Chef John's Chocolate Energy Bars

Name: Chef John's Chocolate Energy Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups pitted Medjool dates, roughly chopped 2 cups pitted medjool dates, roughly chopped; 2 cups raw cashews 2 cups raw cashews; 1 cup raw or roasted unsalted almonds 1 cup raw or roasted unsalted almonds; ¾ cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Guittard® Cocoa Rouge) ¾ cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as guittard® cocoa rouge); 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted; ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon cold espresso, or more as needed (or water) 1 tablespoon cold espresso, or more as needed (or water); ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ pinch cayenne pepper ½ pinch cayenne pepper

Prep: 15 minsCook: 0 mins

Prep

15 mins

Cook

0 mins

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeVegetarianVegan

(0)

Ingredients

Servings:

22 cups pitted medjool dates, roughly chopped
22 cups raw cashews
11 cup raw or roasted unsalted almonds
¾ cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Guittard® Cocoa Rouge)¾ cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as guittard® cocoa rouge)
22 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
22 teaspoons vanilla extract
11 tablespoon cold espresso, or more as needed (or water)
½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ pinch cayenne pepper½ pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

1
Place cashews, almonds, coconut, dates, cocoa, coconut oil, vanilla, cold coffee, cayenne and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off to start. Process about 1 minute; check to ensure mixture is sticky and moist enough to stick together. Add more coffee if needed. Continue to process until mixture becomes a chunky mass.
2
Line a baking pan with plastic wrap. Scoop mixture into pan. Press down with a spatula until mixture is even. Place a layer of plastic wrap on the surface and smooth again with your hands.
3
Refrigerate until cold and firm, 2 or 3 hours.
4
Remove from the pan and unwrap. Cut into bars of your preferred size. Store in a zip top back in the refrigerator.

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