• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggie Inspired logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
    • The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook
    • The Meat-Free Kitchen
    • Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Veganuary
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Veganuary
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Breakfast and Brunch

    Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars

    Published: Jul 25, 2017 · Modified: Aug 28, 2020 by Jenn Sebestyen

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars - made with Village Harvest Organic Ancient Grain blend for a nutritious hearty breakfast or snack. Oil free, gluten free, refined sugar free, and nut free. #vhblends #clvr https://www.pinterest.com/villageharvest/

    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!

    Stack of 3 Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars w/ parchment in between. Bowl of blueberries in the background.

    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!

    Close up of blueberry apricot breakfast bars.

    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 new rice blend product - Ancient Grains - behind a tray full of breakfast bars and blueberries.

    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 3 new grain blends - Protein, Ancient Grain, and Antioxidant.

    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.

    Jar of Village Harvest Ancient Grains blend spilling out onto a tray.

    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.

    Tray of breakfast bars, dried apricots, and a bowl of fresh blueberries.

    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.

    Be sure to sign up for my FREE Newsletter to be the first to get my NEW recipes! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.


    For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!

    Stack of 3 Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars w/ parchment in between. Bowl of blueberries in the background.

    Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars

    These Ancient Grains Breakfast Bars are made with nutrient packed gluten free whole grains. They make a hearty breakfast or satisfying snack. 
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Breakfast and Brunch, Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 166kcal
    Author: Jenn Sebestyen

    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

    *If you don’t have oat flour, you can make your own by adding whole oats to a food processor or coffee grinder and pulsing until ground into a flour consistency.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1.4mg

    Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.

    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Veggie_Inspired or tag #VeggieInspired!
    951 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alisa Fleming says

      August 30, 2017 at 10:57 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        August 30, 2017 at 11:20 am

        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!

        Reply
        • Alisa Fleming says

          August 30, 2017 at 12:35 pm

          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

          August 30, 2017 at 1:44 pm

          Yes, please send me the recipe! I use the White Whole Wheat often – my kids would love homemade bread! Thanks, Alisa!

    2. Sarah De la Cruz says

      July 29, 2017 at 1:42 am

      These look so yummy! My kids beg me for snack bars all day long, so I’m sure they’d love these!

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 29, 2017 at 6:46 am

        Glad it’s not just my kids! 🙂 Hope they love these, Sarah!

        Reply
    3. alisha mir says

      July 27, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      These look great! Definitely trying this when I go back to school for a quick healthy breakfast

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 3:35 pm

        They’d be perfect for that! Enjoy, Alisha!

        Reply
    4. Linda from Veganosity says

      July 27, 2017 at 2:03 pm

      I’m with your kids, I definitely eat once an hour. 🙂 These look and sound amazing, Jenn!

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 3:26 pm

        HaHa!Love it!

        Reply
    5. Stella @ The Smoothie Vegetarians says

      July 27, 2017 at 12:22 pm

      These would make an excellent “on the go” breakfast!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        August 10, 2017 at 9:17 am

        Indeed! Thank you, Stella!

        Reply
    6. Mary Ellen | VNutrition says

      July 27, 2017 at 6:20 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:16 am

        The grains are great for sweet and savory – you’d love them. Thanks, Mary Ellen!

        Reply
    7. Juli says

      July 26, 2017 at 10:06 pm

      These look and sound amazing! They have been pinned and I will be making these for my family!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:16 am

        Oh, thank you, Juli! I hope everyone loves them! Let me know how they turn out.

        Reply
    8. Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says

      July 26, 2017 at 10:00 pm

      These bars look so good! And I want to try Ancient Grains. All the blends sound delicious!

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:15 am

        Thanks, Amy! The ancient grains make them so hearty and filling!

        Reply
    9. Brandi Crawford says

      July 26, 2017 at 9:25 pm

      Healthy and delish! Just what I need for breakfast.5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:15 am

        Thanks, Brandi! Enjoy!

        Reply
    10. Hannah Healy says

      July 26, 2017 at 9:04 pm

      This is a great on-the-go snack or breakfast. Love it!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:14 am

        Perfectly portable!

        Reply
    11. Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish says

      July 26, 2017 at 7:47 pm

      Oh my goodness! What a clever recipe! Love that you used grains

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:14 am

        Thanks, Suzy!

        Reply
    12. sara |belly rumbles says

      July 26, 2017 at 7:44 pm

      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.5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:14 am

        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!

        Reply
    13. Lisa Bryan says

      July 26, 2017 at 7:33 pm

      Homemade granola bars and breakfast bars are the best. I’m also loving all the ancient grains in this version!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        July 27, 2017 at 9:13 am

        Thank you, Lisa! It really makes them so hearty!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Jenn Sebestyen of Veggie Inspired

    Hi, I'm Jenn! This is where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

    More about me →

    Order your copy today!

    The Meatless Monday Cookbook Cover

    Clean Eating

    • The Ultimate Guide to Making Salads for Dinner
    • Vegan Green Goddess Dip
    • Tahini Goddess Dressing (Oil-Free)
    • Easy Vegan Mayonnaise with Silken Tofu

    Top Rated

    • Garden Veggie Pasta
    • Veggie Cream Cheese
    • BBQ Chickpeas Sandwiches
    • Vegan Cinnamon Cookies

    Featured In

    As featured in collage.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Nutrition Disclaimer
    • Copyright Statement

    • Sign Up Now for the latest FREE recipes

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Publicity and Press

    Copyright © 2023 Veggie Inspired, LLC

    951 shares