In the warmer months, I’m always looking for easy, throw-together meals that are more about “assembling” than actual cooking. Smoothies are great, of course, but in looking to change things uplittle I found these amazing breakfast bars. I know they look like candy, but they’re actually protein-packed, whole grain and totally capable of being a breakfast food. (* If you remember, I posted these to instagram a few weeks ago and I promised I'd post it) You could always omit the chocolate part, but I believe there’s nothing wrong with just a hint of decadence at breakfast. Not only are they completely addicting, but because they can double as a sweet treat and feed a crowd.
Puffed Brown Rice Bars with Tahini & Bittersweet Chocolate (gluten-free, vegan) Makes 18 bars - Inspired by Gk stores
- 9 medjool dates, pitted and mashed
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/2 cup peanut butter(or almond butter!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
- 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup almond meal (I even use my leftover almond pulp, that I dehydrate at 200 until golden brown - works great for this recipe)
- 1 cup puffed brown rice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Generous pinch of sea salt
- 3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
Using a fork, mash the dates on a plate into a thick paste. It’s ok if there’s a few chunky bits, but make sure the dates are generally broken down. Add to a large mixing bowl with tahini, peanut butter, vanilla, and coconut oil. Using a fork or whisk, mix ingredients until well combined.
Add sunflower seeds, almond meal, puffed brown rice and cinnamon. Add a generous pinch of sea salt and mix together until ingredients form a thick, cohesive batter.
Line a square dish, 8 or 9 inch is best, with parchment paper then add mixture in. Using the heel of your palm, flatten until it’s in one even layer.
Double broil the chocolate*. Once all chocolate has melted, spoon over the prepared bars, either coating entirely or in a zig zag shape. Add another pinch of sea salt over top, then add to the fridge to set for 1 hour. Cut into 18 bars and serve. You can store these in the fridge for a week or store in the freezer as a treat.
*Add a heat-safe (glass) bowl fitted over a saucepan with 2-3 inches of water. Make sure the water does not touch the bowl. Add chocolate to the bowl and bring to a rolling simmer, stirring chocolate until it melts completely. You can also melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate melts completely.
