Cranberry Chia Flapjack | Vegan

Chia Bia recently challenged me to take part in a two week challenge of adding two tablespoons of chia seeds to my diet a day. Naturally I jumped at the chance to come up with some creative recipes using chia seeds!

As well as whole and milled varieties, Chia Bia have two chia berry mixes – cranberry and blueberry. Breakfast is the perfect time to incorporate chia seeds into your day and these berry mixes are particularly good for sprinkling or mixing into a breakfast yoghurt bowl to add extra fruitiness. These are two of my favorite combinations I tried:

• Chia Bia ground chia seeds with blueberry, vanilla soy yoghurt, freeze-dried blueberries, cocao nibs and coconut on top of chopped fresh strawberries
• Chia Bia ground chia seeds with cranberry mixed with oats and strawberry & rhubarb soy yoghurt, topped with cocao nibs and coconut.

My favorite creation, however, had to be this Cranberry Chia Flapjack. Made with cranberry chia mix and dried cranberries, it’s fruity with a moreish chewy-yet-crumbly texture. You could also make this recipe using plain chia seeds if that’s all you have. The coconut oil can also be swapped for a dairy-free margarine too if you’d prefer.

The flapjack contains no refined sugars so I’d even say you could eat this for breakfast!

If you’re not already familiar with chia seeds, you might be wondering what the fuss is all about. Here’s a quick round-up of the health benefits:

• Chia is the highest-known plant-based source of omega-3 in the world, which works to maintain a happy heart and strengthen the brain
• High in fibre, the tiny seeds aid digestion and help to balance blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol
• Chia helps to reduce inflammation and improves circulation
• High in zinc, known to benefit the immune system and nervous system
• Chia is a complete plant-based protein

Cranberry Chia Flapjack | Vegan   Save Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 20 mins Total time 30 mins   Fruity and oaty flapjack full of the goodness of chia seeds! Author: The Tofu Diaries Recipe type: Snack Cuisine: Vegan Serves: 8-10 Ingredients

• 160g porridge oats
• 50g sultanas
• 50g dried cranberries
• 4tbsp milled Chia seeds with cranberry (can be subbed with plain milled chia seeds or whole chia seeds)
• 30g dark chocolate buttons (broken into smaller pieces) or dark chocolate chips
• 100g coconut oil
• 3tbsp plant-based honey (or honey for a non-vegan version)

Method

1. Preheat the oven at 180°C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease an ovenproof dish with a little coconut oil.
2. Gently melt the coconut oil, either in the microwave or in a bowl over a pan of hot water.
3. Add the other ingredients into the bowl. Mix thoroughly until all of the dry ingredients are coated.
4. Add the mixture to the ovenproof dish and press firmly to create an even layer.
5. Bake in the oven for around 20 minutes until it is golden around the edges.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Cut into slices and enjoy!

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Looking for more chia recipes? Pop over to the Chia Bia website for plenty of inspiration!