Raw Cacao Goji Energy Bars
Need some quick raw food energy to get moving in the morning? Or a fast raw food afternoon pick me up? These bars are the perfect thing for that. Tasty, sweet and made with super healthy ingredients, they not only satisfy your hunger, they provide easily accessible, high nutrient energy to get or keep you going.
Almonds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds make up the bulk of the recipe. With added goji berries, and cacao nibs, these bars really pack a punch.
We know about the benefits of almonds. They are high in protein, zinc and calcium. Almonds are also a great source of vitamin E magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. But did you know that pumpkin seeds are nutritional power houses? Considered a super food, Pumpkin seeds are full of magnesium, which keeps bones strong, promotes healthy heart function and supports your nervous system’s function, B vitamins, and are packed with protein! They are also a good source of iron, zinc and fiber!
Golden flax seeds contain 27 cancer preventing substances while also giving you a good dose of omega 3’s, which are great in the battle against heart disease. Goji berries are high in protein, amino acids and are packed with antioxidants. Cacao nibs are partially ground cacao beans, which are the beans that chocolate comes from. Cacao is full of antioxidants and trace minerals and will give you a little pick me up, too!
Raw Goji Cacao Energy Bars
MAKES TWO DOZEN 1" X 3" BARS
Energy Bars
- 1 cup almonds, soaked
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked
- 1 cup flax seeds, soaked in 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/3 cup agave (or liquid sweetener of your choice)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup goji berries
- 1/2 cup cacao nibs
- Soak almonds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds for at least 6 hours. Drain almonds and pumpkin seeds.
- Place almonds and pumpkin seeds in food processor. Process until well ground but still chunky.
- Add agave and cinnamon, pulse until well combined.
- Remove from food processor and place large bowl. Add flax seeds, cacao nibs and goji berries, stir.
- Press into a rectangle on non-stick dehydrator sheet. You want these to be 1/2″ thick.
- Dehydrate at 145 for 45 minutes. Reduce heat to 115 and dehydrate for 3 more hours.
- Peel off dehydrator sheet, dehydrate for 2 more hours. At this point, you will remove them from the dehydrator, cut into bars, separate so there is a little space in between each bar and return to dehydrator for 2-3 more hours. You want them dry but not brittle. They should be a little soft.
- Top with raw chocolate.
Raw Chocolate
- 1 cup raw cacao butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/3 cup powdered sucanat (finely ground in coffee grinder)
- 2 tablespoons agave (or liquid sweetener of your choice)
- 7 ounces cacao powder
- Melt cacao butter and coconut oil in dehydrator or over hot water.
- In food processor, combine melted cacao butter, coconut oil and vanilla. Remove 1/2 mixture and set aside.
- Add 1/2 cacao powder and combine. Add sucanant and combine. Add coconut butter that was set aside and agave and combine. Add remaining cacao powder, mix well. It should be quite liquid at this point. It will harden as it cools.
Klaudette wrote on October 6, 2013
I’m curious, why soak, then dehydrate? Do they sprout during the soaking time?
Do u have a recipie for an energy bar that does not require a dehydrator (or nut butter)?
Ken wrote on September 15, 2013
Lizzy, since sucanat sugar (made from can juice) is big replacement for brown sugar but better for you. I’m going to use another product I already have on hand that actually has more micro and macro nutrients than sucanat and that is raw coconut sugar. I’m soaking the nuts right now so we’ll see how it works out in the end.
Kate wrote on August 17, 2013
Can I dehydrate in oven at 170 degrees as that’s the lowest it goes and still be in the raw zone? They look so good!z,z
Susan wrote on August 17, 2013
To stay raw, the food temperature must stay below 115 degrees. 🙂
Meg wrote on July 25, 2013
Just made these and they are delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful recipes with all of us!
Lesley wrote on January 6, 2013
Do these have to be stored in the refrigerator when they’re done? I like to carry protein bars in my purse and find most will go bad if I forget to take them out. Those others weren’t made in the dehydrator. I f these don’t need refrigeration, that would be fantastic.
Stephanie wrote on December 12, 2012
Susan,
My roommate is allergic to nuts. Can you think of anything else to use beside Almonds? Would I soak the substitute as well? I hope you have recommendations for a dehydrator on this site. And btw this recipe sounds amazing! Super Foods! 😉
Lois Doporcyk wrote on December 11, 2012
At which point is the agave added?
Lois Doporcyk wrote on December 9, 2012
Cacoa Butter or Coconut Butter in the Raw Chocolate?
Susan wrote on December 9, 2012
Cacao butter, as is stated in the recipe. 🙂