These bars are a wonderful treat and great to include in lunchboxes; rich and full of chocolaty peppermint flavour. Alternatively, you can also make cookies from the recipe but the bars are fast and easy to create when your pressed for time. Try substituting a few drops of orange essential oil in place of the peppermint essential oil creating a yummy chocolaty orange cookie bar.
TIP You can top the bars/cookies with crushed/chopped peppermint lolly pieces, chocolate chips or chunks, chocolate & mint bar pieces, chopped nut and/or marshmallow pieces.
NOTE To make 2 chia eggs: place 2 tbsp of chia seeds in a small bowl and add in 2 tbsp water, then stir to combine and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before using. You can replace the almond spread with tahini, coconut, or other nut or seed spreads.
Used in this recipe Peppermint Essential Oil.
Notes
Photo taken by Holly Kent.
Ingredients
- Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut sugar or raw organic sugar
- ½ cup maple syrup or honey (to taste)
- ½ cup butter or coconut oil (melted)
- ½ cup almond spread (or other nut/seed spreads)
- 2 eggs or chia egg replacement (see Note)
- 2 – 3 drops peppermint oil (to taste)
- Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour/meal (finely ground almonds)
- 1 cup cacao powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt (to taste)
- ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
- Optional Toppings
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Mint chocolate bar chunks
- Chopped nuts
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a baking tin (21cm x 13cm approx.) with baking paper and set aside. If making cookies line a baking tray with baking paper.
- 2. Place all the wet ingredients in a large bowl or stand mixer. Mix together.
- 3. Add in the dry ingredients and mix by hand (or on low speed) until combined. The dough will become thick and a little difficult to mix.
- 4. To make cookie bars: Transfer the dough into the lined baking tin and spread evenly throughout the tin. Sprinkle some of the Optional Toppings on top before baking. Bake for 15 minutes and then cover loosely with baking paper to continue to bake for 10 – 15 minutes.
- 5. To make cookies: Use a large spoon or ice cream scoop and drop 12 mounds of dough evenly spaced onto the baking tray. Then flatten the cookie dough with your hands into flat cookie shapes. Alternatively, make 24 smaller cookies and bake for a shorter time. Bake for approx. 10 – 15 minutes.
- 6. Allow the cookie bars to cool before cutting and removing from the baking tray. You can cut the bars into 12 or 24 pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
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