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10 Easy One Pot Recipes + Sunday Meal Prep Tips.
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We made it… it’s FRIDAY… we need chocolate!
Of course.
Cause man, it was a cold, wintry week. But it was also a good, productive and OK, slightly tiring week, that really NEEDS to end in chocolate, you know? Plus, I am gearing up for five days on Asher duty so you know I will need some sweetness in my life to keep me going, because wine doesn’t do it for me, so I make chocolate. All the chocolate (and coconut!!) please!
Oh, but umm, if wine does do it for you, I would imagine that these bars + a glass of vino (thinking red would pair best with the chocolate?) would be the ultimate laid back Friday night, no??
My Friday night however is going to consist of grapefruit body scrubs, mac and cheese making, photo editing, Harry Potter watching, chocolate eating (in the form of these bars…and maybe a super sweet and chocolatey cookbook recipe I am testing out) and snuggling with the cutest person ever… Asher (aka the little sister). Maybe not the typical Friday night for a twenty-two year old, but I’ll take it! Also, I think I have said this before, but man I need to get out in the real world. Maybe I should take up my cousin, my brothers and pretty much everyone else I encounter, suggestions and head out to the bars with them one of these nights.
UGH. I dunno, that’s really not my scene.
Guys, am I missing out?
I think I’d rather chill out at home and make cookies. –>Geez, I am the ultimate homebody!
ANYWAY, my point in all my rambling is that my Friday night is set, and I am pumped for two very important reasons. First, little Asher, we may be a good fifteen years apart, but we can have the best time just hanging together (and FYI all of my mom’s baby daddies are the same daddy! I get the question “is she/he your half sibling” A LOT. I am very happy, and lucky, to say that my parents are just crazy (and crazy for each other) and started having kids early and just never stopped. They truly ARE crazy, but I love um). And I can’t lie, Asher acts like she’s fifteen sometimes, she gets it all. She is too smart for her age (both in intellect and street smarts)
Second? These here chocolate coconut almond bars, I LOVE these bars! They are dangerous for me to have around, but then not really, because they’re “healthy”, which I think makes them even more dangerous cause then I somehow think I can eat the whole pan in one day.
On another note, sorry for the major run on sentence up there. Really, I should not be allowed to write anything. My grammar knowledge is horrid.
OKAY, so back to the chocolate though. These bars are my dream, full of all healthy ingredients, a thick layer of coconut and an even thicker layer of chocolate.
Yes, yes and YES.
The base of the bars is made up of raw almonds and dates and kind of a lot of vanilla extract. They are DELICIOUS. I mean, you could just cover the base in chocolate and snack on them… so good. But you know me, I had to go a step further and add my coconut layer. Me and my coconut… so much love happening there. The coconut layer is raw coconut, plus a little coconut milk, a little honey (if vegan, use agave nectar or maple) and a pinch of flaky sea salt (my obsession). Simple, delicious and just… give me a spoon and I’ll be happy.
Then just cover it all in chocolate… a THICK layer of dark chocolate with a swirl of almond butter. I don’t do think layers of chocolate, I just don’t.
Oh, and another reason why these bars are dangerous?? They are SO easy to make. Everything gets made in the bowl of a food processor or high-powered blender. Then just layer, pour on the chocolate, swirl in some almond butter and add some cacao nibs and or hemp seeds plus a little flaky sea salt on top. Chill, eat and eat… and then probably eat again. Trust me, you’ll try to stop, but it’s really not all that easy.
Too good!
Chocolate Coconut Almond Bars.
Servings: 16 Bars
Calories Per Serving: 352 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Base Layer
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- 12 plump medjool dates pitted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
Coconut Layer
- 2 cups unsweetened flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- pinch of salt
- 12 ounces dark chocolate chopped, or semi sweet
- 2 tablespoons rounded almond butter
- cacao nibs + hemp seeds for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the almonds, 1 cup coconut, dates and vanilla. Pulse until finely chopped, but not pureed. Add the coconut oil and pulse until combined, being careful not to over mix the the mixture. You want it finely chopped and a little chunky.
