Cashew Cookie Dough Bars

Who doesn’t love cookie dough?!

Just the thought of it brings back such great memories for me, and how my mom and I used to make chocolate chip cookies together when I was a kid. She’d let me stir the bowl and I’d swipe a taste of the dough filled with raw eggs and deadly salmonella. It’s amazing I never fell ill of anything, or died… Oh, to know then what we know now. At any rate, it was a special time for me and something I look back on with great fondness.

You don’t have to worry about any such thing with these little bars and it’s definitely one you’ll want to make with the kids. They are doughy and sweet and made with just four healthy, all natural ingredients.

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They’re made of cashews which are an incredible mineral source. Cashews are loaded with copper, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus. Minerals that, together, can protect against heart disease and cancer, lower blood pressure, fight free radicals and UV damage. A powerful nut worth getting into your diet.

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They also have dates which are filled with fiber, calcium and zinc, a little non-alcohol vanilla and some vegan chocolate chips. That’s it! A simple list of ingredients, that’s even simpler to make.

You just blend your cashews in a food processor.

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Tuck your dates inside, add in some vanilla and blend some more.

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Toss in, by hand, some chocolate chips.

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Take the mixture and press it into a pan, let it set up in the fridge, and then serve.

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Just like that, you have made your own nut-based protein bar and/or treat!

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You’ll get 10-12 bars out of the batch, depending on how wide you cut them. You can even turn them into protein balls instead of bars. That’s a good way to get the kids involved by letting them roll out the balls. Either way, they’re fantastic.

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The cashews provide a slightly sweet flavor, while the vanilla gives it such a richness, you’d think you’re snacking on something unhealthy… but, you’re not!

They’re a great pick-me-up during the day, or even a good way to start the day. I’ll have one with my green tea in the morning. It’s filling and light… a good way to get a little fuel for the day.

The next time you’re craving something sweet, go ahead and indulge, with these!

Ingredients:

2 c. organic cashews
1 & 1/2 c. medjool dates (pitted)
2 tsp. non alcohol vanilla
1/2 c.= up to= 3/4 c. vegan chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Blend cashews in food processors until you get close to a powder.
  2. Add dates, tucking them inside the mixture, and vanilla and blend in the food processor until the mixture begins to hold together.
  3. Take container off the food processor and stir in, by hand, some chocolate chips.
  4. Firmly press the mixture down into a 9×7 baking pan (8×8 will work too, just use 1/3 of the pan). If you want to make cookie dough balls, use a small spoon to dole out mixture and then roll balls until they are even, place onto a pan or cookie sheet.
  5. Place pan in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  6. Cut and serve.

*Yields 10-12 bars.

Notes**

*You can store and serve these from the fridge. They will last a few weeks sealed. You could also store them in the pantry, sealed, since all the ingredients are shelf-sustainable, but they won’t last as long.

*You can make these in a blender, just make sure mixture does not get too hot, otherwise bars will become gummy. Blend, scrape mixture down off the sides, blend a little more until mixture begins to hold.

*This recipe has been adapted from my Cacao Chocolate Truffles. 

*Want another recipe to use cashews in? Try it in this mac & cheese dish. You won’t believe you’re not eating actual cheese! Check it out: Creamy Cashew Mac & Cheese