Healthy Chocolate Energy Bars
These Healthy Chocolate Energy Bars and my Vegan Lemon Energy Bars are my favorite on-the-go snack.
They are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats and have a creamy vegan chocolate filling.
Years ago, I suffered from endometriosis. My road to recovery was through nutrition and quality supplements. At the time, I found that every time I ate cakes made with refined sugar and flour, it triggered the inflammation in my body and flared up the endometriosis.
Since I have a sweet tooth and know how addictive and lousy sugar is for our health, I always try to create healthy and delicious desserts.
I am pleased with how these no-bake chocolate energy bars turned out: vegan, healthy, diet-friendly, gluten-free, nutritious, and refreshing.
It may seem like a fancy dessert, but it’s effortless to prepare and requires less than 15 minutes of prep time.
The secret to delicious chocolate energy bars is to prepare them a day in advance so all the flavors can combine.
My Healthy chocolate energy bars combine dates, favorite seeds, desiccated coconut, raw organic cacao, and other healthy ingredients for a nutritious snack.
I usually prepare them on the weekend and enjoy them throughout the week, whether with my morning coffee or to satisfy my sugar cravings in the afternoon and give my body an energy boost.
These chocolate energy bars are packed with healthy fats, fiber, protein, and no refined sugar and thus satisfy your sugar cravings healthily.
They are great for your lunchbox, too.
What do you need to make these Healthy chocolate energy bars?
These Healthy chocolate energy bars are nutrient-dense and only require a few healthy ingredients that you may already have in your pantry.
Let us take a look at the ingredients:
Dates– I used regular pitted dates since Medjool dates are too expensive. Dates are a natural sweetener and offer a great way to sweeten the dish without refined sugar. Since they are rich in fiber, they slow down digestion and help keep blood sugar levels from spiking. That gives you a healthy dessert that provides your body with sustained energy. Dates also serve as a binder for these vegan chocolate bars that do not require baking. They can help relieve digestive problems like constipation. The minerals found in dates can strengthen bones and teeth. The iron content is suitable for people who suffer from anemia.
Maple syrup is a good option for those who like sweet foods. It also serves as a binding agent. Maple syrup is rich in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and calcium.
Oats: They are cheap but also a great source of magnesium. The particular fiber in oats can lower cholesterol.
Shelled hemp seeds are an excellent choice for an energy boost. They contain a lot of protein and are a perfect pre-or post-workout supplement.
Desiccated coconut – this is coconut meat that has been shredded and dried. I use shredded coconut to improve texture and enhance flavor, adding a subtle sweetness to these lemon energy bars. It’s also high in fiber and healthy fats.
Organic cacao butter – is the edible fat extracted from cacao beans. It has a pale yellow color and a pleasant cacao flavor. When refrigerated, cacao butter solidifies. It is also an excellent natural binder for desserts that do not require baking. Cacao butter improves the mouthfeel and texture of desserts. It is rich in magnesium, vitamin E, and powerful antioxidants that reduce inflammation in the body – the cause of all diseases.
Raw organic cacao powder is a powerful superfood rich in flavonoids that can reduce inflammation in the body. Cacao is also a natural and healthy way to get a rush of happiness, as it is an excellent source of compounds responsible for happiness and well-being. Did you know that cacao contains 20 times more antioxidants than berries? I chose raw organic cacao powder to avoid all the toxic pesticides and chemicals used in non-organic cacao plantations.
Turmeric powder: It contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Raw cashews: are rich in healthy fats and minerals, especially magnesium, potassium, zinc, and selenium. The latter strengthens the immune system and thyroid function. Note: Use only organic lemons and oranges, as citrus fruits contain various pesticide residues on the outer peel.
How to prepare these Healthy chocolate energy bars?
All you need to prepare these Healthy chocolate energy bars is a food processor and a powerful blender.
It’s all about blending the ingredients for the base in the food processor and then preparing the creamy chocolate filling, and we are done.
Ingredients:
For the base:
75 g rolled oats
60 g shelled hemp seeds (or you can replace them with almonds).
60 g desiccated coconut
7 Sevenitted dates.
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp cinnamon extract (optional)
4 tbsp coconut or almond milk
Orange zest from 1 organic orange (you can also substitute lemon for the orange)
½ teaspoon turmeric powder (optional).
A pinch of salt
For the vegan chocolate filling
150 g raw cashews soaked in warm water for 3 to 4 hours 2 tablespoons
raw organic cacao powder
30 g cacao butter, melted
2Twoteaspoons vanilla
Two teaspoons cinnamon extract (optional).
3Threetablespoons maple syrup, or to taste
1Onetablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
90 ml almond milk (or whole milk for the non-vegans)
Orange zest from 1 organic orange (you can substitute lemon for the orange).
A pinch of salt
How to prepare the base for these Healthy chocolate energy bars?
Place all ingredients, except orange zest, for the base in the bowl of a food processor.
Blend until a sticky dough forms.
Scrape down the sides from time to time.
Add the orange zest and pulse.
Line a rectangular baking sheet (24 x 17 cm) with parchment paper.
Place the dough on the baking sheet.
Press the dough down with the back of a spoon or your fingers until you have an evenly distributed bottom.
Spread the chocolate filling evenly
Garnish with grated chocolate.
How to prepare the vegan chocolate filling?
Step 1 Soak the cashews in warm water for about 3 hours:
Place the cashews in a medium bowl and cover with warm water.
Set them aside at room temperature.
Drain the soaked cashews and place them in the pitcher of a high-speed blender.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients, except the orange zest, to the blender jug.
Step 3: Blend on high speed until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
Stop the blender from time to time and scrape down the sides of the container.
Repeat the process until the mixture is smooth.
Add the orange zest and blend until everything is well combined.
Serving Tip:
Take the chocolate energy bars out of the fridge for 30 minutes before serving to feel the creaminess of the chocolate filling.
Storage Tip:
In an airtight container in the refrigerator, these Healthy chocolate energy bars will keep for an entire week.
Freezing them is a great way to keep them fresh.
Tip for combining lemon and chocolate flavors:
I love how lemons and chocolate go together. So almost every time I am in the mood for these snacks, I prepare a batch of chocolate bars and a batch of lemon energy bars. Just combine, and you have a flavor explosion in your mouth and a bit of variety.
I look forward to hearing from you.
If you recreate this recipe, share your pictures on Instagram and tag them with the hashtag #healthywomanstyle, or leave a comment below.
Until next time, stay healthy and make the most of your days.
XoXo
Gabby
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