Raw chewy bars
I often have the munchies in the afternoon or at night and have no idea what to snack on. I used to grab the first thing I could get my hands on. Most of the time, it was something unhealthy. That’s why I started to prepare healthy, sweet chewy bars. They can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for days.
This recipe is pretty versatile: sometimes, I replace the pecans with cashews, Brazil nuts, or pistachios. Other times, I’ll replace the chocolate with dried fruit. Basically, these raw bars are a guilt-free treat (i.e.: pure bliss in a bar!).
Particularities
- ServesYields 12 bars
- Prep time10 min
- Cook time-
- Timeout1 hour
- FreezingFreezes well
Ingredients
- 16 large Medjool dates, pitted (quantity may vary depending on size)
- 1/2 cup whole blanched almonds
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup 70% dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon organic peanut butter
Replacement optionsor different nut butter of your choice
- Pinch of salt
Steps
- Line an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Baking dish size is important because the bars need to be thick enough to hold together when you remove them.
- Pulse the dates, almonds and pecans in a food processor until the nuts are crushed into small pieces.
- Add the remaining ingredients and pulse some more, until the mixture holds together when you press it in your hands. If it does not stick together, add more dates.
- Put the mixture in the baking dish. Wet your fingers and press it down firmly. Refrigerate for an hour.
- Remove from the dish and cut into bars of desired size.
Tips & tricks
It’s important to use Medjool dates. They are very different from the ones you usually find in grocery stores: they’re juicier and make the mixture hold together better.
Can be stored in the refrigerator for days.
