Delicious chocolate fruit-and-nut energy bars flavored with unsweetened cocoa and fresh orange. Perfect for on-the-go or whenever you need a chocolate fix. Naturally paleo and vegan.
This recipe is a little festive — I intended to share it before Christmas, but time slipped away and here it is in mid-January. No matter: these bites are both delicious and healthy, so they’re welcome any time of year.
Chocolate and orange are a classic pairing—and one I absolutely love. I prefer the bright, natural flavor of fresh orange zest and juice over extracts or artificial flavorings. The zest and juice in these little bars give them just the right balance of citrus and chocolate.
This recipe was adapted from raw vegan coconut brownies, one of my favorite go-to treats. If you prefer coconut to orange, try that version instead—they’re both excellent.
These bites are great when you want a small sweet treat or a quick energy boost. I like cutting them into small, two-bite pieces, but they also make satisfying larger bars. They keep well, especially refrigerated, though they rarely last long!
Chocolate Orange Larabar Bites
Erin Dooner
Snack
15 mins
15 mins
Ingredients
- 2 cups nuts (I like a mix of 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, grind the nuts first until there are no large pieces remaining. Transfer the ground nuts to a bowl 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 date dough 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 everything is fully combined and the mixture starts 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 refrigerate for up to two weeks.
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