Is it ironic that as I write about these energy bars, I’m yawning?
If only I had some left, I might have more energy. They didn’t last long. Not only did I wolf them down at every opportunity…but because I thought they were so good, I shoved them at anyone I could, insisting they had to try them.
That’s a good way to find yourself without anymore energy bars, thus yawning while writing a post. Lesson learned!
But I’ll do my best to muster up some enthusiasm and give these Almond Date and Hemp Energy Bars the attention they deserve!
I’ve seen so many recipes over the past several months using dates as the source of “sugar” in various desserts or energy bars and was dying to give them a try. I picked up a package of these Medjool dates at Trader Joe’s and eagerly sought out to make a healthy snack.
These were the perfect choice. The nutty flavor of the dry roasted almonds, the sweetness of the dates, the slightly tart flavor from the dried cranberries, the chewiness of their combined textures coated in honey…it was perfect.
Then throw in the flax, chia and hemp seeds and you have the amazing benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein, making it easy to see why these make such a delightful energy bar and perfect mid-day bite or pre-workout snack.
I had these made in under 30 minutes and they don’t contain any of the additives, preservatives or chemicals that are often found in the store-bought energy or granola bars!
Have I convinced you yet? Make these!
If you do, I’d love to hear what you think of them!
Almond Date and Hemp Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates approx 11-12
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 3/4 cup almonds I used dry roasted & unsalted
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp flax seeds
- 2 tbsp hemp hearts
- 2 tbsp honey
Instructions
- If your dates still have their pits, be sure to remove them!
- Pulse dates and almonds in food processor until chopped medium fine.
- Add cranberries, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp hearts, and honey. Pulse 6 to 8 times or until ingredients are well blended.
- Line an 8×8 dish with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
- Place ingredients into dish and spread evenly while pressing down firmly to form a flat even top.
- You may need to wet the back of your spatula or use parchment paper to press down as the mixture may be sticky.
- Refrigerate 1-2 hours before cutting to get cleaner cuts. Once cut, I wrapped each of mine individually so they were ready to grab and take with me for a great energy snack!
- Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Spoonful of Honey.
