Homemade energy bars are easily made by blending ingredients in a food processor. Spread the blended mixture into an even layer, score the layer into bars, and refrigerate or freeze until firm. Not only do they taste better than most store bought healthy bars, but they are also free of added sugars and preservatives. If you want them to stay fresh for longer, keep them in an airtight container in the freezer. Pop them out whenever you want to enjoy a guilt-free, energizing snack.
Why will you like these bars? First off, they are very easy to make. It does help to have a food processor because blending these ingredient in a blender can be very difficult. They are 100% raw vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, making them great for almost any diet. Even thought they contain dates, they are not overly sweet because the cacao powder and nuts balance the sweetness.
A trick for making your date nut bars easier to eat is to first pulse the nuts into a coarse, crumbly consistency. You don’t want to grind them into a powder because that won’t yield great texture for the bars. Empty the coarsely ground nuts into a bowl and then add the dates and coconut oil to the processor and blend into a smooth paste. Once you do that, you can add the ground nuts, desiccated coconut, and cacao powder back to the processor. After that, you spread the mixture onto a baking sheet or baking dish lined with parchment paper, score the layer into bars, and refrigerate. What’s the next step? Enjoy eating the bars!
- Prep Time:10m
- Total Time:10m
- Serves: 12 servings
- Category: Full Body Cleanse Approved, Appetizers & Snacks, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 3/4 c raw almonds
- 3/4 c raw cashews
- 18 large medjool dates, pitted
- 6 tbsp. coconut oil (liquid at room temperature)
- 3/4 c desiccated coconut
- 3 tbsp. raw cacao powder
Instructions
- Add the almonds and cashews to a food processor and process until coarsely ground. Empty this mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- Add the pitted dates and room temperature liquid coconut oil to the food processor and blend until you achieve a smooth paste.
- Add the coarsely ground nuts back to the processor along with the desiccated coconut and cacao powder. Blend until you achieve a dough-like ball, stopping to scrape down the sides if necessary to fully incorporate the ingredients.
- Line a baking sheet or baking tray with parchment paper and spread the nut and date mixture into a thin, even layer. With a sharp knife, score the layer into 12 bars to make cutting easier after they have hardened.
- Place in the refrigerator overnight to firm up. If you want to accelerate this process, place the bars in the freezer for about one to two hours.
- Remove from the freezer or fridge and cut the bars along the score lines. Transfer the bars to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
