Healthy Nut & Fruit Chocolate Bars
Decadent but healthy, homemade nut and fruit chocolate bars are a breeze to make. They are packed full of nutrient rich ingredients and are chewy, crunchy and delicious, packed with energy - perfect after a workout, during a hike, or as a guilt-free afternoon sweet treat or lunchboxes.These no-bake bars are created with wholesome clean ingredients like nuts, fruit, seeds and nut butter. They come together in minutes, so you can always keep a batch in your refrigerator or freezer.These bars are made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl! I know you’re probably wondering how on earth these bars are made without using a bowl at all so I’ll cut straight to the chase! Here’s how it’s done:We simply warm the ‘melty’ ingredients in a saucepan until they are melted. Then we add everything else into that saucepan and mix thoroughly until all ingredients are coated in the sweet, sticky ‘glue-y’ things, like honey, peanut butter, coconut oil and chocolate. Yum!Making your own nut and fruit bars means you get to choose which nuts you would like to use, which dried fruit and which seeds. So the recipe is incredibly customizable. Each time I make these bars I end up with a completely different version. But that’s ok as they are all fantastic. There has NEVER been a version I don’t like.The idea is to use what you have. Perfect for clearing out the pantry.This recipe makes 12 bars or more smaller squares.
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup almonds, walnuts, or a mix, chopped
- 1/2 cup dried fruit of choice – raisins, dates, cranberries, apricots, pineapple, chopped
- 1/2 cup seeds of choice – hemp, chia, pumpkin, sesame, flax, sunflower
- 1/2 cup oats, instant or quick
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/4 cup peanut (or any other nut or seed) butter
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- If you wish to increase the flavour of your bars, roast your nuts first. To do this, preheat your oven to 350°F and spread the almonds, or whatever nuts you have chosen to use onto a large baking sheet; bake the nuts for 7 to 8 minutes, until lightly toasted and fragrant.You can then chop the nuts by hand with a knife on a chopping board or put them in the food processor and blitz them. If you choose to blitz them, be careful not to over process as its nice to have some different sized ‘bits’ in your nut, fruit bars. I like to do mine by hand with a knife and can control how many big bits I chop or how many small pieces and aim for a mix.Start by lining a 9x5” loaf pan (or similar sized pan or dish) with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting.Or you can use any silicon snack bar mould or even muffin cups as you can see in the image I have used. It does not matter what shape or size you create.In a medium sized saucepan add chocolate, nut butter, honey and coconut oil. Melt on a very low heat, stirring until smooth.Add all other ingredients, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, oats, coconut and vanilla extract and stir to completely coat them in the mixture. Scoop mixture into lined pan (or muffin cups) and spread it out evenly using a spatula or back of a spoon.Sprinkle nuts, dried fruit and seeds on top for garnish.Place in refrigerator until hardened. Once set cut into 10-12 bars or squares of your preferred size or pop out of silicon moulds if using.Store in an airtight container in the fridge for1week or in the freezer for up to a month
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites