Nuts and Bolts Bar

We have been playing around with some type of healthy energy/snack bar for a while, but it was important for us to find something that didn't have any sugar added...most importantly that the berries/fruit didn't have sugar...it took a friend sharing a Paleo cookie recipe with us that inspired us to tweak and make it into bars and next thing you know the "nuts and bolts" bar was born.  This is a great bar to eat pre-workout, as a healthy snack during the day or even as a dessert.  Enjoy!

021416_edit_feasts_191.jpg

Author Ralph Lazaro ∙ Prepare 15 min  ∙ Cook 20 mins ∙ Servings 12

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup raw walnuts

  • 1 cup pitted medjool dates

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil (softened)

  • 1 TBSP vanilla

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

  • 1 1/2 cups almond meal

  • 2 Tablespoons coconut flour

  • 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries (not sweetened with sugar...either with nothing or apple juice is fine)

  • 1 cup sliced almonds

 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pour walnuts and dates into a large food processor and run for 1 minute.

  2. Add eggs, oil, baking soda, salt, and vanilla - run until smooth. Add almond meal and coconut flour and run to just combine

  3. Transfer to a large bowl and fold in cranberries and almonds with a spatula

  4. Scoop out the dough (it will be sticky and thick) and use a spatula to spread out on a 17x12 baking sheet. I cover the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and use my hands to spread the dough out on the pan...you will have to put a little muscle into it.

  5. Bake at 325 for approximately 16-20 minutes, until edges start to brown and center looks cooked

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Make sure you buy berries/cherries that are not sweetened with sugar...any kind will work, sweetened with apple juice is fine (not cane sugar)

  • When cooking this bar, less is more - you can't really undercook it, but if you over cook it you will be bummed

  • You can double the baking sheet to help avoid burning the bottom