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Thank you Village Harvest for sponsoring this post. Every day Village Harvest is planting seeds of change and growing possibilities, one bag of goodness at a time.
These Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars are quick and easy and made with nutrient packed gluten free whole grains. They make a hearty breakfast or satisfying snack. They’re also nut-free which makes them great for school lunch boxes, too! Kid and adult approved!
I don’t know about your family, but my kids seem to believe that they should be eating at least once an hour during the summer months. As soon as they leave the table from a meal, they are asking for a snack. And they are good eaters, so it’s not like they are leaving the table hungry.
They would happily eat crackers or pretzels all day if I let them, but they are just as content grabbing an apple or some sliced cucumbers and hummus.
Because they are running around outside quite frequently on these warmer days, they do need extra fuel to keep them going. These Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars are the perfect way to start their day or re-energize them during their adventures.
Once school is back in session, you bet these whole grain bars will satisfy their hungry tummies during homework time while they wait for dinner.
And they’re not just for kids – adults love them too!
I’ve packed these bars full of whole grains – thanks to Village Harvest Ancient Grain blend – seeds, and dried fruits.
They’re gluten free, oil free, refined sugar free, and nut free.
They have great texture from all the different grains, yet are soft and chewy.
They’ll keep in the fridge for a few days, but you can even freeze them to store them for longer. Let frozen bars sit out for a few minutes at room temperature to soften them back up. Put a frozen bar into a lunch box and it will be perfect by lunch time.
Village Harvest is a company passionate about sustainability. They believe that means not only taking care of the planet, but also the workers that help bring the healthy whole grains to your door. They donate 1% of profits to run programs benefiting the farmers and local communities from which they source their products. They also donate 1% of their employees’ time to charitable causes and sustainability efforts.
As you can see, their products are about more than just rice – they’re about discovering new possibilities at home in the kitchen and thousands of miles away in the fields. This is a company whose products I’m proud to use!
Village Harvest just introduced three new Organic Benefit Blends – Organic Antioxidant Blend, Organic Ancients Grain Blend, and Organic Protein Blend – each offering their own distinctive combination of healthful goodness. These unique gluten free blends are filled with rice and grains and the nutrients your body craves.
I used the Organic Ancients Grain Blend in my breakfast bars proving that these healthy blends are not just for the dinner table.
My favorite of the three new blends is the Ancient Grain blend. It has millet, red and white quinoa, and buckwheat – three grains I love to use in my kitchen.
I use millet in these Black Bean Patties, quinoa in this Spinach Salad, and buckwheat flour in these Pancakes.
You could use this nutritious blend anywhere you would usually use rice or your favorite grain. It’s an easy way to pack a lot of nutrition into one dish.
More vegan whole grain recipes
- Meatless Stuffed Pepper Soup with bulgur
- Apple Pie Mixed Grain Hot Breakfast Cereal with quinoa, millet, and amaranth
- Lemon Millet with Chickpeas and Dill
- Oatmeal Peanut Butter Balls
- Roasted Veggie Rice Bowls
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment below with your feedback.
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For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup Village Harvest Organic Ancient Grains Blend
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup old fashioned oats, gluten free
- ¼ cup flax meal
- ¼ cup oat flour*
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar optional
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup dried blueberries
- ½ cup diced dried apricots
- ¼ cup sunflower seed butter or tahini (or nut butter would work also)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Rinse and drain the Village Harvest Organic Ancient Grains Blend. Combine it with the water in a small pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10 to 12 minutes until grains are tender. Do Not Overcook! Set aside to cool. (This step can be done in advance – up to several days before. Keep the grains in an air-tight container in the fridge until ready to use.)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper. Let the ends overhang a bit to use as "handles" later to easily remove the bars from the pan.
- Once the grains are cool, combine them in a large mixing bowl with the oats, flaxmeal, oat flour, coconut sugar (if using), salt, dried blueberries and dried apricots.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sunflower seed butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and stir well to combine. Make sure that all the dry ingredients are coated.
- Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Press down firmly so the mixture is compact.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the edges start to turn golden.
- Place the baking pan on a wire cooling rack to allow the mixture to cool in the pan for at least 20 to 30 minutes. They will firm up as they sit.
- Carefully remove from the pan using the parchment “handles” and place onto the cooling rack to continue to cool completely. Once cool, cut into bars.
- Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer. They can also be individually wrapped and frozen for easy grab-n-go breakfasts or snacks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Alisa Fleming says
What a wonderful whole grains blend! I love throwing blends like this into homemade wheat bread for added interest, too. And these bars look divine – perfect way to lure kids out the door for back to school 🙂
Jenn S. says
I really need to start making homemade bread – that sounds delicious! But, yes, these bars are perfect for the kids before school…or on the way to school cause we slept in. Ha!
Alisa Fleming says
You do! It’s unbeatable, therapeutic, and so darn easy, really. If you need a solid recipe, let me know! I make 100% whole wheat bread with the white-wheat flour often. I taught my niece how to make it and she used to make a loaf herself every week for her school lunches.
Jenn S. says
Yes, please send me the recipe! I use the White Whole Wheat often – my kids would love homemade bread! Thanks, Alisa!
Sarah De la Cruz says
These look so yummy! My kids beg me for snack bars all day long, so I’m sure they’d love these!
Jenn S. says
Glad it’s not just my kids! 🙂 Hope they love these, Sarah!
alisha mir says
These look great! Definitely trying this when I go back to school for a quick healthy breakfast
Jenn S. says
They’d be perfect for that! Enjoy, Alisha!
Linda from Veganosity says
I’m with your kids, I definitely eat once an hour. 🙂 These look and sound amazing, Jenn!
Jenn S. says
HaHa!Love it!
Stella @ The Smoothie Vegetarians says
These would make an excellent “on the go” breakfast!
Jenn S. says
Indeed! Thank you, Stella!
Mary Ellen | VNutrition says
These look so delicious and much healthier than any store bought kind. The grains look like something I’d love to cook with – I’ll check them out!
Jenn S. says
The grains are great for sweet and savory – you’d love them. Thanks, Mary Ellen!
Juli says
These look and sound amazing! They have been pinned and I will be making these for my family!
Jenn S. says
Oh, thank you, Juli! I hope everyone loves them! Let me know how they turn out.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
These bars look so good! And I want to try Ancient Grains. All the blends sound delicious!
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Amy! The ancient grains make them so hearty and filling!
Brandi Crawford says
Healthy and delish! Just what I need for breakfast.
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Brandi! Enjoy!
Hannah Healy says
This is a great on-the-go snack or breakfast. Love it!
Jenn S. says
Perfectly portable!
Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish says
Oh my goodness! What a clever recipe! Love that you used grains
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Suzy!
sara |belly rumbles says
I’m really getting in to my ancient grains of late, but funnily enough it has been for savoury uses. I am going to have to give your bars a go to change things up a bit.
Jenn S. says
I think most people use them in savory recipes and we do most often too. Its fun to change things up a bit sometimes, right?! Hope you love them, Sara!
Lisa Bryan says
Homemade granola bars and breakfast bars are the best. I’m also loving all the ancient grains in this version!
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Lisa! It really makes them so hearty!