Gluten Free Chocolate Almond Bars with Pomegranate {Vegan Friendly}

Gluten Free Chocolate Almond Bars with Pomegranate! Oh heavens yes! A Vegan friendly and Gluten Free Chocolate Bar you can have for breakfast, snack, or dessert!  Packed with Antioxidants (cocoa, almonds, pomegranate) and bursting with flavor. Healthy yet satisfying. Yes, I like to exaggerate but you get my point. Did I mention it’s grain free? YUM! 

I didn’t get out much this weekend. I’m assuming many other people didn’t either?  Blizzard 2016 in full force! Okay, Austin wasn’t really that cold. 6OF … BRRRRR! The Cedar allergies, on the other hand, were like a blizzard of pollen! Which means I was a total homebody and stayed inside. I watched two movies.. maybe three. That’s productivity ya’ll! Right? That being said, I didn’t make it to the store and the only thing left to eat this morning was a pan of gluten free chocolate goodness. I’m okay with that. Yep, Monday’s are saved by chocolate yet again. Gluten free chocolate pomegranate almond bars to be exact. I like to specify.

It’s funny. I’m not really a chocolate person either. You all know I love SAVORY and spicy (especially in cheese form). But during the winter, that all changes. It’s like the body knows it needs something more decadent to survive the winds or cold! LOL! Can you blame it?

So I made these gluten free chocolate almond bars with pomegranate. Similar prep and similar macronutrients as these paleo(is) mango almond bars. Just different seasonal ingredients. Instead of using mango, I used pomegranate. And  I decided these gluten free chocolate bars would be better served warm, so I baked them. Oh my, the tart bursts of pomegranate baked with chocolate totally takes these bars to a whole new level.  I mean like a “I’m gonna brighten your day” kind of level! You get that right?

Speaking of brightening your day, this little tidbit will make you smile! Did you know that pomegranates (in many cultures) are a symbol of health, fertility, and eternal life. I’m not ready for the fertility part quite yet. Haha, no baby Cotters here. But I sure would like some eternal life and health.

I’m thinking this eternal health is due to the fact that Pomegranates are the most POWERFUL anti-oxidant of all fruit. And apparently they “may have benefits to protect against depression and osteoporosis.” So yes, you should eat them religiously during winter to fight SAD (seasonal affective disorder).  And it doesn’t hurt to pair it with more anti-oxidant rich chocolate either. Excuse me a minute while I go invest stock in pomegranates. Haha.You get my point. This –>  gluten free chocolate almond bars with pomegranate… they can do wonders. Except get me to the store. Ugh, I might another bar to two to get me there.

Cotter Crunch

Yields 9-11

Gluten Free Chocolate Almond Bars with Pomegranate {Vegan Friendly}

15 minPrep Time

25 minCook Time

40 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

• 3 cups raw almonds
• 2/3 cup pomegranate seeds (clean and dried) Save some for topping.
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup vanilla pea protein powder or egg white protein/powder if you are paleo (see notes below for other options)
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (use 1/2 cup if you want sweeter)
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup hot water (purified)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grind up your almonds in food processor or vitamix
3. Next add in the coconut and almost all of your pomegranate and grind again. Save a small handful of pomegranate seeds for later.
4. Pour into a large bowl and mix in cocoa powder and pea protein or egg white protein (this is for volume).
5. In a separate small mixing bowl. combine your honey or maple syrup, 1/2 cup of hot water, and vanilla. Stir all together and add to your dry ingredients..
6. Add in your vanilla and Sea salt.
7. I usually test batter here to see if it's sweet enough.
8. If they batter gets to thick, just add more hot water or even a little honey. If it's too wet, add more powder or a flour of choice (such as coconut or peanut flour)
9. Mix well with hands then press into a lined baking dish. Sprinkle the rest of your pomegranate seeds on top.
10. Bake at 350F for 25- 30 minutes. Check at 25 minutes just in case your oven bakes fast.
11. Makes anywhere between 9-12 bars. You choose size!

Recipe Type: snack, dessert, bar

Notes

If you can't find pea protein egg white protein (I used Jay Robbs), you can use chia flour, 100% whey protein isolate, or Brown Rice Protein. But the texture and the baking time will be a little different, so adjust accordingly.

if you can't find egg white powder or egg white protein, you can use meringue powder but it will have more sugar. Just FYI

Serving size: 1 Calories: 250 Fat: 18 Saturated fat: 3 Carbohydrates: 15 Sugar: 7 Fiber: 5 Protein: 10

6.4

http://www.cottercrunch.com/gluten-free-chocolate-almond-bars-with-pomegranate/

What you’ll Need to MAKE this RECIPE :

So ….. friends, chocolate lovers, health fanatics, paleo(is) peeps, vegan folk, snack eaters, dessert connoisseurs.–>

 I got you covered this week! Gluten free chocolate pomegranate almond bars : Make them, freeze them, eat them, share them, devour them, repeat.

And have a GREAT Monday! Stay warm!

Grain Free Chocolate Almond Bars with Pomegranate! #Vegan friendly #Healthy yet satisfying.
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Are you going to get that chocolate or pomegranate consumption today? I’ll just pretend you said yes!

NOTES -I’m working on a few more organized layouts and designs for cottercrunch, so bear   with me until we get it all finished this week. 

p.s wish me luck, I’m gonna try adding eggs back into my diet. Pray it’s all good! Ok?

p.p.s It only took me 6 years, but guess what? I now have @cottercrunch handle on EVERYTHING social media. So update instagram and twitter.

*There are a few affiliate links within this post to help support Cotter Crunch site. Thanks so much!

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