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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.
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.
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.
Go THICK on that chocolate layer guys…I mean, it’s FRIDAY! 🙂
What could be more special than hanging out with your little sis eating chocolate and coconut. You are definitely not missing out on anything! Cherish these special moments 🙂
Would these work with prunes instead of dates? (that’s what I have on hand)
Love your blog, by the way!! You rock.
Hey Dani!
Yes, I think prunes would work, BUT I have never tried it so I cannot say for sure. Thank you so much for the kind words! SO flattered!! Made my night! 🙂
These look seriously good! Just the thing to take out hiking, I’m going to make a batch to take on a walking holiday in the Lake District next weekend 🙂
That chocolate layer is everything! In love with these beauties!
Hemp seeds on top, what a brilliant idea! I can hardly wait to find some time to make these beautiful dark chocolate desserts you have been sharing.
As for the bars, this is only my opinion having been there-done that, but you are not missing out. Unless the bar in question has something unique to offer (ie. ice bars where one goes to slowly sample high quality world vodkas in a cosy parka), going out is usually a huge time-suck and money-suck.
I can´t wait to give this recipe a try. It sounds sooo delicious. But in 3 days I will be moving in a new appartment. But maybe I try them right away when I´m done with the most of the things. The good aspect: You only need a food processor and a freezer. Have a nice sunday! Greetings from germany!
Oh wow this looks amazing. Love your blog!!
Kisses from http://poshnessary.com ❤
I think these are my favorite creation of yours. And your photography is amazing!!
Um, wow! Thank you so much! Hope you guys have a great weekend and that broken foot starts healing soon!
I saw the post on instagram and immediately made them!!love LOVE this recipe.thankyou!such awesomeness in a bar ?.in half hour they are chilled and I will sit down with my girls and watch ‘Dora the Explorer’ ?.perfect with a cup of coffee.have a nice weekend!
Awe! Perfect so happy you are loving these, thank you! Enjoy a night with you girls!
Well since I’m a 20-something sitting at home with peanut butter cup cookies in the oven on my Friday night I bet you can guess I’d say you’re not missing out. If you want to check it out sometime, go check it out. But if not, then don’t. It’s totally valid to be happy at home doing your own thing. Usually when I do get talked into going out I spend half the night dreaming about all the fun I could be having at home. Anyway, that’s my two cents.
On a less personal note, these bars look amazing and you have perfect timing! I just got requests from two different classes to bake something vegan next week and I think these will work beautifully. Enjoy your Friday night!
haha! Thank you so much, Amanda! Enjoy those YUMMY cookies! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Oh yum! Love these and such a perfect choice when I need to make a treat for my vegan friends. And I second the choice to find out for yourself about the whole bar scene and go more than once…because there are bad nights and good nights depending on where you go and who you’re with. You’ll probably just confirm what you knew already, but you only get to be in your twenties once, so might as well get out there and see what’s going on!
Thank you for the great advice! MAybe I MIGHT give it another shot! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
You’re killing me, girl! I can’t wait to finish my work so I can get back in the kitchen and make these bars; so much yummy-ness!
Thank you so much! Have a great weekend!!
These look divine! I love coconut and chocolate together!
Thank you! Have a great weekend!
Chocolate on a Friday is always a good idea!! Yum!!
Thank you! Have a great weekend!
There’s no bad day for chocolate actually 😉 but yes, we always need chocolate!
agreed! Have the best weekend, Cassie! 🙂