Recipe: Guilt-free flapjacks

It's January and everyone I know seems to be in serious 'detox mode' after consuming one too many mince pies over Christmas! So when could be a better time than now to blog a healthy, guilt-free recipe?! I've got to admit I've been feeling ever so slightly sluggish myself these past couple of weeks - I ate way too many Lindt chocolates over Christmas - and so it feels great to be back on the healthy eating bandwagon and I enjoyed a long run this morning. Hello bikini body, I am coming to getchyaaa!

 Anyway, on my way home from my run I decided to pop into the supermarket and pick up some ingredients for some guilt-free flapjacks. It's always a good idea to have some healthy snacks around, to pop in my bag to take to work or to enjoy as a quick pick-me-up when I'm in need of an energy boost. If the right foods aren't around, I end up choosing the wrong ones...!  Please tell me I'm not the only one?!

These flapjacks are super easy to make and taste really good. You can hardly tell that they contain no butter or sugar! Instead they're packed with healthy nuts, seeds and dried fruits. The perfect guilt-free snack! 

You will need:

 65g walnuts
65g pecans
A handful of hazelnuts
1 tablespoon of cashew butter (or almond butter)
70g pitted medjool dates
70g ulsulphured dried apricots
2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup

175g rolled oats (I used gluten free oats)
A big handful of mixed pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Chuck the walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts into a food processor and blitz until they are all crumbly.

Add the dates and the apricots and blitz again. The mixture will probably go a bit clumpy and sticky but that's all good! Then add the cashew butter and the maple syrup. Blitz once more!

When everything is combined, add the oats and stir in, ensuring everything is mixed together well. 

Transfer the mixture into a baking dish, and pat down so that it is is evenly spread. Sprinkle the pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds over the top and bake in the oven for approx 25-30 mins until golden brown.

Let the flapjacks cool before cutting into squares...or rectangles...! 

ENJOY!

Lydia xxx