Chocolate Walnut Date Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups pitted dates or 1 1/2 cup dates and 1/2 cup dried tart cherries (this adds a lovely tangy taste)

• 1 3/4 cups walnut pieces, roasted

• 1/4 cup nut butter, almond or peanut

• 2 tsp real vanilla

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 6 oz dark chocolate

• 1 T coconut oil or ghee

Here’s How:

1. Roast walnuts until slightly roasted at 350 for 8 minutes. Let cool.

2. Place in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Remove and place in a bowl. Set aside 1 1/2 T for topping after covering with chocolate for the top layer.

3. Add remaining ingredients except the chocolate into the food processor, pulse until evenly chopped. Then add back in the walnuts until the mixture is evenly mixed and will hold together when pressed.

4. Melt chocolate and fat in a double boiler.

5. Use an 8/8” pan, place a piece of parchment inside and press date mixture into it evenly and chill for 20 minutes.

6. Use a loaf pan, 1/2 the size in width, place a piece of parchment in it and cut the date mixture in half and press into the loaf pan.

7. Drizzle with half of the chocolate and chill, around 45 minutes or until chocolate is solid.

8. Carefully place the second half of date slab on top of the chocolate and add the remaining chocolate to cover. Top with a few roasted chopped walnuts and coarse sea salt.

9. Chill and slice into 2/2” bars or whatever size you prefer.