Cinnamon Orange Energy Bars with Orange White Cacao Frosting
I am alway amazed at the difference in people’s body types, and their ability to burn or store their calories. I store, my sweetie burns. Maybe it is because he runs (fast) over 16 miles a week and throws in 3 weight workouts on top of it. But even if he didn’t, I can guarantee that if we ate the same amount, I would put on weight and he would maintain.
Part of that is the difference between men and woman but part is just simply biological. I am what is referred to in the horse world as “an easy keeper” meaning I don’t need many calories to sustain my weight.
When we are both eating high raw, my guy will start to drop weight. I have to work to get enough calories on his plate. And being vegan, when eating out for business lunches, if he is at a restaurant that doesn’t have vegan options, he ends up with a salad that just isn’t enough.
Yesterday, I decided that it was time to make him some super healthy energy bars because I can’t bare to have him eat any that have processed ingredients. I whipped up some almond butter, and got to work on making a delicious, protein-filled, calorie packed bar. Nuts, seeds, raw oats, and some lovely orange and cinnamon to top it off, these bars are full of nutritional powerhouse stars!
You can eat them as is or frost them with the lovely orange white chocolate glaze. I love them with the topping! There are quite a few ingredients but believe me, these go together very quickly! Pretty much dump and stir.
Each bar (unfrosted) has approximately 184 calories, with 6 grams of protein, 17 grams of carbs and 11 grams of fat. Low fat they are not, high energy, they are! Eliminating the coconut oil will reduce the fat by about 2 grams per serving.
Equipment needed:
Cinnamon Orange Energy Bars with Orange White Cacao Frosting
MAKES 28, 2x4-inch BARS
Bars
- 1 cup almond butter
- 6 dates, soaked and rinsed
- 1/4 cup date water (from soaking dates)
- 1/4 cup coconut butter, softened
- 1 orange, juice and zest from
- 3 tablespoons raw, organic agave nectar or other liquid sweetener (optional)
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
- 1/2 cup hemp seeds
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup raisins
- 3 cup raw oat flakes
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- Combine the almond butter, coconut butter, dates and date water in a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend or process until smooth.
- Remove to large bowl and stir in coconut oil, orange juice, orange zest and liquid sweetener. Stir.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Roll out mixture between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1/4″ thick. Remove to drying racks and place in oven (no heat!) overnight to dry. You can also leave them out on the counter but I have dogs.
- Frost with White Cacao Orange Glaze if desired.
Orange White Cacao Glaze
- 1/2 cup raw cacao butter
(not coconut butter) - 2 tablespoons raw, organic agave or liquid sweetener of choice
- zest from one orange (about 2 tablespoons)
- Melt cacao butter in dehydrator or very carefully over water stove top.
- Stir in agave and orange zest.
- This part can be a little tricky. Cool the liquid mixture over ice water until it barely starts to set on the edge. Start whisking and it will thicken up before your very eyes.
- Once it gets to a frosting consistency, spread quickly on bars. If it gets too hard, just gently warm again. It will harden beautifully once on the bars.
Lisa Reynoso wrote on August 9, 2013
I think your husband is relates to mine. He has a high metabolism, and even though he hasn’t been actually exercising (unless you count extensive yard work on our country acre), he needs more calories than I do even when I’m burning over 300 in my half-hour exercise routine! If he doesnt get enough, he drops weight, and he is not the kind of person who will overeat–he simply cannot. I, on the other hand, must watch my calories if I want to lose.
Btw, to the lady who cannot have oats, what about quinoa flakes? Quinoa is not a grain.
Marianne wrote on July 17, 2013
Hi Susan. Just came across your great website. Do you think rather than drying these overnight on ‘drying racks’ it could be popped in a food dehydrator for a short time? Probably a ‘dumb’ question, but I am new to raw recipes and my food dehydrator just arrived yesterday. thanks
Susan wrote on July 18, 2013
Yes, they can be dehydrated, too!
dilia wrote on June 9, 2013
hi can you use regular oats instead of raw oats? these raw oats are new to me we don’t have them in my country. gonna make this today and just want to confirm if the regular oats are fine since that’s all we got and i don’t want to use all this yum ingredients and it not being ok to use it. thanks
Susan wrote on June 9, 2013
If you don’t mind that it isn’t raw…that would be fine.
carmen wrote on May 17, 2013
Hello Susan, This recipe looks wonderfully easy to make. What would you recommend as an alternative to raw cocoa butter? I’m not sure i can find this locally without having to order online. I appreciate your help. ~kindly, carmen
Foods4Health wrote on May 10, 2013
Have just started looking into vegan diets and vegan recipes as I have many friends who have begun a vegan diet or have been on it for a while. I LOVE these ingredients. Healthy, nutritious, and tasty! Can’t wait to try these and even pass them along to my fellow raw eaters. So glad I found your site and look forward to learning more and getting new recipes. Thanks again :).
Amber wrote on May 9, 2013
Well I agree that we all have different body types and store/burn calories differently. But I am a woman and built just like your husband. Tall, lean, can eat like a horse and I’ve always been thin (and I don’t exercise). It’s just how I am built. My daughter is the same way, as is my dad and brother. Genetics baby! I think it all just depends on the person, no matter if you’re a man or woman, we are all build different and there is such a range. 🙂
Loving these bars! Just gorgeous. I thought the bars were great, then you have the frosting…be still my beating heart. Just lovely. Pinning for another day…(soon)! 😉 Thank you for another great recipe. LOVE your blog.
Tami wrote on May 9, 2013
This was really good! I subbed organic orange extract for the zest! Thanks so much for the great recipe!!!
Carmen wrote on May 8, 2013
Just returning to a raw diet and I found your site! This recipe looks amazing.
Ginny wrote on May 6, 2013
I made ’em and my family loved them! I went ahead and used the coconut butter since that’s what I had and they were yummy! Also added sunflower seeds instead of hemp. Not as white and pretty as yours but still wonderful.