Being a food blogger has taught me a heckuva lot about myself.
Like the fact that I’m super impatient. I burn my face off at least twice a week prematurely opening the oven to check on muffins/sweet potatoes/almond joy snack bars that I very well know are not nearly done.
I ate half of these bars before it was sunny enough to photograph them. Like, I had to use bars that were the shape of awkward blobs because I ate all the perfect square ones like a damn fool.
I’ve learned that being around food all the time has pushed me away from food a wee bit. I was always surprised to hear that chefs didn’t come home at night and whip up yumtastical five course dinners with perfect wine pairings…BUT OF COURSE THEY DON’T.
I can’t lie…being around food all day long and then coming home and writing about it some more has definitely encouraged me to start eating out more. Don’t worry, I’m still obsessed with food. You just may see me instagramming Northstar salads and Chipotle veggie burrito bowls a little more than you’re used to. Eeeeek!
Sorry I’m not sorry.
I’ve learned that food photography is a beast of its own. I think it’s the hardest part of blogging. I could post the most delicious cookies you’ve ever laid mouth on but unless the pictures are top notch, no one really cares. Isn’t that kind of weird?
Can’t we just trust me when I say the cookies taste like a bite of heaven? Must the pictures reflect that every.single.time? Yes, yes they must. We live in a society where everyone eats with their eyes. And their iPhones. Perhaps even more than their mouths.
I’ve learned that I’m addicted to dark chocolate. And it’s no small addiction. I literally slammed half the bag of Blue Diamond dark chocolate almonds in less than three minutes when they arrived at my door. I tore open the package like a crazy person!!!
These almonds are…. everything. Stuffed into these almond joy snack bars, they’re like everything times seven. I posted a really similar version a looooong time ago (speaking of ugly pictures, lolz) and I totally forgot about how fantastical they are. While they’re just sweet enough to fall into the snack category, you could totally double up on the chocolate chippers and call them dessert.
You really can’t go wrong with dark chocolate almonds and coconut. Except when you have to photograph them on a less than sunny Sunday afternoon.
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Packed with dark chocolate almonds, flaked coconut, and oats, these almond joy snack bars make the perfect nutritious treat.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water
- 6 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup almond meal
- 3 tbsp cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- 1/3 cup Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Almonds, chopped
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8in baking dish with parchment paper.
- Place flax and water in a small bowl, stirring to combine. Set aside.
- Pit dates and place in a small bowl. Cover with hot water and set aside.
- Meanwhile, place oats, almond meal, cacao, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips, coconut, and almonds in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Drain dates. Place them in a blender or food processor (I used my nutribullet) along with the maple syrup, vanilla extract, almond extract, and flax mixture. Blend until smooth.
- Pour wet mixture into dry mixture, stirring to combine. Dump mixture into pan and press evenly into all four corners. I used a fork to make sure it was really pressed down!
- Bake for 12 minutes. Allow bars to cool completely before cutting into 12-16 bars (or else they’ll fall apart!)
[Tweet ” Get your snack on! Almond Joy Snack Bars via @TheHummusapien @BlueDiamond #ad #vegan”]
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Hummusapien!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
These look amazing!!! And I don’t blame you about eating out. If I still lived in Columbus I would try to go to Northstar every day, haha. Gimme that veggie burger!
Dietitian Jess says
Food photography is definitely my biggest blogger weakness- one day I will get a nice camera and not use my iphone…. but it sucks to have delicious recipes overlooked if the pics are less than perfect. These look and sound delicious- ignore the haters, haha.
Kate says
Yes! I love the coconut + chocolate combo. I wonder if she shredded coconut will work, because I want to make these like… today. We will see.
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
I’ve been seeing these dark chocolate almonds everywhere! I need to get my hands on them asap! And these bars sound amazing!
CakePants says
Almond Joys are one of my favorites, so I’m glad to see a recipe that will allow me to enjoy those flavors but whipped up into a healthier end product! Btw, I do the exact same thing with the oven and roasting sweet potatoes. Why?!