- Press the base mixture into the prepared pan. Place the pan in the freezer.
- Back in the bowl of the food processor (no need to clean it!) combine 2 cups coconut, coconut milk, honey and salt. Pulse until you have a finely ground mixture. Remove the base layer from the freezer and add the coconut layer in an even layer. Return the pan to the freezer.
- Melt the chocolate over a double broiler or in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
- Remove the bars from the freezer and spread the chocolate over top. Now take the almond butter and swirl it into the chocolate. Top with cacao nibs and hemp seeds if desired. Cover the pan and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow the chocolate to set.
- Place the sharp knife under hot water and then cut the bars into about 16 squares. The chocolate layer may pop off of the coconut layer as you cut the bars. Don't worry, just push it back into place. Keep the bars stored in the fridge in a sealed container.
Go THICK on that chocolate layer guys…I mean, it’s FRIDAY! 🙂
These look wonderful and will be made in my kitchen soon! No worries, Tieghan, if you think you’re missing out on typical twenty-something life by not going out to the bars on the weekend. That’s not my life, either, and I like it that way. I prefer to spend my Friday nights watching movies or reading good books curled up on the couch, enjoying a hot cup of tea, and –of course– trying out new recipes.
Hey Jessica!! YES< that sounds like the best weekend! Thank you and have a great weekend!
I’m in love with this recipe………IN LOVE. It reminds me of an old recipe I make for coconut chocolate squares but the base of this one sounds totally divine. PINNED and making it for sure! Thanks Tieghan! 🙂
Thanks Debi! Have a great weekend!!
I would take the bars and the wine! Sounds like a great Friday night to me.
hehe! Thanks Emily! Have a great weekend!
This sounds amazing. Suggestions for alternatives to medjool dates?
Hey Kimberly, the dates are really helpful in this recipe as they hold the bars together. I think 1/3 cup of honey might also work, but I am not sure. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Tieghan!
I agree with everyone that your not missing anything, however I do think it wouldn’t hurt to find that out for your self. You could still have fun with your cousins!
Thanks Cassandra! I agree, I don’t think I am missing out, but I could give it another try too! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
These look delicious and I think would go perfectly with my morning coffee 🙂
Love the photography and you’re Friday night sounds perfect to me!
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Have a great weekend! 🙂
These are beautiful! Love all the healthy ingredients! I have to make these!!
Thanks Deborah! Have a great weekend!
These look great, I don’t know how you find the time to make a recipe a day and post it and keep it so fresh with lots of different ideas.
I love these, date based raw bars like this are one of my favourite ‘healthy’ options.
Have a good Friday!
Thank you so much, Angela! Have a great weekend!
Oh my, these look so good. Thanks!
Just a note, on the paragraph, third to the bottom of directions, you mention a double broiler. I think you mean double boiler. The broiler, in the oven, is for browning, as I am sure you know.
Hey Kit! Thanks for letting me know about that typo! Man, that would be bad for the chocolate!
I don’t think you’re missing out by not going to the bars… I’d rather hang at home with my family and a tray of these amazing bars too! Have fun with your little sister this weekend 🙂
Thank you so much! Have a great weekend! 🙂
These look amazing! And no, you are totally not missing anything by skipping the bar scene. Been there, done that… and I’d much rather stay home!
Thank you so much! Have the best weekend!
Now you mention it, I feel like I kind of need some chocolate too!!!
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
hehe! Thank you! Have a great weekend!
Oh Tieghan, these are perfect !!!! Can’t wait to make them….They can only be delicious, I love everything in them 🙂
Have a fun weekend.
Thank you so much, Lynne! Have a great weekend!
I’m obsessed with almonds, coconut, AND dark chocolate! These are my kinda bars!!! Need to make them ASAP! Thanks for all the great recipes!!
<3
Thank you so much, Madeline!! Have a great weekend!
they’re healthy enough for breakfast then, right? (; they sound so flavorful and crunchy/creamy, exactly what i look for in a satisfying breakfast/dessert/snack/all day munchie.
for sure! hehe! 🙂
Have a great weekend!