No-Bake Cashew Dream Bars (Vegan, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free)

These bars are smooth and sweet with a hint of vanilla and lemon.  And, the date-sweetened pecan crust adds just the right amount of crunch.  Dreamy, am I right?  

Besides the ingredients, you'll need a food processor/blender, 5X8 dish, and a freezer.  No baking required!  The hardest part about this recipe is digging in too early -- and there's nothing wrong with that. ;)  But, as with many things, patience yields the best result.

Ingredients:

For the crust:
4 pitted dates
3/4 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons agave syrup (sub maple syrup)

Remaining ingredients:
2 cups raw cashews, soaked overnight
1/2 cup water (sub coconut milk for extra creaminess)
1/3 cup agave syrup (sub maple syrup)
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted into liquid form
 --Note: do not sub any other type of oil as this is what keeps the bars solid
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest *optional*

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. Prepare the crust: In a food processor/blender, blend the dates until they are broken down into small pieces.  Add in the pecan halves, coconut oil, salt and agave syrup and process until the mixture is sticky (about 30 seconds).
2. In a 5x8 dish, lined with parchment paper, press the pecan-date crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the lined dish.  Note: you could probably pull off no parchment paper, but parchment paper helps keep the crust together upon removal from the dish. 
3. Place the dish/crust into the freezer to set while working on the next steps.
4. Rinse and drain the soaked cashews.
5. In a food processor/blender, blend the soaked cashews, water, agave syrup, coconut oil, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and optional lemon zest for 3 to 5 minutes and until the mixture is smooth.
6. Pour the creamy cashew mixture onto the crust and evenly spread throughout with a spatula.  Gently tap the dish against a counter or hard surface for an even smoother top.
7.  Freeze the bars for 4-5 hours.
8.  When you are ready to eat the bars, cut the bars into squares immediately after removing the bars from the freezer.
9.  Remove the number of bars you plan to serve from the dish to a serving dish and allow them to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes (unless you're into the ice cream thing).  If you aren't serving all of the bars, place the extra bars in an airtight container (to avoid freezer burn) and refreeze for up to a few weeks.
10.  Serve with your favorite fruits and enjoy!  If you have leftover thawed bars, refrigerate the bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

#halahbakes

Tahini Date Cookies w/ Pecans (Vegan, Gluten Free)

These outrageously good cookies are my favorite!  The combination of nuts, tahini, and dates make these absolutely delicious!  Seriously.  And the texture?  Soft on the inside, slightly crisp on the outside, and bits of pecan crunchiness.  DROOL.  

I can't wait for you to try these out because they 1. are super easy with simple steps;  2. bake within minutes; and 3. taste superb!  Best of all, they can be customized!  Don't like dates?  Substitute chocolate chips.  Don't have pecans?  Don't add them, or sub another nut.

Stay safe and bake away, friends!

Ingredients:

1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup tahini
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup dates, chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup pecans, chopped into small pieces

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the old fashioned oats, almond flour, salt, and baking soda.
2. Add the tahini, maple syrup, and vanilla.  Mix well to form a thick dough.
3. Stir in the chopped dates and pecans.
4. Roll tablespoon sized balls of dough and arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet, making sure each cookie is about 1 inch apart.  Gently flatten the tops of the balls of dough with your fingers (not too much, as the cookies will naturally spread).
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
6. Remove the cookies from the oven and let rest for five minutes.  Resist the urge to touch the cookies or, otherwise, they might break! 
7. Gently remove the cookies from the cookie sheet with a fork or thin spatula.
8. Enjoy!  These cookies taste best warm, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week (tasting best by warming up in the microwave or oven).



#halahbakes

Coconut Date Sehri Bars (Vegan, No Oil, Gluten Free)

Oh, coconut-y, date deliciousness!  These Coconut Date Sehri bars are flavorful and filling!  You don't even need to add chocolate.  But . . . chocolate added to the mix?  EPIC.  Making them requires some refrigeration, so plan to make these the night before breakfast.  Hoping you enjoy them as much as I did.

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup maple syrup, agave syrup, or date puree
1 and 1/2 cups toasted unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup mixed nut butter (sub any type of nut butter)
1 cup deglet noor dates, soaked in water for 20 minutes
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips *optional*

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. To make the crust, blend the oats on low speed until the oats break into small pieces. Add the maple syrup into the blender until a sticky dough is formed.
2. Press the crust into an 9x5" baking dish (I used a glass dish - but recommend lining your pan with parchment paper if using a metal pan). Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the crust from the oven and cool.
3. In a blender, combine the soaked and drained dates, nut butter, salt, vanilla, and water until you have a thick paste.  
4. Pulse in the toasted coconut.
5. Spread the mixture on top of the crust base.
6. Refrigerate the bars for at least four hours.
7. *Optional* Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave at 30 second intervals until melted.
8. *Optional* Drizzle the tops of the bars with the melted chocolate.  Chill, until the chocolate sets.
9. Slice the bars and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge!

