We have been playing around with some type of healthy energy/snack bar for a while, but it was important for us to find something that didn't have any sugar added...most importantly that the berries/fruit didn't have sugar...it took a friend sharing a Paleo cookie recipe with us that inspired us to tweak and make it into bars and next thing you know the "nuts and bolts" bar was born. This is a great bar to eat pre-workout, as a healthy snack during the day or even as a dessert. Enjoy!
Author Ralph Lazaro ∙ Prepare 15 min ∙ Cook 20 mins ∙ Servings 12
INGREDIENTS
1 cup raw walnuts
1 cup pitted medjool dates
2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil (softened)
1 TBSP vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups almond meal
2 Tablespoons coconut flour
1 cup dried cranberries or cherries (not sweetened with sugar...either with nothing or apple juice is fine)
1 cup sliced almonds
INSTRUCTIONS
Pour walnuts and dates into a large food processor and run for 1 minute.
Add eggs, oil, baking soda, salt, and vanilla - run until smooth. Add almond meal and coconut flour and run to just combine
Transfer to a large bowl and fold in cranberries and almonds with a spatula
Scoop out the dough (it will be sticky and thick) and use a spatula to spread out on a 17x12 baking sheet. I cover the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and use my hands to spread the dough out on the pan...you will have to put a little muscle into it.
Bake at 325 for approximately 16-20 minutes, until edges start to brown and center looks cooked
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Make sure you buy berries/cherries that are not sweetened with sugar...any kind will work, sweetened with apple juice is fine (not cane sugar)
When cooking this bar, less is more - you can't really undercook it, but if you over cook it you will be bummed
You can double the baking sheet to help avoid burning the bottom