Description
Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Nut Bars deliver pure snacking bliss straight from your kitchen. Crunchy nuts, rich chocolate, and a sprinkle of sea salt create a simple treat perfect for satisfying midday cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup roasted almonds
- 1 cup roasted cashews
- 6 ounces (170 grams) dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao)
- ½ cup honey
Supporting Nuts and Seeds:
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
Dried Fruits and Seasonings:
- ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped dried apricots
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Flaky sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Carefully drape parchment paper inside an 8×8-inch baking dish, allowing extra paper to hang over edges for easy bar removal later.
- Blend 1 cup roasted almonds, 1 cup roasted cashews, ½ cup sunflower seeds, ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup dried cranberries, and ¼ cup dried apricots in a large mixing bowl until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Heat ½ cup honey and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract in a small saucepan over low heat (around 200°F) for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously to prevent scorching.
- Pour warm honey mixture over nut and fruit blend, using a spatula to ensure complete coating of ingredients.
- Transfer mixture into prepared pan, pressing firmly with a spatula or glass bottom to create a compact, even layer about ½-inch thick.
- Refrigerate the pan for exactly 60 minutes at 40°F until mixture becomes completely solid.
- Melt 6 oz dark chocolate (70% cacao) at 110°F using a double boiler or microwave, stirring until chocolate reaches a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Drizzle melted chocolate evenly across chilled nut base, ensuring full coverage.
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt across wet chocolate surface for added texture and flavor contrast.
- Return pan to refrigerator for 30 minutes at 40°F until chocolate hardens completely.
Notes
- Toast nuts beforehand to enhance their natural flavor and add a deeper, richer crunch to the bars.
- Choose high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content for a more complex, intense chocolate experience.
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean cutting of the bars.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free and check your chocolate’s manufacturing process.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg