Description
Sweet, nutty Toasted Coconut Date Bars offer a delightful Mediterranean-inspired treat packed with natural energy. Chewy dates and golden toasted coconut create a perfect harmony of rich flavors that will satisfy cravings and nourish your body with wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups (296 ml) medjool dates, packed and pitted
- 2 cups (474 ml) unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
- ½ cup (118 ml) vegan dark chocolate, chopped
- ¼ cup (59 ml) almond butter (natural)
Binding/Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) coconut oil
Topping:
- Additional unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
Instructions
- Transform pitted dates in a food processor into a cohesive, sticky mixture by pulsing until a dense ball forms.
- Carefully disassemble the date ball into smaller segments, then incorporate toasted coconut flakes and smooth almond butter, blending until just harmoniously combined without overprocessing.
- Prepare a 6×6-inch (15×15 centimeters) baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom and sides.
- Evenly distribute the date-coconut mixture across the prepared pan, using gentle pressure to create a uniform layer approximately 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) thick.
- Refrigerate the pressed mixture for 60 minutes to allow it to firm and solidify, enhancing structural integrity.
- Create a chocolate coating by melting dark chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl, utilizing 15-second intervals and stirring between each heating cycle until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
- After chilling, slice the consolidated mixture into 6 rectangular bars of equal dimensions.
- Immerse the bottom half of each bar into the melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off, then position on a parchment-lined tray.
- Generously drizzle remaining chocolate across the bar surfaces and sprinkle additional toasted coconut flakes for garnish and texture.
- Return the decorated bars to the refrigerator, allowing the chocolate to completely set and harden for approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Once chocolate is firm, serve immediately or store in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Notes
- Prepare dates carefully by blending them to a sticky consistency without overworking the mixture to maintain ideal texture.
- Toast coconut flakes beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and create a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Chilling the bars helps solidify the mixture and makes cutting and dipping easier, ensuring clean edges and even chocolate coating.
- Use dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for a rich, intense flavor that complements the sweet dates and toasted coconut.
- Store bars in the refrigerator to preserve their texture and prevent chocolate from melting, keeping them fresh for up to one week.
- Choose high-quality almond butter without added sugars to maintain the natural sweetness of the dates and coconut.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg