Chocolate Chip Cashew Date Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHIP DATE NUT BARS

Steps:

• Soak dates in warm water for 10 minutes to soften, longer if dates seem dry. Remove dates and reserve liquid. (See Note 1 below.)
• Add nuts to food processor and process until nuts are small pieces.
• Pour chopped nuts into a bowl and mix with cocoa, salt, and chocolate chips. Set aside.
• Add dates to food processor and process until it is a paste.
• Add date paste to the nut mixture and mix well.
• If mixture is too dry and isn't sticking together, add reserved date liquid, 1 teaspoon at a time, mixing well after each addition until everything just begins to stick together. (See Note 2 below.)
• Using the back of a spoon, press date nut mixture firmly into a parchment lined 8x8 pan or loaf pan, spreading evenly and to the edges.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.
• Store bars in the refrigerator. (See Note 3 below.)

CHOCOLATE CHIP CASHEW DATE BARS

Steps:

• Place dates in a bowl and cover with several inches of cool water until soft, 30 to 60 minutes. Drain, squeeze out extra liquid, and reserve. Chop dates into a thick paste.
• Combine dates with cashews, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl. Fold in chocolate chips. Press mixture firmly into a parchment paper-lined 8-inch baking pan until compact. Refrigerate until set, 1 hour to overnight.
• Cut into bars.