I tend to snack a lot during the day. Nuts form a part of this routine, and in summer I will often have fresh dates. So, I thought why not combine my two snack ingredients and make date choc nut bars? I have used a bitter chocolate so the only sweetness there is comes from the dates.
Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Date Choc Nut Bars ♥
Let’s go nuts for nuts
Despite getting a bad rap for being high in fat, nuts are actually good for you. They are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats, which lower bad cholesterol levels. Culinary nuts are an edible fruit or seed separated into four types. True or botanical nuts are dry, with a hard shell that does not split on maturity. Candlenuts, chestnuts and hazelnuts are examples of this. Drupes are a seed contained within a pit that is surrounded by a fleshy fruit. Almonds, cashews and walnuts fall into this category. Pine nuts are an example of a gymnosperm seed. This is a naked seed that has no enclosure. The last is an angiosperm which is a seed surrounded by an enclosure. This may be a pod or a fruit and includes Brazil nuts, macadamias and peanuts.
How about a date?
The fruit of the date palm is so sweet that they are enjoyed as a dessert as is. When dried, the sugar by mass is around 65% and this is one of the reasons why they are used within confections, and as a replacement for refined sugar. Dates can be purchased with or without the stone and the name of the date will let you know how soft or not it is. Medjool dates are the softest, and my favourite to snack on. Deglet Noor are semi-dry and the driest of all are Thoory. It is common that the first bite of food at Iftar, the meal to break the daily fast during Ramadan is a date. Moroccans add dates to their tagines’, and in in England you will find dates in sticky toffee pudding, date and walnut loaves, Christmas pudding and HP Sauce.
Take a look at this inspiring recipe for ♥ Date Choc Nut Bars ♥ from Lavender and Lime #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
Date Choc Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 200 g dark chocolate buttons
- 120 g coconut oil, divided
- 200 g pitted dates
- 40 g crystallised ginger, roughly chopped
- 200 g almond flour
- 150 g raw mixed nuts, lightly toasted and roughly chopped, divided
- 10 mls vanilla extract
- 80 g pumpkin seeds, roughly chopped
Method
- Place the chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and add 30g coconut oil
- Microwave in 30 second bursts until the chocolate has melted
- Stir to combine and set aside
- Place the dates, ginger and the rest of the coconut oil into a blender
- Blitz until the ingredients start clumping then add the almond flour, 100g of the nuts and the vanilla
- Blitz until cohesive then tip out into a lned brownie tin
- Press this firmly into the tin using the back of a spoon
- Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds to make it pourable, then pour over the nut mix
- Scatter the remaining nuts and pumpkin seeds over the top and place into the fridge for 3 hours
- Remove from the fridge and allow to soften slightly before cutting into 16 squares
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container
See the links below for blog posts I published on December 12:
- 2023: Microwave Cake
- 2021: Afraid Of The Light
- 2018: The Alba Restaurant
- 2016: Honeycomb Ice Cream
- 2013: Preserved Lemon And Pickled Garlic Gremolata
- 2012: Withington Wines
- 2011: Creamy Pasta With Beef, Sundried Tomatoes And Mushrooms
- 2010: Food Quiz Number 42 For A Friday
Tomorrow is my last working day for 2024 and on Saturday we are going away with friends to celebrate our respective wedding anniversaries.
When I looked at the name of the recipe a quiet ‘don’t think so?’ came to mind. Especially since I almost never snack in-between meals . . . yes, well . . . Then looked at the ingredients . . . heavens, Tandy > these almost belong to the ‘health world’!!! Nuts, seeds and DARK chocolate! Hmm . . . where is my shopping list 🙂 ?
This is the best excuse for a sweet treat!
Nice!
Thanks!
I love using Lindt 70% dark chocolate 🍫 melts so easily and works so well in cooking. Love all the nuts here!
It is one of my favourite chocolates to eat!
They are perfect for post workout or as a breakfast to go!
They really are 🙂
Your creative idea using the nuts a dates ( with the chocolate) looks really delicious. I would love these.
Hope you make a batch to try!
Such beautiful bars with so many great flavours and textures going on. I can imagine how pleasantly chewy and rich they are!
They were very chewy 🙂