Power Bar Recipe for Cyclists

by Irene Johnson

Generally, purchased power bars are expensive and not very tasty. Try making your own with the following recipe that I have used for years.

Power Bars

• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup light corn syrup (or honey)
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup peanut butter* (you can decrease this amount for less fat)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup nonfat dry milk
• 1 cup low fat granola cereal (crush large lumps)
• 1 cup whole bran cereal (Grape Nuts or All Bran)
• 6 ounces chocolate pieces (optional)

Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with kitchen parchment paper. This is similar to the paper that butter cubes are wrapped in, and you can find it in the baking section of the grocery store.

Microwave syrup, sugar and salt to a boil and is well dissolved.

Stir in everything else except chocolate.

After recipe cools a bit, stir in chocolate chips. If you put them in when the mixture is hot, they will melt.

Press into pan. Refrigerate 60 minutes or longer, (you can speed the setting process if you put it in the freezer) then cut into one inch squares or the size of your choice. Wrap in saran wrap, and/or place in sandwich baggies.

Store in refrigerator or freezer.

*Please only use natural peanut butter, not the kind with artery clogging partially hydrogenated shortening. If you have a peanut allergy, try almond butter if that is not an allergen for you.

When making this recipe, try adding peanuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and things like that. Personally, I really like peanuts and add only 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup nuts.

Irene Johnson
irenemjohnson@gmail.com