No bake cashew bars are the perfect blend of rich chocolate and chewy, buttery textures. Made with cashew cream, these treats are incredibly easy, protein-rich, and a hassle-free, nutritious breakfast treat.
Make cashew cream, soak the cashews in just boiled water for about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse and add to a blender with the water and blend smooth. You may have to add more water to get it blending.
1 cup cashews, unsalted, raw or roasted, ¼ cup water
Line an 8x4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and let ends hang over the sides.
Make the cookies
To the cashew cream in the blender, add in the rest of the ingredients except for the oats. Blend until creamy.
Put the rolled oats in a strainer and briefly rinse with cold water to remove the dust on the surface of oat flakes to remove any sour flavor.
1 ½ cups rolled oats
Fold the rolled oats into a the cashew cream in the bowl.
Press the mixture into a parchment-lined pan.
Make chocolate topping
Melt 1 cup chocolate chips in a pyrex measuring cup in the microwave at 60 seconds. Remove from the microwave, and stir the melted chocolate until all lumps are melted. Then pour it onto the base.
1 cup chocolate chips
Let the chocolate top set, maybe 15 minutes at room temperature, faster in the refrigerator or even freezer.
Slice the bars and store refrigerated in an airtight container for a week. Freeze for three months.
Notes
Instead of cashew cream. Replace the cashews and maple syrup with ⅔ cup nut butter and ⅓ cup melted butter.Instead of maple syrup. I used maple syrup for ease, but it does contribute a maple flavor so to avoid that blend 2 pitted Medjool dates into the soaking cashews, then blend with other ingredients to make cashew cream and remove maple syrup from those ingredients.Divide rolled oats. Swap a portion of the rolled oats for uncooked popped quinoa or even gluten-free steel cut oats or rinsed buckwheat groats for a crunchier texture.Himalayan salt. If you can find Himalayan salt, it's worth using because it helps replenish all 84 elements found in your body, slowing aging, increasing hydration, improves circulation, expels toxins, absorb nutrients.