Healthy Chocolate Fudge Bars (Homemade Larabars)
 
Prep time
Total time
 
I originally created this recipe for Applegate. See the notes in my post above for optional modifications to customize this recipe.
Author:
Recipe type: Snack
Cuisine: American
Serves: About 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 cup (140 grams) cashews
  • 16 dates (approximately 320 grams)*
  • 1 tablespoon melted, warm coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder, or more to taste
  • 1/16 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Up to ½ cup dairy-free dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (minis if you’ve got them), cacao nibs, or a combination of the two (for a triple chocolate effect)
Instructions
  1. Grind the cashews in your spice grinder or food processor. They will turn into a flour; if a few little chunks remain, not a problem - it will add some texture.
  2. Place the dates in a bowl or in your food processor with the oil and vanilla. Mash with a fork, or combine with a food processor.
  3. Add the ground cashews, cocoa powder, and salt, and mash or blend until everything is well-combined.
  4. Stir / press in the chips and/or nibs.
  5. Shape the mixture into balls or press it out onto a cutting board lined with parchment paper and gently cut into bars (big or small).
  6. I prefer to store these bars in the refrigerator or freezer for optimum freshness, but they will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for at least a few days.
Notes
It is best to use dates that are fairly fresh. If your dates are a bit dry, you can soak them in water for 5 to 10 minutes, drain, and then add them to the recipe. This will reduce the shelf-life a little.
Recipe by Go Dairy Free at https://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/healthy-chocolate-fudge-bars