Let's get one thing straight: the best tools for cooking can be your hands! These fun no-bake bars are a great option for snacks or breakfast, and are riffable in many different directions. Including some options here, but please feel free to find your favorite options.
This is an intro to your food processor, the machine that not only makes a huge amount of noise but can also make a dough out of pretty much any mix of ingredients as long as you have some moisture and gooey ingredients (dried fruit) and some nuts. That's the base recipe; you can change the taste by changing the fruit and nuts and mix-ins.
That's right: this is a recipe that YOU get to invent. While it is important to remember to follow steps and proportions given in any recipe, it's also important to include ingredients you like best!
Each batch makes 6 bars; you can cut them smaller or larger, depending on your preference.
Choose-your-own-adventure Snack Bars
Yield: 6 bars
Ingredients
1 cup nuts -- Almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, hazelnuts, macadamias. Toasting enhances the flavors.
1 cup sweet dried fruit -- Dates, raisins, figs, prunes
tiny pinch salt
1 cup mix-in (optional) -- Dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried apricot, dried pineapple, cranberries, goji berries, more chopped nuts, dried coconut, chocolate chips, coffee beans, cacao nibs, shredded carrot, etc.
2 - 4 tbsp flavoring (optional) -- Cacao, vanilla, cinnamon, citrus zest and juice, ginger, mint, cloves, coconut oil
Directions
Line a 9 x 9 or 8 x 8 square pan with foil or parchment, set aside.
In a food processor, process the nuts, dried fruit and salt until finely ground. Add the mix-in(s) of choice, and process until the mixture is in uniform chunks, about the size of very small gravel. You might need to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula if they don't seem to be mixing well. If the mixture seems too dry to easily stick together, add warm water 1/4 tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to clump together. Err on the side of adding less water, because you can’t take it back!
Squish the mixture into the prepared pan, and smash it as flat as you can. Once you have it well compressed, pull out of the pan with the foil/parchment, and using a sharp knife, cut into 6 bars. Wrap each bar separately in parchment paper or plastic wrap. If you're in a hurry, you can shape the dough into eight to twelve balls, instead. You can store these in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container for up to a month.
Flavor options
Apple Pie 1 cup mixed almonds and walnuts 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup mixed raisins and dried apple 2 tbsp cinnamon
Banana Bread 1 cup almonds
1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup dried banana
Blueberry Muffin 1 cup cashews 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup dried blueberries Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 vanilla bean, scraped
Cappuccino 1 cup mixed almonds and cashews 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup coffee beans 1 vanilla bean, scraped
Carrot Cake 1 cup mixed almonds and walnuts 1 cup mixed dates and raisins
tiny pinch salt 1 cup mixed dried pineapple, shredded coconut, and carrot 1 tbsp coconut oil 2 tsp cinnamon
Cashew Cookie 1 1/2 cups cashews 1 1/2 cups dates
tiny pinch salt
Cherry Pie 1 cup almonds 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup dried cherries
Chocolate Chip Brownie 1 cup mixed almonds and walnuts 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup chocolate chips 1/4 cup cacao powder
Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte 1 cup mixed almonds and cashews 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup mixed chocolate chips and dried cherries
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough 1 cup cashews 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup chocolate chips
Chocolate Coconut Chew 1 cup mixed almonds and walnuts 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup shredded coconut 4 tbsp cacao powder
Coconut Cream Pie 1 cup mixed almonds and cashews
1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup shredded coconut 2 tbsp coconut oil
Ginger Snap 1 1/2 cups mixed almonds and pecans 1 1/2 cups dates
tiny pinch salt 2 tbsp fresh ginger 1 tbsp mixed cinnamon and cloves
Key Lime Pie 1 cup mixed cashews and almonds 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup shredded coconut Zest and juice of 1 lime
Lemon Bar 1 1/2 cups mixed cashews and almonds 1 1/2 cups dates
tiny pinch salt Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Peanut Butter & Jelly 1 cup peanuts 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup dried cherries
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip 1 cup peanuts 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup chocolate chips
Peanut Butter Cookie 1 1/2 cup peanuts 1 1/2 cup dates
tiny pinch salt
Pecan Pie 1 1/2 cup mixed pecans and almonds 1 1/2 cup dates
tiny pinch salt
Tropical Fruit Tart 1 cup mixed almonds and cashews 1 cup dates
tiny pinch salt 1 cup mixed dried pineapple and shredded coconut Zest and juice of 1 orange 1 tbsp coconut oil