CheekyChicago

As the weekend wound down and I began to prep our meals for the next week, I was craving a healthy but indulgent snack for that mid-afternoon slump. Since I love oats and coconut, I stopped when I came to YumUniverse’s recipe for Caribbean Coconut Oat Bars. Simple, filling and full of healthy nuts, fresh lime, coconut and oats, I knew I had to add it to my recipe arsenal.

With just a few modifications (I never add salt to my recipes), this is a delicious treat that lasted all of twenty-four hours in our house instead of the intended seven days.

Vegan Coconut Oat Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 organic banana

1/2 cup shredded coconut (plus a bit more for sprinkling)

2 Medjool dates, pitted

1 Tbsp. raw honey (or agave)

Juice of one lime

1 tsp. fresh organic lime zest

1 Tbsp. cold pressed coconut oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. After lime is zested and Medjool dates are pitted, pop all ingredients in a food processor.

3. Pulse until well mixed.

4. Spread mixture on a parchment lined cookie sheet and shape into a rectangle with a spatula.

5. Bake for 30 minutes (or until golden brown) and remove from oven. Slice into bars. You can store in an airtight container on your counter for a week or pop in the fridge for up to two weeks (but they probably will not last that long!). Enjoy!