Salted Caramel + Chocolate Bars (GF/Vegan/ No Bake)

It was a snowy Washington day, where we received too much snow for us Washingtonians to handle…. which resulted in a snow day from work for me, and a whole lot of time to experiment! There was no way I could get out to the store to choose what I wanted to use for a new recipe, so I looked through what I had at home, and came up with these! I happened to have walnuts, and pepitas in the freezer, so this is the nut/seed I chose to use. However, you can choose whatever nuts/seeds you enjoy and these will likely taste just as great! I was in the mood for something caramel, and happened to have some dates on hand too. I love the fact you can make a more nutritious caramel like goodness out of dates, and so I knew something like this had to happen. The addition of chocolate was simply just because of the fact I LOVE chocolate and lets be real everything tastes a little bit better with a little chocolate…. am I right… or am I right? ;) I hope you enjoy!

Salted Caramel + Chocolate Bars (No Bake!)

Made with just 5 simple, good for you ingredients!

Makes: 8-10 bars

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: no bake!

Base Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup raw walnuts (can be swapped for any nuts; cashews, almonds, pecans) may offer a different texture
• 3/4 cup pepitas (can be swapped for any seeds; sunflower, hemp) may offer a different texture
• 9 medjool dates, pitted
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt
• Optional : 4 scoops collagen protein (I used Ancient Nutrition)

Caramel Ingredients:

• 9 medjool dates, pitted, and soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
• 2 Tbsp. water
• dash of himilayan pink salt

Topping Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup chocolate chips, melted (I used Enjoy Life)

Instructions:

1. In a food processor pulse walnuts, and pepitas until finely ground.
2. Add dates,vanilla, and salt, and pulse until dates are finely ground, and mixed withtin the seed/nut mixture. This is when you would add in the collagen
3. Pour mixture into a non stick tin, or square/rectangular dish lined with parchment, press mixture down to cover entire base of pan.
4. Wipe out food processor,and blade (carefully), strain dates, and add with 1 Tbsp. water and salt, blend until dates become a smooth caramel like consistency. Add the remaining 1 Tbsp. water and more as needed to create a smoother consistency.
5. Add caramel layer on top of seed/nut layer and spread.
6. In a microwave safe dish, melt chocolate chips. TIP: do about 20 seconds at a time, mixing and then heating again, until fully melted.
7. Drizzle chcolate on top of caramel layer, and freeze for 15 minutes.
8. Cut into desired size of bar, and ENJOY! Store in freezer for best consistency!

As always if you give this recipe a try I’d love to see! Take a pic, use the #faretoned and tag @faretoned on Instagram! :)