No Bake Chewy Carob Squares

January 9, 2011 By Leanne Vogel March 3, 2017

I was in the mood for something sweet today. We’ve been living on soup, casseroles, soup, and more casseroles this week. As much as I love these warming foods this time of year, I was dying for a chewy dessert and a tall glass of almond milk. Thankfully after two tries, and a pair of very sticky hands later, my wish was granted. You all know how much I love cacao spread, cacao cups, and cacao macaroons. But I wanted to try something new, and was looking for a caffeine free alternative [just in case I wanted to indulge in an afternoon nap]. Keeping these requirements in mind, I quickly landed on carob. Cacao vs. Carob

Both are grown in tropical pods, but carob is naturally sweeter and has a stronger bitter taste to it
Both have equal amounts of fats and calories
Cacao is a super-food with much more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than carob
Carob is caffeine free
Carob is more alkalizing to the body

Essentially, cacao is a super-food and will contain a lot more health benefiting nutrients than carob. Having said that however, carob is less acidic, so it really boils down to what your health goals are. For me, it’s about variety so, I say… bring on the alkalizing treat!

No Bake Chewy Carob Squares

Author: Leanne Vogel

Recipe type: Dairy-free, Egg-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free, Refined Sugar-free, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 16-20 bars

Sweet and chewy carob squares packed with coconut oil and crunchy rice.

Ingredients

½ cup coconut oil (look for the extra virgin, cold pressed oil. It should smell like coconut)
1 cup unsweetened carob chips (if you can only find the sweetened variety, try removing the sweetener from the recipe)
½ cup honey or maple syrup
½ teaspoon himalayan rock salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice (Nature’s Path Crispy Rice cereal would work too)
¾ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup Natures Path Rice Puffs (puffed wheat would work too, but it would not be gluten-free)

Instructions

Combine cereals and sunflower seeds in a small bowl and set aside
Boil water in a large soup pot. Once boiled, place a metal bowl over the top of the pot (or double boiler). Place coconut oil in the metal bowl to melt
Once coconut oil is melted, add carob chips and melt
Meanwhile, combine honey, salt, and vanilla extract
Pour honey mixture into metal bowl and stir quickly until combined
Combine cereal mixture with melted carob chips
Press mixture into a 9×9 silicon mat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet
Place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to harden up

Notes

Optional: make into bite sized balls instead of bars. They’re a bit easier to eat, and in a smaller portion.

View Nutritional Information (once on page scroll down)

This entry was tagged: carob, no bake, snack bar