Almond Delights or Almond Datelights — gluten free with natural sugar

These bars are delightful or should I say datelightul? I’ve seen versions of these called Snickers Bars with almonds but, personally, I don’t think the name fits. I thought of Almond Joy but there’s no coconut! These delightful bars begin with a base of almond flour (along with oat flour) mixed with almond nut butter and date or maple syrup. A date paste composes the gooey, caramel-like layer that is topped with toasted, sliced almonds and then spread with dark chocolate. Created to delight, these bars are also gluten-free and use only natural sugars. This is a nutrient-packed recipe so watch out as they are also packed with calories . . . but these bars are so rich that a small one satisfies most sweet lovers. 

Almond Delights or Almond Datelights    Yield: 8x8-inch pan; about 12 bars

Bottom Crust 

3/4 cup almond flour

1/4 almond butter, no sugar added

1/2 cup oat flour (to make your own – add a little over 1/2 cup old fashioned or quick oats to the blender or food processor and blend until it creates a somewhat coarse oat flour

2 tablespoons date syrup or real maple syrup 

Caramel Middle

3/4 cup date paste (cook about 1 cup of dates with 3-4 tablespoons of water until softened, adding more water as needed; process in a food processor until smooth 

2 tablespoons almond butter

1 teaspoon  vanilla

Topping

1/2 cup of chopped or sliced almonds, toasted (place in a 350° oven for 4-5 minutes or until they just begin to turn golden; watch closely)

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1. Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Combine almond flour, almond butter, oat flour, date syrup and salt.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Press mixture into pan to form bottom base layer.  Place in freezer.
   
4. For middle layer, combine date paste, almond butter, and vanilla.
   
   
   
   
5. Spread on top of bottom layer and sprinkle with almonds. Place back in freezer.
   
6. Melt chocolate and spread over top to set. You can also cut into bars first and dip in chocolate to cover like a candy bar. Since these bars keep best when refrigerated, I left the chocolate off. When ready to serve, I microwaved enough chocolate chips to cover a couple of bars, and then spread it over the tops of the cut and plated bars. 
   

Recipe without photos . . . Almond Delights or Almond Datelights    Yield: 8x8-inch pan; about 12 bars

Bottom Crust 

3/4 cup almond flour

1/4 almond butter, no sugar added

1/2 cup oat flour (to make your own – add a little over 1/2 cup old fashioned or quick oats to the blender or food processor and blend until it creates a somewhat coarse oat flour

2 tablespoons date syrup or real maple syrup 

Caramel Middle

3/4 cup date paste (cook about 1 cup of dates with 3-4 tablespoons of water until softened, adding more water as needed; process in a food processor until smooth 

2 tablespoons almond butter

1 teaspoon  vanilla

Topping

1/2 cup of chopped or sliced almonds, toasted (place in a 350° oven for 4-5 minutes or until they just begin to turn golden; watch closely)

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1. Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Combine almond flour, almond butter, oat flour, date syrup and salt.
3. Press mixture into pan to form bottom base layer.  Place in freezer.
4. For middle layer, combine date paste, almond butter, and vanilla.
5. Spread on top of bottom layer and sprinkle with almonds. Place back in freezer.
6. Melt chocolate and spread over top to set. You can also cut into bars first and dip in chocolate to cover like a candy bar. Since these bars keep best when refrigerated, I left the chocolate off. When ready to serve, I microwaved enough chocolate chips to cover a couple of bars, and then spread it over the tops of the cut and plated bars.