No Bake Chocolate, Orange and Almond Snack Bars [Dairy free, Gluten free, Grain free, Sugar free]

At some point everyone craves sugar or something sweet - whether it's due to a detox diet where sugar cravings reach it's peak during the first 2 weeks, and often as you reach the end of your 30 day detox.  It's hardly necessary to snack on store bought sugar laden and processed sugar chocolates and sweets when there are alternatives that take the guilt out of snacking and add nutrients to your body.

Dark chocolate and orange is a good combination to stave any craving.  The raw cacao used in this recipe gives these bars a definite chocolaty taste and the dates provide the sweetening required, as is common in most sweet treats, including Naked bars and Bliss balls.

This is a quick to make and easy recipe for those wanting a nutritious yet sweet and chocolaty tasting snack. Making these bars does not require any skill, its just really messy as dates are super super sticky to work with, so you may find yourself licking the mixture off your fingers when you're done!  Enjoy making these but mostly enjoying snacking on a guilt-free, nutritious, nutty-chocolaty sweet treat!

Ingredients

200g Raw almonds
1 tblsp raw cacao powder
1/4 tsp Himalayan / Sea Salt
Zest of one orange
1 tblsp juice of a fresh orange
20 medjool dates
Optional
Pumpkin, Sesame or Sunflower seeds for topping

Here's How

• Line a 20cm square baking tin or square glass baking dish with baking paper
• Add the almonds into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.  Remove the chopped almonds and set aside

• Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and pulse until the mixture forms a large ball

• Add the date mixture to the almonds and using your hands, knead the almonds into the chocolate and date mixture until all the almonds are incorporated

• Press the mixture into the tin or dish, packing it down to form an even layer

• If preferred, top with sesame seeds or seeds of choice (which you may also toast in a frying pan)

 

• Refrigerate for one hour or so, or freeze for 20 minutes until firm, then slice into bars, in a size you prefer.  You may also plastic wrap them and store in the freezer for a longer duration.  If having regularly, keep them stored in the refrigerator - and try not have them all in one go! :)