Makes 1 bar
1 Tablespoon dates, pureed
3 Tablespoons dry ingredients (nuts, dried fruits, coconut, oats, etc.)
- Pit dates and whir in a food processor or mash by hand until they're one sticky mass. This will be the base, the "glue" that will hold it all together.
- To this base, add about 3 Tablespoons of finely diced dried ingredients - the nuts of your choice (almonds, cashews, pecans, hazlenut, etc.), dried fruit, oats, spices, etc. with your hands mix it all together and form into a tight ball.
- Roll this ball into a rope and then pat it flat into a rectangle.
- Tightly wrap in plastic wrap (the wrapping will help the bar hold it's shape as you further mold it) and apply pressure to the top using a flat surface - a cutting board works well.
- To shape the sides you can take two knives and apply pressure to opposite ends of the bar. Refrigerate wrapped bar.
- For larger batches shape into a larger square, chill and cut into desired bar shapes with a very sharp knife.
Some tasty combinations:
- Cashew: 1 Tablespoon dates + 3 Tablespoons cashews
- Almond coconut: 1 Tablespoon dates +2 Tablespoons almonds + 1 Tablespoon unsweetened coconut
- Almond spice: 1 Tablespoon dates + 3 Tablespoons almonds + 1/4 teaspoon each: cinnamon & nutmeg + 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger.
- Cranberry coconut: 2 Tablespoons minced dried cranberries, 1 Tablespoon unsweetened coconut
