The Real Food Academy Miami apple cinnamon energy bars recipe.
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Apple Cinnamon Energy Bars

By Chef Maria Cummins

Course
snack
Cuisine
american
Servings
Makes 6 Large Squares or 9 Smaller Ones

Ingredients

  • ½ cup sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup almond butter or sunflower butter
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon water (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup dried apples, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven 350 F
  2. Add the oats, dried apples, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, sunflowers seeds, cinnamon, honey and pinch of salt to the butter mixture and stir together with a rubber spatula until combined. Add water if need to bind.
  3. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or plastic wrap then dump the mixture in. Spread it out into an even layer then use the bottom of a measuring cup or glass to firmly press the mixture down into the bottom of the baking dish.
  4. Bake for 12 minutes then remove the energy bars from the baking dish and cut them into 9 squares.

Chef Maria Cummins

Born in Venezuela, Maria Cummins discovered her deep-rooted passion for food from an early age. Her culinary journey led her to Lima, Peru, where she immersed herself in the rich secrets of Peruvian gastronomy during part of her childhood. In her early twenties, she embarked on a new chapter by coming to the United States and delving into the Hospitality Industry in Boston, Massachusetts.

Maria's culinary adventure continued as she relocated to San Diego, California, where she made her mark by opening the renowned El Tucan Restaurant. Her extensive travels and diverse experiences greatly influenced her innovative culinary style, shaping the unique approach she is celebrated for today.

During her time in San Diego, Chef Maria not only honed her culinary skills but also gained a profound understanding of the importance of nutrition, particularly through the use of organic and unprocessed ingredients.

Today, Maria Cummins is the proud owner, founder, and head chef of the Real Food Academy, a culinary haven nestled in the vibrant city of Miami. Here, both kids and adults come together every week to share the joy of connecting through the power of Real Food and Real Fun!

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Sign up today for fun, hands-on cooking adventures! Kids will learn culinary skills, make new friends, and have fun creating delicious dishes. Spots are limited—reserve your child's place now!

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Rave Reviews for The Real Food Academy

proud to have a 4.9 star rating & 700+ reviews

  • Roxana Casanueva

    I recently attended the pizza-making class at The Real Food Academy, and it was an amazing experience! The class was fun, interactive, and perfect for all skill levels. The instructors were knowledgeable and made the process easy to follow, from kneading the dough to choosing fresh ingredients for toppings. The best part was getting to customize my own pizza and then enjoying the delicious results! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, making it a great activity for friends, couples, or even solo attendees. I also appreciated the focus on high-quality, wholesome ingredients. Overall, I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves pizza and wants to learn how to make it from scratch. A great way to spend an evening and pick up some new cooking skills!
  • Chris Cunningham

    PIZZA NIGHT WAS THE BEST!! Highly recommend
  • Sabrina Faroh

    We had so much fun at the pizza class thank you chef maria and chef paolo it was a great experience 10/10
  • Lauren Hunter

    Our friends took the pizza class as a triple date and had SO much fun. The instructors are so knowledgeable & friendly - they really walk you through the whole process & make it such a fun experience. We will definitely come back!!! Ps Our pizzas came out so so so yummy!
  • Christopher Vazquez

    Amazing pizza class! Definitely recommend!
  • Jenna Kuzawski

    SO FUN!!!!! Highly recommend this experience!!! Wonderful, clean atmosphere with incredible food!!!
  • Isania Zapete

    This is an amazing academy! I’ve been a student here for almost a year and I have not once been disappointed. All the staff are so kind and patient. I would definitely recommend coming!
  • Josselyn Solis

    I recently celebrated my daughter’s fifth birthday at the real food Academy. Hands-down, having our event with them was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Words do not do this team justice. I had the privilege to have Maya and Rey, who were outstanding the entire time. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed our family. Rey helped us on dock our car and set everything up. Maya and her beautiful smile, from the start, captured our ideas and brought it to life. We had a couple additional kids join us in and even when it was chaotic, Rey found the way to set up extra seating placements for our additional guests. They had such great energy, kept the party going, helped us with every request and more. All of my guests, had an amazing time making pizza and cupcakes. If you are having any second thoughts in having your event with them, don’t even hesitate, just book it. Thank you once again for an unforgettable birthday party!
  • Gabriela Alvarado

    Loved this cooking class. Maria and her team are very helpful and the recipes are just delicious. Would totally recommend!
  • Jesús Ramírez

