Chef John's Chocolate Energy Bars

Name: Chef John's Chocolate Energy Bars
Total time: 180
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 2 cups pitted Medjool dates, roughly chopped; 2 cups raw cashews; 1 cup raw or roasted unsalted almonds; 0.75 cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Guittard® Cocoa Rouge); 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted; 0.5 cup unsweetened shredded coconut; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon cold espresso, or more as needed (or water); 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt; 0.5 pinch cayenne pepper

Recipe by John Mitzewich from allrecipes.com

Snack 3 Hr.

Ingredients

12 servings

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2 cups pitted Medjool dates, roughly chopped
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2 cups raw cashews
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1 cup raw or roasted unsalted almonds
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0.75 cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Guittard® Cocoa Rouge)
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2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

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0.5 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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1 tablespoon cold espresso, or more as needed (or water)
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0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
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0.5 pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

Place cashews, almonds, coconut, dates, cocoa, coconut oil, vanilla, cold coffee, cayenne and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off to start. Process about 1 minute; check to ensure mixture is sticky and moist enough to stick together. Add more coffee if needed. Continue to process until mixture becomes a chunky mass.
Line a baking pan with plastic wrap. Scoop mixture into pan. Press down with a spatula until mixture is even. Place a layer of plastic wrap on the surface and smooth again with your hands.
Refrigerate until cold and firm, 2 or 3 hours.
Remove from the pan and unwrap. Cut into bars of your preferred size. Store in a zip top back in the refrigerator.