Cashew Bar with Chocolate Coating

This Cashew Bar with Chocolate Coating is so delicious! They are packed with protein-rich nuts so they keep you full between meals. Plus, the chocolate coating is the perfect way to satisfy that sweet tooth!

This recipe is a combination of a granola bar, protein bar and chocolate bar all in one. These bars make perfect snacks or desserts, whether you’re on the go or in need of a sweet treat to wrap up a meal at home. I can’t wait for you to try them!

 

Ingredients for the Cashew Bar

I always aim to make recipes as approachable as possible, so keeping the ingredient list simple is helpful! For this Cashew Bar, you will need:

• Walnuts
  • You can use whole, halved or chopped walnuts in this recipe. They are being pulsed in a food processor so the size doesn’t matter.
• Cashews
  • Use raw and unsalted cashews for this recipe.
• Dates
  • Make sure to use pitted dates to save you time and energy.
• Shredded coconut
  • I used sweetened shredded coconut because that’s what I have at home, but you can also use unsweetened shredded coconut.
• Chocolate chips
  • I use semi-sweet chocolate chips but you could use milk, dark or even white chocolate chips. This will be used for the chocolate coating on these snack bars.
• Coconut oil, vanilla extract and salt

How to make the bars

Once you have the ingredients and equipment ready, these cashew nut bars are really easy to make. Here’s what you have to do:

1. To a food processor, add all of the ingredients, except the chocolate chips and coconut oil for the chocolate coating. Blend for at least 20-30 seconds, or until the mixture is combined and crumbly.
   1. a) It may seem too crumbly to become a crust but once it is pressed into the pan, it sticks together quite well. If you want to add 1-2 tsp of water just to be sure, you can do that too!
2. Pour the nut mixture into a greased square pan and press down firmly and then set it to the side.
3. Melt the chocolate and pour it on top of the nut mixture. Make sure to spread it out evenly using a spatula.
4. Refrigerate or freeze the bars for at least 1-2 hours or until the chocolate coating has completely hardened.
5. Cut the square into 12 bars and enjoy!

Making the chocolate coating

The chocolate coating on the cashew bar really balances out the nutty flavour of the base. For the chocolate layer you can use semi-sweet, milk, dark or white chocolate. Keep in mind that there are dates in the nut layer, providing some sweetness already, so you may not want an overly sweet chocolate (ie. white chocolate). I recommend using semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Making the chocolate coating is extremely easy!

1. In a small bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until the chocolate is melted.

If you don’t have a microwave, you can make a double boiler on the stove.

1. Fill a small saucepan with 2-3 inches of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
2. Rest a heat-safe bowl (ex. glass, stainless steel) on top of the saucepan, making sure it fits snugly but doesn’t touch the water underneath. Add the chocolate to the heat-safe bowl.
3. Stir the chocolate chips for about 4 minutes or until they are melted and smooth.
4. Carefully remove the bowl from the heat and saucepan and it’s ready to use in this recipe!

Are cashews a healthy snack?

Enjoying cashews as a snack is a great way to stay full and satisfied for longer, while helping to support your blood sugar and energy levels!

Here are some of the nutrition facts of ½ cup of cashews. They provide:

• 12 grams of protein
• a variety of B vitamins
• a significant source of your daily vitamin K, which supports bone health
• a source of copper and zinc, which support the immune system
• a source of manganese, which supports bone health and the immune system

If you choose to eat them on their own, you can pair them with other nuts, seeds or fruit for a delicious snack!

Are cashew bars gluten free?

It’s important to me to make recipes that are versatile and suitable for a variety of people. This includes making some recipes that support certain dietary restrictions.

These cashew bars are gluten free. They can also be made dairy free and vegan by using dairy free or vegan chocolate chips!

 

Storing the bars

Store these bars in an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to enjoy! You can take them out of the freezer about 5 minutes before eating them so they have some time to thaw.

I hope you love this Cashew Bar with Chocolate Coating. Don’t forget to check out some of these other snack recipes for more variety:

• Everything Bagel Cashews
• Hazelnut Chocolate Chips Cookies
• Black Bean Brownies
• Carrot Apple Muffins

 

If you make this Cashew Bar, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!