    What an experience. Chef Maria made our special occasion extra special. Great food, great company, cant wait to come back
  • Miguel Vazquez

    fabulous
  • Laura Dacovich

    Went with a group with a cooking class! And miss Toni was amazing
  • Jorden Adams

    The space is bright and airy. Chef Toni was amazing. Our group had a wonderful evening of food and fun. Highly recommend!
  • Ana Annicchiarico

    Fantastic experience! Chef Toni was awesome
  • Camila Mejia

    Amazing class! Learned so much! Chef Paolo was fabulous and so helpful
  • K F

    Amazing class, super personable and the instructor is super knowledgeable. Will be back
  • Crystal Stokely

    I can’t say enough good things about The Real Food Academy. They had our broker group in for a Discovery Day, and it was awesome. I loved the hands on experience, and it was so much fun. Truly a great way to learn, and I love that their focus is on children. It’s so important to teach children at an early age. The Real Food Academy is truly making a difference in their community and hopefully they’ll have franchises in more areas across the US soon.
  • chris tucker

    I recently had the pleasure of attending a Discovery Day and Thursday cooking class at the Real Food Academy, and I can't recommend it highly enough! As a franchise broker invited along with others with the Franchise Brokers Association, I was eager to learn about this innovative franchise concept that offers cooking classes and birthday parties for both kids and adults. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by the owners, Maria and Arthur. Their passion for healthy cooking and commitment to sharing delicious, real, tasty food with the community is truly inspiring. They created an amazing atmosphere that made the experience both enjoyable and educational. During the cooking class, I was impressed by how engaging and interactive the session was. Maria guided us through the process of preparing tasty, healthy meals, providing valuable tips and techniques along the way. It was evident that they are dedicated to empowering individuals and families to embrace a healthier lifestyle through cooking and their classes. What stood out to me the most is their vision of bringing real, tasty food to the masses. This franchise concept is not just about cooking—it's about fostering a love for healthy eating and creating memorable experiences for people of all ages. If you're considering a wellness and food franchise opportunity or simply looking for a fun and educational cooking class, I highly recommend checking out the Real Food Academy. Maria and Arthur have built something truly special, and I can’t wait to see how their franchise flourishes! Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
  • Maggie Billy-Fisher

    Chef Tony and Maya provided an amazing cooking class at The Real Food Academy! Their passion, expertise, and engaging teaching style made the experience both fun and educational. The hands-on approach and delicious recipes made it a truly memorable experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn, cook, and enjoy great food.
  • Kevin Orgill

    This was amazing! The food was delicious and more importantly I learned skills that I can take with me forever! Will definitely be coming back for more classes
  • Roxana Casanueva

    I recently attended the pizza-making class at The Real Food Academy, and it was an amazing experience! The class was fun, interactive, and perfect for all skill levels. The instructors were knowledgeable and made the process easy to follow, from kneading the dough to choosing fresh ingredients for toppings. The best part was getting to customize my own pizza and then enjoying the delicious results! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, making it a great activity for friends, couples, or even solo attendees. I also appreciated the focus on high-quality, wholesome ingredients. Overall, I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves pizza and wants to learn how to make it from scratch. A great way to spend an evening and pick up some new cooking skills!
  • Chris Cunningham

    PIZZA NIGHT WAS THE BEST!! Highly recommend
  • Sabrina Faroh

    We had so much fun at the pizza class thank you chef maria and chef paolo it was a great experience 10/10
  • Lauren Hunter

    Our friends took the pizza class as a triple date and had SO much fun. The instructors are so knowledgeable & friendly - they really walk you through the whole process & make it such a fun experience. We will definitely come back!!! Ps Our pizzas came out so so so yummy!
  • Christopher Vazquez

    Amazing pizza class! Definitely recommend!
  • Jenna Kuzawski

    SO FUN!!!!! Highly recommend this experience!!! Wonderful, clean atmosphere with incredible food!!!
  • Isania Zapete

    This is an amazing academy! I’ve been a student here for almost a year and I have not once been disappointed. All the staff are so kind and patient. I would definitely recommend coming!
  • Josselyn Solis

    I recently celebrated my daughter’s fifth birthday at the real food Academy. Hands-down, having our event with them was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Words do not do this team justice. I had the privilege to have Maya and Rey, who were outstanding the entire time. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed our family. Rey helped us on dock our car and set everything up. Maya and her beautiful smile, from the start, captured our ideas and brought it to life. We had a couple additional kids join us in and even when it was chaotic, Rey found the way to set up extra seating placements for our additional guests. They had such great energy, kept the party going, helped us with every request and more. All of my guests, had an amazing time making pizza and cupcakes. If you are having any second thoughts in having your event with them, don’t even hesitate, just book it. Thank you once again for an unforgettable birthday party!
  • Gabriela Alvarado

