Delicious chocolate fruit-and-nut energy bars flavored with unsweetened cocoa and bright orange. Perfect for on the go or when a chocolate craving hits. Naturally paleo and vegan.
This recipe has a festive feel — I originally planned to share it before the holidays, but life got busy and here it is in January. No matter: these bites are both delicious and healthy, so the timing still feels right.
Chocolate and orange is a classic pairing I never tire of. I prefer the fresh, natural citrus punch of orange zest and juice rather than artificial extracts — the real zest and juice in these bites make them perfect.
This version was adapted from a favorite raw vegan coconut brownies recipe. If you prefer coconut over orange, try that recipe instead — both are excellent.
These make a great small sweet treat or an energy boost. I like to cut them into small two-bite pieces, but they also work well as larger bars. They keep a long time, especially refrigerated, though they rarely last that long in my kitchen. Enjoy!
Chocolate Orange Larabar Bites
Ingredients
- 2 cups nuts (I like almonds and walnuts)
- 2 cups soft dates
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Dash of vanilla
- Pinch of sea salt
- Zest of 2 large navel oranges
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse the nuts first until no large pieces remain. Remove and set aside.
- Add the dates to the food processor and blend until they form a sticky dough with no individual pieces remaining. Break the dough up with a knife if needed.
- Sprinkle the ground nuts, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, orange zest, and orange juice over the date dough. Process again until the mixture is fully combined and begins to stick together.
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared loaf pan. Lift it out using the plastic wrap or parchment and slice into bars or bite-sized pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.