Crunchy Pumpkin Vitality Bar

This Bar is amazing for those cravings for something crunchy and sweet!

I came up with the recipe one Sunday afternoon when I fancied something in-between a rich doughy cake and a crunchy rice-cake, something half way between a dessert and a snack… and I must say I was very happy with the result! :)

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The delicious crunchy pumpkin seeds are the star player – providing zinc
–  an essential mineral for immunity, hormones, repair and growth. This is an excellent bar for both genders, but as men need more zinc – this is extra great for them!

The Ingredients

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup goji berries
  • 1/2 cup dates
  • 2 tbs chia seeds [pre-soaked in 1 tbs water for 5 minutes]
  • 1 tbs coconut oil
  • 1 tbs sunflower seeds
  • 1/8 tsp good salt

For the Chocolate Frosting:

  • 4 tbs cacao butter
  • 3 tbs almond meal or ground up cashews or sunflower seeds
  • 1.5 tbs organic (raw) honey
  • tiny pinch salt
  • Optional: 3 drops organic vanilla essence

The Process

  1. Place all the ingredients into the Processor with an S-blade.
  2. Pulse until evenly broken up and process until a sticky crunchy dough is formed. Be careful not to over process leaving little crunchy pieces of pumpkin seeds and goji berries for that delicious crunch!
  3. Transfer the crunchy mixture into a Tupperware container or a deep tray/dish of your choice. Firm it into the base of the container strongly with a spoon, pressing it in, so that the ‘dough’ holds together when you cut it into individual bars later.
  4. Place into the refrigerator to set for at least 15 minutes.
  5. Prepare the chocolate frosting: fill a large bowl or pot with a small amount of hot water, place a smaller bowl containing cacao butter into the first bowl and keep stirring the cacao until it melts.
  6. Mix into the melted cacao butter all the remaining ingredients.
  7. Pour the frosting over the crunchy bar base and place into the fridge for 30 minutes to set.
  8. Slice the now set dough into smaller bars, store as is or lined with parchment paper in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in a dry container outside the fridge for a few days.
    Can be frozen in an air-tight container for a few months.
  9. Bring out to the gym, as a snack on your power walks or have it with a cup of herbal tea as a treat. Enjoy! :)