I’m not even sure where I was – it might have been at the airport in Montana, now that I think about it – when some lady in front of me in a line unwrapped what looked like a homemade snack bar. I could see sesame seeds in it, and I thought I detected a whiff of orange, but hell – I wasn’t about to shove my face into the woman’s food to find out for sure! It sure did look amazing though, and at that moment, I wished I could take a big bite. Sigh, airports.

I decided then and there that I was going to develop an orange-flavored bar, and here it is.

Sesame Orange Snack Bars1

I did several renditions of this bar, one using orange flower water (blech..FAIL) and one with no coconut (good, but coconut makes everything better).

Sesame Orange Snack Bars

These bars are perfect for your mid-morning snack, before and during sports…anytime, really. They’re full of good fats from the nuts and seeds, they’re full of sweet energy from the dates, and the orange flavor is fresh and delicious. They’re simple and fast to make, too!

You’re going to love these.

Sesame Orange Snack Bars3

 

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Sesame Orange Snack Bars
Servings: 12 bars
Ingredients
  • 2 cups pitted packed Medjool dates
  • 2 cups raw almonds
  • 2 cups puffed rice cereal
  • 1 cup white sesame seeds
  • 1/3 cup coconut
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 2 T coconut oil melted
  • 1 T orange zest
  • 1 T vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Using a high speed blender, chop the almonds until they’re in pieces. You can have some partially whole ones – they give a texture to the bars. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the puffed rice, and blend together until incorporated.
  2. Scrape the ingredients out of the blender into a large bowl and add the puffed rice cereal. Gently fold the cereal into the date mixture until everything is evenly mixed.
  3. Press the bars into a parchment-lined 8x8 pan and refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours.
  4. Cut into squares. Keep refrigerated (it keeps the bars firm).