DIY Chocolate-Nutty Raw Bars

These bars are simply delicious, raw, healthy and protein-packed.   I like to make a batch on Sunday, and then I get 8 on-the-go breakfast/snack bars for the week with NO preservatives or junk.  They're all-natural, nutty delicious goodness, just the way I like.   They're kinda like Larabars, without the high price tag, and with even more goodness inside.

Behold.....

Ingredients:

1 c dates 1 c almonds 2 T flax seeds 3 T coconut flakes 1/4 c pepitas 2 T cacao powder 6 T tahini 1 T raw honey 1/4 c rolled oats 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp sea salt 1 T sesame seeds

1/2 T bee pollen (optional...but I love the crunchy b-vitamin rich addition!)

1 T cacao nibs (optional)

Soak the flax seeds in an equal amount of water for about 5 minutes while gathering the rest of the ingredients together. In a food processor, combine first the nuts and the dates and pulse until a rough chop. Then add everything else in. Pulse and then blend until a nice consistency. I like to let it go for a couple minutes. Grab a pinch of the mixture and see if it's nice and sticky. If it's not, just blend a bit more.

I like to press into a 8x8 pyrex baking dish. Press with clean hands until level and evenly distributed. Cover and let chill for 1 hour or so. Then, cut into 8 or 9 bars. Wrap individually and keep in the fridge. They would technically last for quite a long time, I'd imagine since all ingredients are fairly dry. In my home though, they don't last longer than a week. :)

Per bar:

288 cal 17 g fat 39.6 g sodium 30 g carbs 7 g fiber 17 g sugar 8 g protein