Kind of Healthy Candy Bars!

It's usually late afternoon when I crave something sweet. Usually I'll eat a piece of fruit or have a cup of tea. But sometimes that just doesn't cut it. However these Candy Bars from, Gwyneth Paltrow's "It's All Good" certainly fit the bill. The dates help bind and sweeten along with the maple syrup. There are bits of coconut throughout the bar that help create texture. A thick layer of dark rich chocolate completes the bar.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup raw cashews
1 1/2 cup dates (pitted and roughly chopped)
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup grade B maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips (60% or higher)
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil

To prepare:

In a food processor grind cashews to a very fine meal. Add dates, almond butter, maple syrup, coconut flour, shredded coconut and almond extract and pulse until you have a sticky ball of dough.

Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper and press cashew mixture out onto the paper, making a rectangle about 1 inch deep. (Wet fingertips with water to help push dough down.). Refrigerate the mixture 6 to 8 hours, until it's firm.

Meanwhile, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil into a double boiler and stir mixture until just melted. Remove from heat and pour over the cold cashew mixture and let set, about 1 hour.

Using the parchment, lift the bar out of the sheet pan and cut into rectangles. Serve at once or store in an airtight container.