Candy Bars (of the Paleo ilk...)

I honestly can't remember why I get SELF magazine anymore. It's the kind of mag that I've stopped looking at now that I've been to converted to Crossfit and Paleo and given up the Globo Gyms. Seriously, the girls doing 5lb bicep curls and tricep extensions crack me up. I usually flip through it fairly quickly before tossing it in the recycle bin, but this month's issue had an article about Gwyneth Paltrow that caught my eye. She and her nutritionist just published a cookbook full of paleo-ish recipes and they had a couple in the magazine. One in particular caught my eye: "Candy Bars". Now I'm all for Candy Bars. Granted this is definitely still a "treat" but boy are they yummy. Best part - not only did I get to scrape the end of the "batter" out of the food processor bowl, but I also got to lick the remaining melted chocolate out of the metal bowl. Double Yum.
The dough portion has a distinct Maripan taste. It might be more than it should have because I didn't exactly measure the almond extract when I poured it in. Seriously, I got lazy and didn't feel like searching for the 1/2 teaspoon measure when I couldn't immediate find it. I think they still turned out ok.

"candy bars"
from It's all Good by Gwenyth Paltrow and Julia Turshen

1 1/2 Cup raw cashews
1 1/2 cup dates, pitted and roughly chopped
1/2 cup almont butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips (60% or higher)

In a food processor, grind cashews to a fine meal. Add dates, almond butter, syrup, flour, coconut and almond extract; pulse until a sticky dough forms. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or a 9x9 metal baking pan - I found this helped shape the sides better). With a drop of water on hands, press cashew mixture onto parchment, forming a 1-in-thick rectangle. Refrigerate until firm, 6 to 8 hours. Set a stainless steel or glass bowl over a pot of simmering water (water not touching bowl). In bowl, combine chocolate chips and oil, Stir until just melted, 3 to 5 minutes; remove from heat. Pout chocolate mixture over cold cashew mixture; smooth with spatula. Refridgerate until chocolate coating sets, at least 1 hour. Using parchment, lift bar our of baking sheet. Cut into 16-18 rectangles.

Try not to eat them all at once.