So in this whole weight loss and healthier living journey I have encountered a few roadblocks. One being my sweet tooth, and two would be my insatiable need to snack between lunch and dinner. Instead of making the now shameful walk to my work’s vending machine for my 3 p.m. Oreo pack, I decided to come up with a much more healthy alternative that meets my need for a little extra sweetness (and chocolate). This recipe is easy and delicious. It uses ingredients that are readily available to you and yields a large enough batch to act as snacking material for two people for one week (or one person, I don’t judge). They are refined sugar-free, gluten free (use gf oats if gf), and packed with healthy carbs that will carry you through that dreaded afternoon fog. Side note, if you make this, taste the date mixture...it is orgasmicly good. It would act as a great replacement for caramel, should you ever need a vegan alternative. Happy snacking everyone!
P.S. Excuse crappy photos, this is a learning process lol.
Ingredients
3 ⅓ cups of oats
1 cup of dates
⅓ cup of maple syrup
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 cup of dairy free chocolate chips (optional)*
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
Place your dates, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and cinnamon into your plender. Blend it on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes or until you achieve a smooth consistency.
Place your oats on a pan lined with parchment paper or a sil pad to prevent sticking. Toast for 10 to 13 minutes, moving them around half way through the cooking time.
Once the oats are toasted (they should be light golden brown) allow them to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before placing the oats, along with your date mixture, into a bowl and mixing together.
If you wish, add the one cup of chocolate chips (or chunks in my case) and mix one more time.
Spread onto a rectangular dish that has been lined with clear plastic wrap. Put one more layer of plastic wrap over the granola mixture and press down with your hand, or some other flat surface (I used a smaller pan to press it down well).
Let it set in your fridge for 30 minutes. Remove top film of plastic wrap and cut into desired shape and size. Store in an air-tight container for up to one week in the fridge.
*Can also be replace with the same amount of dried fruits or nuts, if you'd prefer.
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