Vegan Mixed Seedy Bars Topped With Raw Chocolate

These nutritious bars are great for kids’ lunches or your own lunchtime treats. I’m in love with the texture and taste of these little beauties.

Crunching into the raw cacao nibs is texture heaven! The bitter nibs among the sweet fruity flavours of goji and sultanas are delightful. The smooth, rich antioxidant packed raw chocolate topping takes this bar into decadence. These treats are really good for you, too.

Cacao is a superfood on its own, let alone the coconut oil, goji berries, seeds including super nutrient-rich hemp seeds (sorry, they’re still illegal to eat in Australia), brazil nuts and vanilla beans! Cacao is rich in minerals, has mood-enhancing effects and the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food! It protects us from free radical damage and age-related health issues. It is the no. 1 source of magnesium, which supports the heart and nervous system. It’s rich in iron, so it’s healthy for the production of haemoglobin, increases brainpower, encourages strong peristalsis, relaxes menstrual cramps, oxygenates the blood, and is an amazing anti-inflammatory. It helps the immune system, supports the liver, pancreas and skin, fights depression, and so much more!

Note: Once you roast the raw cacao bean and turn it into cocoa powder, you lose many of its nutritional properties.

Ingredients

Bars

1 cup brazil nuts

1 cup medjool dates, pitted

½ cup hemp seeds (where legal)

½ cup pepita seeds

½ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup coconut oil

¼ cup sultanas

¼ cup light agave syrup

1 tsp vanilla bean powder or vanilla paste

½ cup goji berries

¼ cup cacao nibs

Raw chocolate

¼ cup cacao butter, shaved

½ cup cacao powder

¼ cup raw agave syrup

1 tsp vanilla powder or 1 vanilla pod, scraped

½ tsp salt

1 tsp lucuma, maca or mesquite powder (optional)

Garnish

1 tbs bee pollen

1 tbs cacao nibs

¼ cup goji berries

Method

Process nuts in the food processor until roughly chopped. Add all the ingredients except the goji berries and cacao nibs. Process until dates are combined and ‘chopped’ up. The mix should still look chunky and textured.

Add the goji berries and cacao nibs and process for about 10 seconds or until just combined. Tip onto a lined baking tray and shape into a neat and even square (approximately 25 x 25 x 2cm).

Chill for 2–3 hours in the fridge and then cut into bars.

To make raw chocolate topping

Melt the cacao butter in a stainless steel bowl sitting over boiling water (be sure bowl doesn’t touch the water). Turn heat off as soon as the cacao butter starts to melt so as not to destroy the goodness! Add the remaining ingredients and whisk with a fork or small whisk.

Spoon the raw chocolate onto chilled bars (make sure you’ve cut the bars first).

Scatter with garnish of bee pollen, cacao nibs and goji berries. Chill in the fridge until chocolate sets and enjoy!

This is an edited recipe extract from PASSION: Organic Vegan Recipes To Live For.

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