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Friday usually requires chocolate. It’s True. But I’m keeping it healthy with these 5 Ingredient Chocolate Covered Cashew Bars. With just 5 simple pantry staple ingredients: dates, cashews, tahini, vanilla, and chocolate. These bars come together in no time, are no-bake, and are about as healthy as a chocolate bar can get. Favorite part? They happen to be DELICIOUS and addictingly good. Pinky promise.
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The one request I receive most often is for quick and easy recipes, preferably with minimal ingredients too. I will not lie, this is a most challenging task. It’s hard enough to develop recipes that are both quick and easy. But throwing the minimal ingredients thing in there too?
So hard. I will always stay true to my personal style of flavorful, colorful, and beyond delicious recipes. This is why you don’t see a ton of these 5 ingredient recipes here on HBH. BUT the 5 ingredient recipes that I do have, are the ones I continue to go back to time and time again. For example, these 5 ingredient chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies are a true staple in my kitchen and I’ve made them at least once a month since I first made them last January. These cookies also happen to be in the top 10 recipes of 2018, so yeah, they’re good.
The one issue with those cookies is the peanuts. I’ve received so many comments about many of you having a peanut allergy, so I wanted to create a new recipe that actually contained zero peanuts. Although I am aware that many people with peanut allergies also have tree nut allergies. Sorry, I wish I could help everyone!
Enter these chocolate covered cashews bars.
If you can believe it, these are simpler than those peanut butter cookies. And while I will not say they’re better (because I LOVE peanut butter), I will say that these are just as delicious.
Here are the (very quick) details.
In a food processor, combine the dates, cashews, tahini, and vanilla. Blend together until you get a ground mix that looks like the photo above, and oddly smells very similar to cookie dough…I’m not sure why this is, but all I know is that it’s a good smell. Now press the mix into a square brownie pan and freeze until firm. Cut into bars and cover (very generously) in your favorite dark chocolate. Add toppings, chill, and enjoy.
And that’s it. Pretty simple right?
Now here’s thing, I’m always so skeptical of these 5 ingredient recipes. I’m going to be honest, they can be so bland and just not that good. You know?
Again, another reason why I don’t share many. But these bars are nothing short of awesome. And while they aren’t filled with multiple flavors, they are sweet, chewy, salty, and so chocolatey. They passed the test of some of the hardest dessert critics. Most said that their chewy texture reminded them of a chocolate caramel bar.
And possibly the very best part? While these may be covered in chocolate, they’re truly one of the healthier desserts I’ve ever shared. And if you use a vegan chocolate, they’re vegan too!
Protein packed, full of antioxidants, loaded with healthy fats, gluten free, and vegan?!? Impressive right?
I know it’s hard to believe, but don’t doubt this recipe. It’s so good, and every bite feels like it’s a sinful dessert you’re sinking your teeth into. In reality it’s probably healthier than your lunch (…depending on what you ate, of course).
Here is my tip. Make these tonight as a healthy dessert for your Friday night. But…double the batch so you can have a healthy chocolate bar on hand for snacks throughout next week. These will last 1-2 weeks when kept in the fridge and they are SO prefect for planning your snacks/desserts ahead of time.
Plus, if you make them tonight, you’ll be getting ahead on your weekend meal prep. Because yes, chocolate should be included in weekly meal prepping.
ENJOY, and happiest Friday everyone!
PS. See you guys tomorrow for a special January cocktail…because I have so missed mixing up and photographing drinks.
If you make these chocolate covered cashew bars, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
5 Ingredient Chocolate Covered Cashew Bars
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pitted medjool dates (1 cup packed dates)
- 1 cup roasted cashews
- 3/4 cup tahini
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 12 ounces dark chocolate
- toasted sesame seeds, or dried fruits, for topping, (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Line an 8×8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper. 2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the dates, cashews, tahini, and vanilla. Pulse until well combined and no large chunks remain, 3-5 minutes. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Transfer to the freezer and freeze until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.3. Melt the chocolate in the microwave until melted and smooth. Let cool 10 minutes.4. Cut bars into 16 bars. Cover in chocolate and top as desired. Let the chocolate set up, about 10 minutes. Keep stored in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Tieghan, we just wanted to let you know how much you’ve inspired our family, especially our eight-year old daughter Mirabelle, who has discovered a love of cooking thanks to you.
