Renowned chef and author Melissa Hemsley has shared a trio of delightful recipes for healthy sweet treats, offering a nutritious twist on classic snacks. From homemade Bounty bars infused with matcha to a versatile savoury granola and quick almond butter flapjacks, these creations are designed for busy lifestyles and health-conscious indulgence.
Homemade Bounty Bars with Matcha: A Paradise Bar Twist
Melissa Hemsley affectionately calls her version of Bounty bars "paradise bars," blending the sweetness of coconut with the health benefits of matcha. She notes that even those who typically avoid matcha tea, like her partner, enjoy it when mixed into the coconut filling. For a time-saving hack, she suggests setting the coconut-matcha mix in a large tin, drizzling melted chocolate on top, and cutting into squares instead of individually dipping bars.
Recipe Details for Bounty Bars
Preparation takes 5 minutes, cooking 30 minutes, and chilling at least 30 minutes, yielding 24 bars. Key ingredients include creamed coconut, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, matcha powder, desiccated coconut, and dark chocolate. The process involves melting and mixing ingredients, pressing into a tin, chilling, and coating with chocolate. Once made, the bars can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks or frozen, with a reminder to defrost before eating to avoid dental mishaps.
Savoury Granola with Soy Sauce, Rosemary, Nuts, and Seeds
This savoury granola is a crunchy addition to meals, perfect for sprinkling on sandwiches, wraps, avocado toast, or shop-bought salads and soups to boost fibre and healthy fats. It can be prepared in the oven or a frying pan, offering flexibility for different cooking preferences.
Recipe Details for Savoury Granola
With a prep time of 5 minutes and cook time of 25 minutes, this recipe makes about 450g. Ingredients include smoked paprika, olive oil, rolled oats, rosemary, mixed nuts, seeds, sea salt, chilli flakes, soy sauce, and maple syrup. The oven method involves baking at 190C, while the pan method requires frying and stirring. Once cooled, store in a sealed container for up to two weeks.
Five-Ingredient Flapjacks: Quick and Satisfying
These flapjacks are ideal for a speedy afternoon snack, taking just eight minutes to assemble. Melissa suggests variations such as swapping almond butter for cashew or peanut butter, and raisins for other dried fruits like sultanas or dates, allowing for customisation based on taste and budget.
Recipe Details for Flapjacks
Cook time is 25 minutes plus cooling, making 8 flapjacks. Ingredients include smooth almond butter, maple syrup, porridge oats, ground cinnamon, and raisins. The method involves heating almond butter and syrup, mixing with oats and fruit, baking at 180C, and cooling before slicing. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Melissa Hemsley, author of Real Healthy: Unprocess Your Diet with Easy, Everyday Recipes, continues to inspire with these accessible recipes that promote wholesome eating without sacrificing flavour. These treats are perfect for anyone looking to enjoy sweet snacks in a healthier way.
