How to Make a Homemade Clif Bar

Dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, coconut shavings, and more are great add-ins for energy bars.

Using too many mix-ins can lead to a dry bar. Limit the amount to about 1 heaping cup. My team opted for cashews, coconut shavings, dried cherries, dried pomegranate seeds, and dried blueberries.

Clif Bar uses a mixture of rice puffs, soy flour, roasted soybeans, rolled oats, and salt in its original energy bars.

As for the wet mix, Clif Bar uses brown rice syrup, cane syrup, milled flaxseed, date paste, and soy butter (or peanut butter).

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the wet ingredients for about 30 seconds.

Beat the dry ingredients into the wet for about 2 minutes.

Beat until all the ingredients come together.

Beat in the mix-ins for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on how finely chopped you want the dried fruits and nuts.

Use an oil spray (vegetable or coconut) to spray down a cutting board, a plastic bowl scraper, and your hands. Transfer the energy bar "dough" to the cutting board with the help of the greased bowl scraper.

Form a log that's about the length of the cutting board.

Use a greased metal bench scraper to cut the "dough" into 9 equal pieces.

Carefully press and form each of the 9 pieces into rectangular bars with the help of the bowl scraper and bench scraper. Transfer them to a half-sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. Bake at 300°F for about 20 minutes, or until the bars turn lightly brown and are firm to the touch.

While Clif gave us a nifty packaging, simply wrap each individual bar in plastic wrap or small ziplock bags.

Here are a few recipes to re-create at home: