Save money with homemade snack bars

A snack bar can be a lifesaver if you’re having a long day and feeling a bit peckish - but they aren’t exactly the cheapest or healthiest snack.

Even a small pack can often cost quite a bit and many are loaded with sugar.

So if you have an eye on your budget and your health, why not just make your own instead?

It’s easy, cheap, filling and lets you use up loads of bits and pieces you have in the cupboard.

What you’ll need 

Makes about 8 bars

• 200g oats
• 100g butter or baking spread
• 75g sugar (brown sugar works well if you have it)
• two or three tablespoons golden syrup or honey

How to make them

1.    Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).

2.    Line or lightly grease a small baking tin.

3.    Put the butter, sugar and golden syrup (or honey) in a saucepan.

4.    Heat gently until the butter has melted and everything is combined.

5.    Stir in the oats and mix until they’re well coated.

6.    Press the mixture firmly into the baking tin.

7.    Bake for 15–20 minutes until lightly golden.

8.    Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into bars or squares.

Add sweet treats for extra flavour

If you want to make your snack bars a bit more exciting, you can easily liven them up with ingredients you might already have lurking, such as:

• chocolate chips
• a spoonful of peanut butter
• raisins or sultanas
• a handful of chopped nuts

Just add your optional extras into the mix just before you press it into the baking tin and you’re good to go.

It uses up ingredients you’ve got in, and it means you can keep it different and interesting each time you make a batch.

A tasty snack for your lunchbox

Once the traybake has come out of the oven and cooled, cut it up into bars or squares.

You’ve then got a snack that’s perfect for taking to work or packing in your child’s school lunchbox.

Just keep them in an airtight container and your homemade snack bars will last for a few days.

They’re tastier, healthier, cheaper and you know exactly what’s gone into them.

What’s not to like?!