Hands out of the cookie jar! There’s a healthy solution to your sugar cravings and it’s in the form of these irresistible Choc-Nut Energy Bars!

INGREDIENTS: Makes 24

200g cashew nuts
150g pecan nut halves
75g gluten-free porridge oats
100g Waitrose seed, berry & goji berry mix
9 pitted Medjool dates (about 180g), chopped
100g peanut butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1⁄2 tsp fine salt

CHOCOLATE TOPPING

100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
2 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD

Put the nuts, oats and seed and berry mix in a food processor and whizz to a chunky mixture. Add the remaining bar ingredients; whizz again until just combined. Transfer to a deep 20cm x 30cm tray lined with baking parchment and press into an even layer with the back of a spoon. Chill while you make the topping.

For the topping, break the chocolate into small pieces and melt with the coconut oil in a heatproof bowl, either in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, beat in the remaining ingredients until smooth.

Pour the chocolate over the nut mixture and spread with the back of a spoon until you have an even coating. Return to the fridge to set for about 1 hour, then cut into 24 squares. The bars can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose

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