Homemade Raw Energy Bar: Chocolate Chia

Raw & Vegan Recipe

A great way to add nutrition and energy to your day and for your family and friends, consider making these wholesome and chocolate energy bars filled with tasty, raw plant-based ingredients to your lunch as a mid-day snack or to accompany a light lunch of hummus and veggies.

Chocolate Chia Raw Energy Bar Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
• ⅓ cup raw unsweetened cocoa powder
• ⅓ cup whole chia seeds
• 1 vanilla bean (scrape seeds and pulp)
• 1 cup raw slivered almonds, walnuts or raw shelled pistachios
• Oat flour for dusting

Directions:

Place dates in food processor and puree until it is the consistency of a thick paste. Add cocoa powder, chia seeds and vanilla bean (only the seeds and pulp, discarding the husk). Pulse until to combine ingredients well. Add almonds, walnuts or pistachios and pulse until nuts are finely chopped and mixed well.

Spread large sheet of wax paper on work surface, and dust with oat flour to help prevent sticking. Spread date mixture on wax paper, and press mixture into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle. With wax paper and dust top with more oat flour. Wrap tightly in more wax paper, then chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Unwrap the tray, then cut into about 8 bars. Dust the bars with oat flour, including the edges and sides with oat flour to prevent sticking. Finally, wrap each bar in wax paper and store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. The bars can be kept at room temperature and in a lunch box for several hours, but refrigeration helps reduce stickiness.

Optional Ingredients Include:

Goji berries or other dried fruits, coconut flakes (can be used in place of tree nuts to reduce allergens), dried chili pieces or flakes, etc.