Popped Grains, Seeds, Nuts & Dark Chocolate Bars

Popped Grains, Seeds, Nuts and Dark Chocolate Bars 

(Makes 12 large bars or 24 small)

Ingredients

½ to 3/4 cup popped amaranth or sorghum or quinoa or a combination of all.
1 cup shredded coconut
¾ cup seeds – hemp, chia, sunflower, sesame, pepitas - any combination
½ cup honey or brown rice syrup
½ cup almond butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ tsp vanilla powder
2 tsp lemon zest
½ cup shelled pistachios, or cashews, macadamias, almonds -or a combination, chopped
½ cup dried cranberries, or whatever dried fruit you have on hand
½ cup dark chocolate – chopped (cold)

Method

Line an 8” x 8” baking tray with paper

Combine popped grains, coconut, seeds and zest in a large bowl to stir. If using Vanilla powder, add that now too. Gently heat honey and almond butter in a small saucepan for 5 mins. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract.

Pour this into the bowl with grains and seeds. Add the dried fruit and nuts. Stir well to combine. Add the chocolate. Press this into the baking tray firmly and uniformly, smoothing out the top.

Now, this is the hard part…..at this point, licking the spoon is the reward!

Put it in the fridge for 4-6 hours until firm!
Remove from baking tray with the baking paper. Cut into bars.