This post is sponsored by Maju Superfoods.
Welcome friends, to a recipe for a delicious dessert/breakfast/snack bar hybrid: Raw Chocolate Moringa Bars.
This is my first recipe in a few weeks. October was a crazy month for me. I was constantly on the go, traveling almost every single weekend. My trips ranged from a work conference in Vancouver, to my grandma’s 90th birthday in Florida, to visiting family in Milwaulkee, and partying with friends in NYC. Although, I really enjoyed all the trips I took, I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to just relax in my own bed and cook more healthy food again. Oh, and I guess cuddle with my cat, he’s kind of cute and easy to miss too.
But, really what I am most happy about with regards to being back home is the ability to cook and eat what I want. There is that continuous struggle of finding healthy options while you are on-the-go and having to think a lot about your food choices which makes maintaining a healthy lifestyle tough. But I think these Raw Chocolate Moringa Bars may be one solution to that struggle.These bars can be stored in the freezer and eaten on-the-go for a healthy breakfast, snack, or a dessert!
These bars are made with a Maju Superfood Moringa Powder (use discount code LEANGREEN for 10% off). Moringa is a plant that has been consumed for its health benefits for thousands of years. The plant originates in South America and the Himalayan foothills. The leaves of this plant are dried and sold in a powder form. Moringa is so nutritious that it is considered by many to be a superfood.
According to an article by Healthline, Moringa:
- Contains lots of Vitamins C, B6, Protein, Riboflavin, and Iron
- Is rich in Antioxidants, including quercetin and chlorogenic acid
- May reduce blood sugar levels
- May reduce inflammation
- Can lower chloresterol in the blood (which could lead to reduced risk of heart disease)
- May protect against arsenic toxicity (but this has only been tested in animals)
I like to use Maju Moringa Powder because it is organic and responsibly sourced from a small farm in Ecuador. The taste is refreshing and has a similar earthy green flavor as matcha. Their powder has a nice green color unlike many of the other moringa powders sold on the market that can be more of a brownish-green, demonstrating that Maju is of the freshest quality.
Regardless of their healthy ingredients, these Raw Chocolate Moringa Bars taste delicious. I am calling them “chocolate” bars because the base contains cacao and gives off a slightly chocolatey taste. But don’t be fooled by the name, these bars do not contain any chocolate.
The moringa layer is SUPER creamy and decadent which just completely melts when it hits your mouth. The creaminess is balanced out perfectly with the nutty chocolatey layer beneath making this bar flat out amazing. So do your busy self a favor and check out the recipe below.
Don’t have moringa? Use my code LEANGREEN for 10% off Maju’s Moringa Powder HERE.
Raw Chocolate Moringa Bars
Ingredients
Chocolate Crust Layer
- 3/4 cup Almonds
- 3/4 cup Walnuts
- 1 1/2 cups Medjool Dates pits removed
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons Cacao Powder
- Pinch of Salt
Moringa Layer
- 2 cups cashews soaked for at least 2-3 hours prior
- 3/4 cup Coconut Cream the solid part of a chilled 13.5 oz can
- 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 2 Tablespoons Moringa Powder
- Moringa Powder for dusting
- Raspberries to top
Instructions
Chocolate Crust Layer
- Place all ingredients into a food processor
- Pulse and blend until the mixture is finely ground and sticks together
- Place a layer of parchment paper down in a 13" x 9" baking pan
- Spread the crust layer on top of the parchment paper until it evenly covers the entire bottom of the pan
- Place in the freezer while making the moringa layer
Moringa Layer
- Soak 2 cups of cashews in water at room temperature for at least 2-3 hours prior
- Place a 13.5 oz can of full fat coconut milk in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior (the liquid will separate from the white solid cream)
- Place the cashews, the coconut cream from the 13.5 oz can, coconut oil, maple syrup, and moringa powder in a high-speed blender
- Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy
- Take the 13" x 9" baking pan out of the freezer and pour the moringa layer mixture on top of the crust layer
- Spread evenly across the crust
- Return the pan to the freezer for at least another 30 minutes
- Remove and top with some more moringa powder using a sifter or a fine mesh strainer
- Cut into squares and top with raspberries
- Serve and enjoy!
Allie S
Hi, what if I can’t use cashew nuts, can I replace them with anything else?
leangreennutritionfiend
Hi Allie, thanks for your comment. If you can’t use cashews, but can use other nuts, I would consider replacing with almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts. They won’t give the same creamy texture as cashews or mild taste, but they should work! And if you cant do other nuts, I would replace with soaked pumpkin seeds or soaked sunflower seeds or tahini. I also heard silken tofu could be a good substitute. If you use nuts/seeds, I would use the same amount of cashews listed. If you use a tahini or nut butter, only put half the amount that the recipe calls for in cashews. Hope this helps! And please let me know how it goes with your substitution 🙂