Megan @ Straight From The Jar says
Impatient is my middle name when it comes to cooking/baking/anything that involves food. I’ve totally eaten things that weren’t ready to come out of the oven because I couldn’t handle waiting for them to finish let alone letting them cool. Ugh. These snack bars are going to be another one of those things!
Angela says
I need to make these ASAP! Almond Joys are literally my favorite candy, and these snack bars look amazing; plus, I have most of the ingredients on hand which is always a bonus!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Those dark chocolate almonds are caraaaazy addicting! Much like I’m sure these bars are too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Patience with cooking and food? Yea, no, I have NONE! Haha!
Beverley @ sweaty&fit says
im with you on the impatience! i am the worst when it comes to anything food related especially if its baking something super delicious. i think the bars still turned out great in the photos though, despite eating all the perfect squares!!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
Those almonds really are everything and I bet they are AMAZING in these bars. I want to put them in my mouth so bad! <twss :)
Really though, I share your same sentiments with food blogging. I am SO impatient. And the food photography part is much harder than I anticipated. I get anxiety about it and then I don't want to do it at all. And then the writing is hard for me too because I'm usually so stressed and tired from trying to keep up with it on top of my FT job that all I want to do is say, "here. it's good. bye." But at the end of the day, I'm addicted to it so I keep coming back. I think it's mainly because I get to be friends with lovelies like you. :)
Shannon says
Gosh why is food photography so darn hard? I really need to work on that!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
I can totally see why you’d need a break from the kitchen every once in a while. And these snack bars sound yummy. Send some my way! :) Happy Monday, Alexis!
Kelly @ Eat the Gains says
I feel ya on the food photography part, it’s really the hardest part. These bars look amazing!
Alexis says
Thanks lady! It’s definitely tough, but once you get a good picture it’s the best feeling ever!!
She Rocks Fitness says
I totally get ALL of this…being around food all the time and the last thing you want to do is cook…making sure you’re taking good photos all the time. The food photography is a whole other animal, but you’re so good at it! I applaud you and other food bloggers for your attention to these photos. You ROCK! xoxo
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
This is too funny because I had the same issue with the bar recipe I just posted. I kept eating the pretty middle bars while I waited for sun and then I had to work with the outer bars! Uggh someday I’ll learn.
And these bars? Totally my jam. Chocolate+coconut can do no wrong!
Rebecca Lwin says
You made me lol (again!) because I SO relate on the pix thing… yup I wish I could just post the amazing recipes and have everyone just BELIVE me that they are amazing, ha! ;) Your photography is seriously good, every time, and if you hadn’t said anything I would never have known they weren’t the perfect middle bars! I can’t wait to get my hands on some dark choco almonds (9 days!!!) and make these awesome bars. Love love love the Almond Joy combo!! xxx
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Yes to ALL. Cereal for dinner is a regular thing around these parts just because I honestly can’t be bothered to whip up anything even remotely more fancy. Or sometimes I just end up taste testing my way through dinner, so it ends up being a bunch of muffins/bars/bites/etc. And the photography. Oh.man. Don’t even get me started.
Julia says
The photogs are the hardest part about blogging, ain’t dat the truf! I’d say you hit homeruns onyour photos, m’lady…my mouth waters each and every time you post a recipe. Like right now, I’m wishing I could eat this whole batch of “snack” bars as a legit meal. WANT!
Real Food with Dana says
Twins! I posted a really similar no-bake almond joys recipe on my blog 2 weeks ago! And omg I feel you there – totally struggle with eating half the batch before I take pics! Always end up using weird shaped pieces, haha! Especially when the recipe is so good you just can’t resist…
Courtney says
Hello! Can you suggest a way to substitute for the chocolate almonds, which are not a thing in Northern Ontario, Canada? Love th recipe idea, but could use a little help! Thanks so much!