Zesty Energy Date Bars (or Balls)
When our family was first exploring the idea of eating less animal protein and more vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts; we discovered this little gem. This recipe made us all (in-laws, cousins, etc.) realize that it was possible to eat healthy and LOVE it! In a perfect world I would make one or two different types of date bars every week and cut them, individually wrap them and put cute little labels on them to send with my husband and kids as snacks.
These are the perfect blend of saltiness, sweetness, chocolate and zing! I personally would have never paired chocolate and red pepper flakes, but the two are an incredible combo! Because they are not too spicy, feel free to double the red pepper flakes if you need some spiciness in your life.
Don’t forget to share with a friend!!
This recipe consists of:
| Ingredients | Health Benefits |
|---|---|
| Raw Cashews | “Although cashews are one of the lowest-fiber nuts, they are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These include vitamins E, K, and B6, along with minerals like copper, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, iron, and selenium, all of which are important for maintaining good bodily function” (source). |
| Chocolate Chips (feel free to use dairy free chocolate chips, our favorite are the Enjoy Life Brand) | Chocolate is full of high-antioxidants, which are used to protect the body from the damage of free radicals. |
| Deglet Noor Dates | These are the God Sugar of the recipe. Dates are incredible healthy, full of vitamins and do not spike your blood sugar. Watch this video to learn more. |
| Cinnamon | Can improve heart disease risk and cut risk of diabetes (source). |
| Vanilla Extract | Lowers cholesterol, antibacterial properties, reduces inflammation, and improves mental health. |
| Red Pepper Flakes | Eating crushed red pepper can relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the body. Red pepper also contains vitamins C, E and B-6, and the minerals iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Red pepper has strong disease preventing properties (source). |
| Salt | Iodized salt is important in our diets because it helps to prevent thyroid enlargement. This may result in serious conditions like the development of goiter or hypothyroidism. |
| Peanut Butter (I like to use natural peanut butter. The ingredients should only be peanuts and salt! That's it!!) | “A serving of peanut butter has 3 mg of the powerful antioxidant vitamin E, 49 mg of bone-building magnesium, 208 mg of muscle-friendly potassium, and 0.17 mg of immunity-boosting vitamin B6. Research shows that eating peanuts can decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions.” (source). |
| Chia Seeds | Full of omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, iron and calcium. |
Zesty Energy Date Bars or Balls
These date bars are the perfect mixture or chocolate, peanut butter and spices to make a dessert that is irresistible.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashew
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup dates
- 1 t. cinnamon
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1/4 t. red pepper flakes (1/2 t. if you like more kick!)
- 1/4 t. salt
- 2 T. chia seeds
- 1/2 c. natural peanut butter
Directions
- Step 1 Blend cashews, Chocolate Chips and dates in the food processor until well blended.
- Step 2 Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor bowl and pulse until the texture becomes thick.
- Step 3 Roll the dough into balls to make Energy Date Balls or press the mixture into an 8 by 8 pan to make Energy Date Bars.