#halahbakes

Date, Almond, Banana Cookies (Vegan, No Oil, Sweetened with Fruit)

Too many bananas? Tired of banana bread? NO PROBLEM! This recipe is incredibly, easy, tasty, and healthy! With the crunch of sliced almonds and coconut, you can't go wrong with these vegan, no oil, fruit sweetened cookies! And, better yet, you can have cookies for breakfast. ;)

Ingredients:

1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup quick oats
2 mashed bananas (must be ripe)
1/2 cup almond butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup shredded coconut *optional*

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. In a bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until they become smooth.
2. Stir in the old fashioned oats, quick oats, almond butter, salt, vanilla extract, chopped dates, sliced almonds, and optional coconut with the banana mixture. The dough will be fairly sticky.
3. Shape a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough into a ball like shape and place on a cookie sheet. Press down to flatten the tops of the cookies. (You will not need to worry about these cookies expanding in size).
4. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. They should be golden when done.
5. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet with a fork. Let the cookies cool and enjoy!

#halahbakes

Coconut Date Magic Bars with Sesame (Vegan, No Oil, Gluten Free)

Magic bars are the best - but, I seriously couldn't imagine them without the ever-famous . . . condensed milk and chocolate. But, then, thankfully, I learned a cool trick for substituting condensed milk from Feasting on Fruit: blend 3 ripe bananas! With this tip, I then decided to sub out the chocolate for dates (because, honestly, dates are WAY better)! Hence, I am now able to share this incredibly tasty layered treat where you can save your evaporated milk and chocolate for a different day!

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup maple syrup, agave syrup, or date puree
3 ripe bananas
3/4 cup chopped almonds
3/4 cup chopped dates
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup sesame seeds

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. To make the crust, blend the oats on low speed until the oats break into small pieces. Add the maple syrup into the blender until a sticky dough is formed.
2. Press the crust into an 8x4" baking dish (I used a glass dish - but recommend lining your pan with parchment paper if using a metal pan). Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the crust from the oven and cool.
3. Blend the bananas until smooth.
4. Pour the banana puree on top of the crust.
5. Sprinkle the almonds on top of the banana puree, followed by the chopped dates.
6. Press the almonds and dates into the banana puree so that the banana puree rises up and covers the almonds and dates.
7. Sprinkle the coconut on top of the banana puree and gently press down - the banana puree does not need to cover the coconut completely, but should cover the coconut partially.
8. Finally sprinkle the sesame seeds on top of the coconut.
9. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

10. Cool and then chill the bars in a refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

11. Slice the bars and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge!

#halahbakes

Chocolate Chip Almond Flour Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free, Diabetic Friendly)

Thanks again to Feasting on Fruit for your incredible creativity. These cookies are sweet, soft, and date-I-say-it . . . "healthy." [You see what I did there?] The cookie base is sweetened with medjool dates. I played around with the recipe too and discovered that you don't even need chocolate chips. You can leave them out completely or substitute raisins.

P.S. I also tried making these without baking soda -- the recipe still works, but the cookies end up looking more like meat patties than cookies. Stick to using the baking soda!

Give these a try and let me know how you like them!

Ingredients:

12 pitted medjool dates
2/3 cup water
3 cups almond flour
1/2 cup peanut butter (you can find numerous brands without sugar)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (or sub raisins)

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. In a blender, blend the medjool dates with the water until you have a smooth date paste.
2. In a separate bowl, stir the date paste, almond flour, peanut butter, baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt until well mixed.
3. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Scoop out a heaping tablespoon worth of dough and roll into a ball. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down to flatten.
5. Repeat with the remaining dough. Leave about 1/2 inch to 1 inch between the cookies.
6. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees. The cookies will just start to turn golden brown.
7. Let the cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before eating!
8. Enjoy!

#halahbakes

Epic Pecan Pie Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free, Paleo, No Sugar Added)

I have always been inspired by bakers who can make delicious desserts without adding sugar. Making it vegan and only sweetening with fruit? Immensely creative. Making them gluten free/paleo as well? Nearly impossible. That is why I absolutely love Feasting on Fruit's Pecan Pie Bars. With the below modifications, I can comfortably say that this recipe is EPIC! Seriously. These bars are absolutely delicious, extremely easy to make, and you will trick all your family and friends into eating something healthy for dessert. Ladies and gents, get your blender out and turn on your oven! You won't regret it.

Ingredients:

For the crust:
12 pitted Deglet Noor dates (optional: substitute 10 pitted Medjool dates)
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 and 1/2 cups pecans

For the filling:
14 pitted Deglet Noor dates  (optional: substitute 12 pitted Medjool dates)
1 and 1/2 cups pecans
1 and 1/2 cups almond milk
3 tablespoons arrowroot starch (optional: substitute corn starch)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

For the topping:
More pecan halves (as much as desired)

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1. With a blender, combine the coconut, pecans, and dates until the crust "dough" becomes clumpy and slightly sticky.
2. In an 8x8 glass pan (or a metal pan with parchment paper), press the crust down firmly and uniformly into the pan. Set aside.
3. Next, make the filling by blending the dates, pecans, almond milk, starch, vanilla extract, and sea salt in the blender until smooth.
4. Spread the filling over the crust.
5. Decorate the top of the filling with as many pecan halves as you desire.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
7. Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.
8. Refrigerate for 4 hours minimum, but the longer the better.
9. Slice into squares. Remove the bars gently with a fork and enjoy! Store any extras in an air tight container in a refrigerator, but I doubt you will have many left.

#halahbakes