Sneaky Nutritious Energy Bars

Aha! I have been on a quest to get protein snacks in my children and they have been...shall we say...less than cooperative. Until today! Meet the Energy Bar masquerading as a brownie - this recipe was adapted from one at Elana's Pantry.

Energy Bars

1 cup raw walnuts

1.5 cups almond meal
½ cup flax meal
½ cup unsalted creamy almond butter
½ teaspoon salt (I like sea salt)

½ cup oil (I used canola but you could use your favorite)
4 drops liquid
2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 cup dairy free chocolate chips (try Ghirardelli semi sweet or Guittard semi sweet)

1. Place walnuts, almond meal, flax meal, almond butter and salt in a food processor
2. Pulse until it nuts are chopped
   
3. Mix stevia, agave/honey, and vanilla in your oil
4. Add oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste
5. Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish
6. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens
7. In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously
8. Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens
9. Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve