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Chocolate Espresso Bars

  • Author: Mikyla
  • Prep Time: 25
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Gooey, rich, and heavenly chocolate espresso bars. Naturally sweetened, and gluten-free but, you would never guess because they’re so delicious!


Ingredients

Scale

For Base:

  • 1 1/2 cups gluten-free oat flour
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil melted 
  • 1 cup of dark chocolate
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

For Filling AKA Caramel Sauce:

  • 1 1/2 cups pitted dates 
  • 2 1/3 cups hot water
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp. ground espresso
  • 7 Tbsp. coconut cream
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 Tbsp. nut butter, sunflower butter, or tahini

For Top:

  • Maldon sea salt for sprinkling 

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  2. Bring water to a boil and pour  2 cups over a bowl of dates to soften them. Set aside for 10 minutes. 
  3. Pour the remaining  1/3 cup water into a small bowl and add the ground espresso. Cover with a towel and set aside for 5 minutes so it can steep. 
  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
  5. Combine oat flour,  coconut sugar, baking soda, salt, melted coconut oil, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. 
  6. Measure out 3/4 cup of the mixture and set aside. 
  7. Press the remaining dough firmly into the pan to make the base.
  8. Drain the water from the dates. Blend the dates, vanilla, espresso mix, salt, and coconut cream at high speed until smooth and creamy. 
  9. Spread a layer of date caramel on top of the base. 
  10. Sprinkle dark chocolate over the caramel. 
  11. Cover with the remaining crumble mixture and sprinkle sea salt flakes.
  12. Bake for 30-35 minutes until outside becomes golden brown and inside is soft and gooey. 
  13. Allow to cool, remove from pan, and slice into 9 bars. 
  14. Enjoy!


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Bar
  • Calories: 260
  • Sugar: 22
  • Fat: 12
  • Carbohydrates: 40
  • Protein: 4.2

Keywords: espresso, chocolate, date, caramel