did,  and salt.  You mix together the oats, high-fiber cereal, nuts, banana chips, pineapple, coconut, oat bran or ground flax seed and salt in a medium bowl.   A syrup is made using light brown sugar, honey light corn syrup, olive oil and vanilla extract.  You pour the syrup over the cereal mixture and coat well.  Finally eggs whites are stirred into the oat mixture.  Press the mixture in a prepared 9-inch square pan.  The bars are baked for 50 minutes.  Cool complete and then cut into 16 bars.

These bars did not last long - they were so good.  I cut my first one to take a picture and when I went back to the kitchen, they were half gone.  By dinnertime they were gone.  So much for a breakfast bar.

These bars were quick to put together and did not take alot of time.  Best of all - they are packed with goodness and are delicious:)



Hummingbird Power Bars
Adapted from southern Living Magazine

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups uncooked regular oats
1 cup high-fiber cereal
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped dried banana chips
1/2 cup chopped dried pineapple
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites

Directions:
1. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.  Lightly grease the parchment paper and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
3. Stir together the uncooked oats, high-fiber cereal, pecans, banana chips, dried pineapple, coconut, ground flax seed and salt in a medium  bowl.

4. Microwave in a microwave safe dish the brown sugar, honey, light corn syrup, olive oil and vanilla extract on HIGH for one minute.
5. Pour warm honey mixture over oat mixture, stirring to coat.
6. Whisk the egg whites and stir into oat mixture.  Press into the prepared pan.

7. Bake 50 minutes or until brown.  Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 45 minutes).
8. Cut into 16 bars.

Makes 16 bars