Mirabelle recently started a YouTube channel and made a video about these bars. She thought you might have fun seeing it! I’ve left a space between the O and w so this hopefully doesn’t get sent to spam due to an embedded link. If you’d like to see it, just copy/paste the whole thing and then delete that space in your browser.
https://youtu.be/5aOvFmwMKO w
Thanks Teighan for what you are doing!
Love,
Kenton, Rebecca, Mirabelle, and Liliana
Hi Kenton! That is so amazing and really makes me love what I do even more! It says the video is unavailable.. but I would love to see it!! Thank you so much!
I loved these!! My dates were a big dry and I didn’t quite have enough so I added a touch bit of honey. What a perfect healthy dessert!
I am so glad you liked these Jamie! Thank you!
these were super yummy, but i wasn’t able to get these to harden even after a few hours in the freezer. Not sure what I did wrong, but I did have to use a small amount of almond butter b/c i didn’t have enough tahini, so ended up rolling the mixture into balls and dipping into the chocolate instead. Taste was great, just not quite as pretty!
I am so glad you enjoyed these bars, Jennifer!
These look like squares of crack. CHOCOLATE crack…and I am here for all of it! Anyhow, I definitely have to try making these one day–I’d become obsessed!
Haha I am so glad you like this and I hope you try these Cassie! Thank you!
Just made these ! You are a pure genius, Tieghan ? They are so G-O-O-D ! Sweet enough, chocolatey enough. My parents freaked out when I told them how they were made.
Only problem : they are way too addicting ? hope I will save some for my coworkers…?
That is so amazing!! I am so glad you love these bars, Syrine! Thank you!
Great no bake recipe. These were delicious! I sprinkled some with smoked sea salt and some with chopped cashews. ❤️❤️❤️
Love that! I am so glad these turned out so well for you, Kara! Thank you!
So bummed! I just made the base and realized the tahini I had just opened was rancid. Sounds weird, but before I spit out the bite I could still taste how delicious they will be when I make them again!
Oh my goodness that is such a bummer! I hope these do turn out amazing for you the next time, Eleanor! Thank you!!
You have never let me know yet, can’t wait to try this recipe. And I am LOVING the healthy recipes you keep putting out, thank-you!!!!
Thank you so much Rachael! I am so glad you are loving the healthy recipes and I hope you try some of them!
Going to try a version of these myself. Thanks for the inspiration!
I hope they turn out amazing for you, Ryan!
I need these-. LIke, right now!
YES!! I hope you make these Ruth!
Making these tonight! So far so good! Can’t wait to try them in a couple hours.
My friend asked me to bring dessert for a dinner party party tomorrow and my hubby can’t eat refines sugar.
I know you always make dessert on fridays and that you were doing a healthy January and lo and behold! The perfect thing 🙂
Thanks for all you do. You are my go to recipe guide for pretty much everything I make when I go places and lots of times just for dinners at home too.
I am so glad you like this Andrea! I hope these turn out amazing for you!
Okay, sign me up on the healthy bandwagon if I can eat these every day! They sound fabulous and look even more delicious. Can’t wait to try them next week. We’re having house guests next weekend, maybe I’ll even save them a few. Maybe.
Thank you so much Nan! I am so glad you like this and I hope you try them!
These look picture perfect! Just purchased a large jar of almond butter and bag of whole almonds. Do you think the recipe could be adapted for a different nut. Thanks for all your recipes and ideas. Enjoy your weekend too.
Thank you so much Karen! What nut were you thinking? I hope you love these and have a great weekend!
OMG yum!! How do you get them to be so flat in top? When I do the “press down” method I always have lumps and they are uneven ??♀️? any tricks?
HI! try using the bottom of a 1/4 cup measure. lightly grease it with a little oil to keep it from sticking. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
These are definitely my kind of healthy treat! I’ll be making these some time soon for sure!
I hope you love these Leanne! Thank you!