    Loved this cooking class. Maria and her team are very helpful and the recipes are just delicious. Would totally recommend!
  • Jesús Ramírez

    What an experience. Chef Maria made our special occasion extra special. Great food, great company, cant wait to come back
  • Miguel Vazquez

    fabulous
  • Laura Dacovich

    Went with a group with a cooking class! And miss Toni was amazing
  • Jorden Adams

    The space is bright and airy. Chef Toni was amazing. Our group had a wonderful evening of food and fun. Highly recommend!
  • Ana Annicchiarico

    Fantastic experience! Chef Toni was awesome
  • Camila Mejia

    Amazing class! Learned so much! Chef Paolo was fabulous and so helpful
  • K F

    Amazing class, super personable and the instructor is super knowledgeable. Will be back
  • Crystal Stokely

    I can’t say enough good things about The Real Food Academy. They had our broker group in for a Discovery Day, and it was awesome. I loved the hands on experience, and it was so much fun. Truly a great way to learn, and I love that their focus is on children. It’s so important to teach children at an early age. The Real Food Academy is truly making a difference in their community and hopefully they’ll have franchises in more areas across the US soon.
  • chris tucker

    I recently had the pleasure of attending a Discovery Day and Thursday cooking class at the Real Food Academy, and I can't recommend it highly enough! As a franchise broker invited along with others with the Franchise Brokers Association, I was eager to learn about this innovative franchise concept that offers cooking classes and birthday parties for both kids and adults. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by the owners, Maria and Arthur. Their passion for healthy cooking and commitment to sharing delicious, real, tasty food with the community is truly inspiring. They created an amazing atmosphere that made the experience both enjoyable and educational. During the cooking class, I was impressed by how engaging and interactive the session was. Maria guided us through the process of preparing tasty, healthy meals, providing valuable tips and techniques along the way. It was evident that they are dedicated to empowering individuals and families to embrace a healthier lifestyle through cooking and their classes. What stood out to me the most is their vision of bringing real, tasty food to the masses. This franchise concept is not just about cooking—it's about fostering a love for healthy eating and creating memorable experiences for people of all ages. If you're considering a wellness and food franchise opportunity or simply looking for a fun and educational cooking class, I highly recommend checking out the Real Food Academy. Maria and Arthur have built something truly special, and I can’t wait to see how their franchise flourishes! Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
  • Maggie Billy-Fisher

    Chef Tony and Maya provided an amazing cooking class at The Real Food Academy! Their passion, expertise, and engaging teaching style made the experience both fun and educational. The hands-on approach and delicious recipes made it a truly memorable experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn, cook, and enjoy great food.
  • Kevin Orgill

    This was amazing! The food was delicious and more importantly I learned skills that I can take with me forever! Will definitely be coming back for more classes

Real Food Blog

An image of The Real Food Academy's winter salad recipe - perfect for the holidays in Miami, FL

5 Must-Try Healthy Holiday Recipes from The Real Food Academy Miami

Are you looking for delicious and nutritious meals to serve this holiday season? The Real Food Academy team has put together a list of 5 recipes that you can follow step-by-step or use as inspiration for your own holiday creations!

Real Food FAQs

No. All Payments and Deposits are non-refundable: When a payment or deposit is made, that day and time is no longer available to other customers on our calendar. For that reason, all payments and deposits are non-refundable.

In the case of a cooking class, the ingredients are shopped for and prepped in advance. Staff is also scheduled according to the number of people on the roster.

See our Wine and Beer list for your in-house kids party options. Optionally, you can bring your own wine or beer and page a corkage fee.

Corkage Fees

  • $15 per 750 ml bottle of wine
  • $30 per 1.5 L bottle of wine

Bring outside beer: $40 for beer (any quantity)

We love it when our customers decorate our place. That said, you have no idea how difficult it is to clean these types of things up. As far as noisemakers go......you will be glad you left them at home as well. So please do not bring any of those things.

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Special Announcements

Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

Sign up today for fun, hands-on cooking adventures! Kids will learn culinary skills, make new friends, and have fun creating delicious dishes. Spots are limited—reserve your child's place now!