Enough said. Yes, you can be Paleo and still eat junk food…but without the junk. What’s better than that?
If you look at an actual Snickers bar, the very first ingredient is refined SUGAR, which means that there is a lot of it. There are 27 grams of it, to be exact. This is the equivalent of seven teaspoons. That’s the amount that the American Heart Association says that an adult should eat for a whole day! The average American consumes at least three times more than the recommended amount. This is because added sugars (not the sugars that derive naturally) lurk in all processed foods and provides zero nutritional benefits. In fact, high sugar diets lead to many chronic illnesses and deadly diseases. The next ingredients are: Soy lecithin (this is an ingredient found in many processed foods to preserve shelf life), corn syrup (liquid sugar and highly processed) and artificial flavors (self-explanatory- anything artificial is bad!)
When I first started all of this, the thought of giving up chocolate and candy was the hardest thing for me. So I didn’t give it up. Because why should any of us? Using clean, whole ingredients makes the things we once loved taste just as good… and actually healthy!
So let’s go ahead and satisfy our sweet tooth…
Ingredients:
Layer #1- Chocolate layer
½ cup Cacao powder
5 tbsp melted Coconut oil
3 tbsp Organic maple syrup
Layer #2- Nougat layer
4 tbsp melted Coconut oil
½ cup blanched Almond flour
1 tsp pure Vanilla extract
3 tbsp unsweetened Almond milk
Layer #3- Nutty caramel center
¼ cup raw cashew pieces
3 tbsp melted coconut oil
3 tbsp maple syrup
4 tbsp Almond butter
1 tsp Vanilla extract
¼ chopped cashews (or almonds)
1 ½ tsps Himalayan pink crystal salt
Layer #4- Chocolate layer (repeat of layer #1)
½ cup Cacao powder
5 tbsp melted Coconut oil
3 tbsp Organic maple syrup
Take an 8×8 square pan and line with unbleached parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for layer 1, which is our first chocolate layer. Our main ingredient in this layer is Cacao powder. Cacao is the purest, most natural form of chocolate. It also has endless health benefits. Cacao is high in fiber, antioxidants, protein and potassium. Cacao promotes a healthy heart and gut, reduces fatigue and risk of dementia and is excellent for the skin as it boosts production of collagen. Who knew chocolate could be so healthy? Once layer 1 is mixed, spread evenly on the parchment paper and freeze for approximately 10 minutes (make sure the layer is frozen and hard).
While layer 1 is freezing, prepare layer 2. Once layer 1 is frozen, evenly pour the mixed ingredients of layer 2, our nougat layer, on top of layer 1. Place the pan in the freezer again for another 10 minutes, or until hard.
Get started on layer 3- our nutty caramel layer, and spread evenly on layer 2. Place back in the freezer to freeze for another 10 minutes. You know what to do…prepare layer 4 which is our chocolate layer again. For the final time, freeze for at least ½ hour.
Take out and with a sharp knife, cut into approximately 15 “fun size” portions. Just remember to keep the remainder of the bars in the freezer, because it will melt. And we want the chocolate to melt in our mouths, not our hands.
Lisa A. Bloom resides in New York with her husband and three wonderful daughters. She graduated from the University at Albany with majors in English and Psychology and received her law degree from Hofstra University. When she isn’t working, Lisa enjoys spending time with family, writing, hot yoga and cooking Paleo. You can follow her on Instagram @Paleoworkingmama