The Easiest, Tastiest, Energy Packed, Oat Bar for the Trail

Nova Scotia Oat Cakes

If you are looking for a snack that is portable, a good source of fiber and mostly healthy for your next outing I cannot recommend these oat cakes enough. I have been making them now for several weeks. They are so easy to make and there is plenty of room to make these in a variety of ways including with your own twist on added ingredients. These can even be made with "gluten free flour" for my gluten challenged friends. They resemble an oatmeal cookie in texture and taste but also give you the same comforting feeling of oatmeal.
I am putting these into my must pack list for camping and hiking. I can see having these as a snack but I also see how they can provide a "breakfast on the move" while backpacking. They take all of 40 minutes to make once you get the few ingredients together. These are so easy you can make them in a single bowl. Just add all of the ingredients together in bowl and mix very well.  Let your creativity flow on these. I have listed some alternative, additions and variations.

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Ingredients

• 2 Cups Oatmeal
• 1 Cup Flour
  
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Hot Water

Alternatives/Additions/Variations

•  Don't have oatmeal? Use Granola
•  Try adding some coconut in place of some of the oatmeal
• Pump up the flavors add crushed nuts, raisins, currents, or other dried fruit
• Gluten free version? Replace flour with gluten free flour
• Plant based diet? Instead of Butter use Coconut oil
• Bump up the protein by adding some nut-butter
• Recipes are a great starting point.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine ALL ingredients in a bowl and stir very well. This will make a slightly chunky and sticky dough.
   
3. Mold into a dough ball, then press it out onto a baking sheet. You can roll it out with a dough pin to make it thin as you want it to be (I recommend about 1/4 inch thick.) Shape into a large rectangle
   
4. Cover and chill for 10-15 minutes to firm up the dough, remove and score down the middle and across to make 8-10 squares (you'll use these lines for clean cuts after it's done baking).
   
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until they are golden brown. Chewy is okay but bake longer for crisper cakes. Just watch closely so they don't burn
   
6. Remove from oven and then score the lines again with a thin knife. Allow them to cool.
   
7. Enjoy with your favorite coffee or tea or add them to your day pack for some quick energy during a hike or a long road trip.