Energy Bar Recipe Mod

[punkinButter]

I'm hoping you all can help me modify a recipe. I love energy bars. I want a homemade version so it can have real ingredients and maybe cost a bit less. I used the recipe here: chockohlawtay.blogspot.com/2011/11/figgy-oatmeal-bars-with-vanilla-fondant.html

I made them with honey in place of the brown rice sugar but less than the recipe calls for (its what I had). Any suggestions on how to bind the ingredients? I've been thinking I could experiment with peanut butter, coconut butter, applesauce, and/or bananas. TIA