Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1½ cups pecans
  • 1 cup pitted dates (finely chopped)
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups cashews (soaked for at least four hours or preferably overnight)
  • ½ cup canned coconut milk (shaken)
  • ¼ cup coconut oil (melted and cooled (use refined coconut oil if you want no coconut flavor))
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Instruction

  • Line an 8” square pan with parchment paper for easy removal, and lightly grease with coconut oil. Set aside.
  • Add the pecans, pitted dates and salt to a food processor or high-powered blender and pulverize until it comes together into a sort of sticky dough, with small pecan bits remaining. Press the pecan date dough evenly along the bottom of the prepared pan.
  • In a high-powered blender (I used my Vitamix, but most powerful blenders should do the job), combine all of the ingredients and blend for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture is silky smooth and creamy. You may need to add a bit more coconut milk or lemon juice to get it to blend smoothly if your blender isn’t super high-powered.
  • Once it’s smooth, taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness/tartness/spice levels, if desired.
  • Pour the smooth filling into the prepared pan over the pecan crust. Smooth out the top and tap the pan hard against the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.
  • Place in the freezer to set for at least 3 hours or until completely firm before cutting into 16 squares. I recommend running your knife under hot water to warm it up before cutting the bars with the still-hot (dried) knife.
  • Serve frozen or let them thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Store in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.