I am so happy to share the recipe for the most scrumptious, rich, satisfying, nourishing, and completely natural brownie energy bars. These bars are pure chewy, crunchy, fudgy, sweet, salted goodness. I've made this recipe twice in the past few days because first, I wanted to be sure the recipe was just perfect for you, and second, the first batch disappeared very quickly. These homemade no-bake brownie bars take just a few minutes to make and our whole family loves them. They are perfect for a pre-workout snack, post-workout snack, wholesome dessert, satisfying chocolate cravings, or lunchbox snack for kids. 
I try to stay away from buying energy bars and protein bars most of the time. Many of them are filled with either sugar or artificial sweeteners, and are highly processed. There are times though, when there is literally no time to eat a proper snack. Like yesterday, when I squeezed in a hot yoga class at noon before picking up my daughter at 1:15. I hadn't eaten since 7:30am and really needed to refuel quickly after the intense workout. At times like those, a nutrient dense, portable snack like these homemade bars is great. Yummy Hubby loves taking bar bites with him on long bike rides, or to fuel up beforehand. So lately, I've been making these homemade no-bake energy bars, which are completely free the "junk" that can be found lurking in some of the store-bought bars.
It's amazing how delicious pure plants can be. The main components of these bars are nuts and dates, which are natural plant-based sources of protein, fiber, and sweetness.
Blend the ingredients together in a food processor and press it into a baking dish. That's it!
If you try these bars, come back and let me know what you think. Or show them off on Instagram and tag me @yummymummykitchen. I love to see your creations!
One of my newer discoveries is Nuts.com. I found this wonderful health food resource as I was searching for puffed quinoa locally to no avail. My kids and I love this puffed quinoa cereal for making cookies and bars extra crunchy and for breakfast. Plus, it packs all the health benefits of quinoa, like it's high quality protein. I also used it to make my healthy chocolate crispy treats.
Brownie Energy Bars
Published 04/11/2016
No bake energy bars that taste like fudgy brownies! These bars are perfect for fueling up before a workout, or as a snack for all ages.
Ingredients
- 2 cups nuts (I used a combination of almonds, peanuts, and walnuts)
- 1 1/4 cups pitted Medjool dates
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or Himalayan salt
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts (optional)
- 1/4 cup crisp puffed quinoa or rice cereal
- 2 tablespoons walnut pieces
- 2 tablespoons dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place nuts, dates, oil, cocoa, salt, and hemp hearts into a food processor. Blend until coarsely ground. Add the syrup and continue to blend until the mixture holds together when pressed. Pulse in the cereal just to combine.
- Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Transfer the bar mixture from the food processor to the pan and press firmly and evenly in. Press walnuts and chocolate chips into the top.
- Refrigerate until completely chilled and firm, about an hour. Cut into bars or small bite-sized squares. Store in the refrigerator.
Prep Time: 10 mins.
Tags: energy bars, snacks for kids, nutrition, no-bake, vegan
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