Ingredients:
2 cups pitted dates
1 cup walnuts
3 Tbs raw cocoa powder
1-2 Tbs water

Method:
Blend the dates in a food processor until they are pulverized and start to stick together. Add the walnuts and continue blending until the dough starts to stick to itself. Add water as necessary if your ingredients are too dry to clump. Lastly add the cocoa powder and continue blending until it’s mixed in. Dump the processed ingredients onto a piece of parchment paper. With your hands, clump them together into a square or rectangle. Freeze the dough for 5-10 minutes until it’s firm and cut it into even sized squares. Store in the refrigerator for freshness.

Makes 8 squares.

Recipe by The Wannabe Chef.

Ingredients:
2 cups pitted dates, loosely packed
1/2 cup peanuts (or use almonds)
2 Tbs peanut butter (or use almond butter)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup cacao nibs

Method:
Combine the dates and nuts in a food processor and blend on high until the ingredients start to form a paste. Add in the nut butter and salt and continue blending until a dough begins to form. Add teaspoons full of water or juice if necessary to make a sticky consistency. Lastly, add in the cacao nibs and pulse a few times. Line a loaf or baking pan with plastic wrap. Drop the dough on top of the plastic wrap and press the dough into a square or rectangle about 2 cm thick. Cut into bars or squares. Wrap individually and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Makes about  6 bars.

Recipe by The Wannabe Chef.

Ingredients:
2 cups pitted dates
3/4 cup hazelnuts
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup cacao nibs

Method:
In a food processor, blend the dates until they clump together and form a sticky dough ball. Add the hazelnuts and salt into the food processor and pulse until the nuts are broken into a coarse flour. Transfer all the contents of the food processor into a large bowl with the cacao nibs and massage by hand until the hazelnut pieces and cacao nibs are completely mixed into the dates. Form the dough into equal-sized bars, squares, or balls. Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

Recipe by The Wannabe Chef.

Ingredients: 
2 cups hazelnuts
1 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup raw cocoa powder
1/4 cup maple syrup

Method:
Pulse the hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground into a flour. Add in the dates, cocoa powder, and maple syrup and process until it forms into a thick dough that sticks together. 

Lay the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper and roll to about 3/4-inch thickness. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into either 8 or 10 equal sized rectangles. 

If there’s excess dough you can form it into a ball, roll it out, and cut again.

Ingredients for the Frosting:
1 medium avocado
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup raw cocoa powder
Crushed hazelnuts for garnish

Method:
Make the frosting by blending together the maple syrup, cocoa powder, and the meat from the avocado until it’s uniform in color and texture. Taste it and adjust the sweetness if need be. Spread about 2 tablespoons of frosting over half of the cakes. Layer with another slice and spread an equal amount of frosting on top of that piece. Garnish with crushed hazelnuts.

Makes 5 2×3 inch frosted double squares.

Recipe by The Wannabe Chef.

Ingredients:
1 cup dates, tightly packed, preferably medjool
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Pinch sea salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
3/4 cup chopped soaked nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia)
1/4 cup dried fruit (raisins, cherries, cranberries, blueberries)

Method:
Place the dates in a food processor and process on high speed for 10 seconds. Add the coconut oil, agave nectar, cardamom, cinnamon, sea salt and vanilla and process again for 10 to 20 seconds or until the mixture is thoroughly combined and the consistency of marzipan. Add the cacao powder and process again for another 10 seconds.

Transfer to a mixing bowl, add the chopped nuts and dried fruit and mix well. Use an ice cream scoop with a release lever, or a spoon, to scoop out your desired size of bonbon onto a parchment paper lined plate or tray. Chill for at least 30 minutes. 

Soak time for nuts: 1 hour

Ingredients:
250g walnuts
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (or 1/2 tsp alcohol free vanilla extract)
1 cup raw cacao powder 
1/8 tsp sea salt
250g pitted soft dates (such as Medjool)
1 Tbs or to taste raw honey (or vegan: maple syrup)

Method:
Place walnuts and vanilla in a food processor and blend until the nuts are finely ground. Add cacao and sea salt and process until everything is evenly combined. With the motor running, drop dates one by one through the feed tube until the mixture comes together. The mixture will be fluffy but should hold together when pressed. Taste and see if you need to add any honey/maple syrup, and then pulse until everything is well mixed. 

Transfer the mixture into an 20x20 cm pan, and press down lightly. Refrigerate for at least half an hour before cutting. Store in the fridge to preserve. You can eat these cold, or allow them to come to room temperature.

Recipe by Cook me Healthy.