Chocolate Coconut Granola Bars

Name: Chocolate Coconut Granola Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds; 1/4 cup old fashioned oats; 1/4 cup almonds ((sliced)); 1/4 cup hemp hearts; 2 Tbsp sunflower seeds; 1 Tbsp goji berry powder; 1 Tbsp olive oil ((extra light)); 1 Tbsp vanila extract ((pure)); 1/4 tsp cinnamon ((ground)); 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 1/8 tsp ginger ((ground)); 3 apricots ((dried)); 6 dates ((pitted)); 1 Tbsp coconut flakes; 1 Tbsp vegan dark chocolate chips; 1 Tbsp chia seeds; 1 Tbsp flax seeds; 1 Tbsp white sesame seeds; 1 Tbsp coconut oil ((extra virgin or virgin)); 1/2 tsp cacao powder

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Susanna Liang in Snacks

Serves

Level

Mod

Ingredients

Ingreds.

Total

30min

Serves

Level

Mod

Ingredients

Ingreds.

Total

30min

Sometimes you need a snack that you can take with you and go. Nothing suits that purpose better than some tasty granola bars. An awesome energy and nutrient-rich snack that you can take with you to work or on the trail. With all manner of nuts and seeds, plus a good helping of chocolate to keep things interesting.

Ingredients

Chocolate Coconut Granola Bars

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup almonds (sliced)
1/4 cup hemp hearts
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp goji berry powder
1 Tbsp olive oil (extra light)
1 Tbsp vanila extract (pure)
1/4 tsp cinnamon (ground)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ginger (ground)
3 apricots (dried)
6 dates (pitted)
1 Tbsp coconut flakes
1 Tbsp vegan dark chocolate chips
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp flax seeds
1 Tbsp white sesame seeds

Toppings

1 Tbsp coconut oil (extra virgin or virgin)
1/2 tsp cacao powder

Servings:

Units:

Directions

Prep

15 min

Total

30 min

Add the pumpkin seeds, old fashioned oats, sliced almonds, hemp hearts and sunflower seeds in the blender, but reserve a tiny handful (about a tablespoon or less) of each into a small bowl. Add the goji berry powder, olive oil, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, apricots and dates into the blender as well.
Blend on high speed until it becomes sticky. Meanwhile in the bowl with the reserved nuts and seeds, add the flaked coconut, vegan dark chocolate chips, chia seeds, flaxseeds and sesame seeds. Add the sticky mixture into the nuts and seeds, and mix it with your hands until everything is mixed evenly.
Align parchment paper on a bread pan/baking tray and spoon the mixture in there. Press it tightly into the pan and use a spoon to press the top until everything is even and flat.
Put it in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes, then take it out.
Drizzle half the coconut oil across the bars, then add the cacao powder in the remaining coconut oil, mix it and add it to the top. You should have both white and chocolate topping on the outside.
Put it back into the freezer for another 15 minutes until the topping hardens, then cut into bars.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Calories: Fat: Carbs: Protein:

Note: Some of the ingredients is recommended but not essential, such as the goji berry powder. I use it because I have it. You can also use goji berries if you’d like. For the apricots, feel free to use more dates if you don’t want to use those.