Name: Orange Energy Oat Bars
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 31 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 0.5 cup raw pecans; 0.6666666666666666 cup dried apricots; 1 cup rolled oats (Use gluten-free rolled oats if desired.); 0.5 cup almond flour (Use store-bought or make it yourself by adding raw almonds to a food processor and blending into a flour.); 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tbsp orange zest (One orange yields approximately 1 Tbsp of zest.); 1 pinch salt; 1 cup peanut butter (Substitute with any nut butter of choice.); 0.5 cup maple syrup; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 2.6 oz vegan chocolate (For melting and drizzling over the bars. Learn how to melt chocolate here.); 0.25 tsp sea salt

Instructions

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1

Toast the raw pecans (0.5 cup) in a pan over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, until lightly toasted and aromatic. Stir often.
2

Line a 10 x 7 inch (26 x 17 cm) baking dish with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C)*.
3

Add the dried apricots (0.67 cup) and toasted raw pecans (0.5 cup) to a food processor and blitz into small chunks.
4

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, along with the rolled oats (1 cup), almond flour (0.5 cup), ground cinnamon (0.5 tsp), orange zest (1 tbsp) (save a bit for garnish!), and salt (1 pinch). Stir well.
5

Then add the peanut butter (1 cup), maple syrup (0.5 cup), and pure vanilla extract (1 tsp). Mix again.
6

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Press down as firmly as possible, levelling it all out.
7

Bake on the centre rack of the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden. Then let cool for a few minutes before removing from the baking dish to cool completely.
8

Meanwhile, melt the vegan chocolate (2.6 oz) in the microwave or on the stove, using a double boiler. Drizzle it over the bars.
9

Sprinkle on some sea salt (0.25 tsp) and reserved [orange zest]. Cut into 8 squares or about 10 bars, and enjoy!