Luscious Chocolate-Coated Almond Snack Bars

Candy bars are among the easiest things to reach for when you need a quick snack. They’re often studded with enough nuts and sugar to send your energy levels through the ceiling, and they’re always conveniently placed in checkout aisles. However, candy bars — including “healthy” granola bars — are packed with too much sugar. And while they’re high in calories, they’re low in essential nutrients.

Make your own healthy candy bar with this recipe. Its main ingredients are protein-rich almonds and heart-healthy coconut oil, which boost energy and provide nutrients like antioxidants and unsaturated fat. When they’re topped off with a luxurious chocolate coating, you’ll forget you’re snacking on something healthy!

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw almonds
• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup almond or sunflower butter
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Place almonds, flax meal, shredded coconut, almond or sunflower butter and salt in a food processor.
2. Pulse briefly, about 10 seconds.
3. In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil over very low heat.
4. Remove coconut oil from stove. Stir maple syrup and vanilla into the oil.
5. Add coconut oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste.
6. Press mixture into an 8x8 baking dish.
7. Chill in refrigerator until mixture hardens, about 1 hour.
8. In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously.
9. Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator.
10. Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve.

This recipe yields 20 bars.