Earlier this year our family traveled to New Zealand. Shortly after we landed we ate dinner with some friends who had moved there a few years ago. For dessert, they served us these yummy bars. They have a smooth texture and just the right amount of sweetness without any added sugar. I don't eat sugar (it makes me sick) and it meant a lot that my friend remembered and found a dessert I could eat. These bars taste so good it's hard to believe they are made with only healthy ingredients. They have lots of protein, fiber and some healthy fats. The texture is like a blend between cake, brownie and fudge. The original recipe was in grams instead of cups, so we had to figure out those measurements. I kept the original measurements in case you like to weigh your food.
Gather the ingredients.
Remove the pits and chop the dates.
To a blender, add the beans, vanilla, eggs and water and blend until smooth. Add the dates and blend. After many tries, we found using a mixer or hand mixer did not mash up the beans. The blender works so much better.
At this point the mixture will be too thick to continue using the blender. Use a KitchenAid, hand mixer or mix by hand in a bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients except the blueberries and mix.
Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the blueberries over the top and then gently press them into the top of the bars. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and cut into bars. This is a picture of the cooked bars.
Healthy Chocolate and Blueberry Bars1 (15.5 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp vanilla
4 large eggs
1 Tbsp water
15 large dates, pitted and diced
Pinch of salt
2/3 cup (150 g) coconut oil
3/4 cup (60 g) cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup (150 g) fresh blueberries
InstructionsPreheat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square baking dish. To a
blender, add the beans, vanilla, eggs and water and blend until smooth. Add the dates and blend. At this point the mixture is too thick to mix in a blender, so to finish mixing the ingredients use a
stand mixer or hand mixer. Pour the contents of the blender into the bowl for the stand mixer or a medium sized bowl. Add the remaining ingredients except the blueberries and mix. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the blueberries over the top and then gently press them into the top of the bars. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and cut into bars.
Note: The bars can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge. At room temperature they are more of a cake/brownie texture. In the fridge they have almost a fudge texture.
Recipe from Cori Richards
List of tools used:Vitamix blender: We make a lot of smoothies, so several years ago my husband bought this blender. It works so much better than any other we have had. With other blenders we would have chunks of fruit after blending, but this one blends so well.
KitchenAid: This is absolutely one of my favorite kitchen items. When my husband and I were first married I bought a 4.5 quart Kitchenaid. It was what we could afford at the time, but once we started having kids I really wished I had bought a larger size. A year ago we sold our house and our realtor and friend, Art, gave me a 7 quart size as a gift. He knows how much I love to bake. I use it so often and am so thankful to have it.
Pampered Chef Mix N Scraper: I love this scraper. I use it so often. I have had other scrapers break or even melt, but this one is so durable and it works well for mixing too.
Kitchen scale: I have owned a kitchen scale for many years but had rarely used it until Lauren and I started watching The Great British Baking Show two or three years ago. Because of that show I decided to start using it. I love it! Measuring this way is so much more precise! I highly recommend using a scale.
Pampered Chef Mini Serving Spatula: I love the size of this spatula. It is perfect for brownies or bars, and I use it for so many other foods. It is my go to spatula.
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