Chocolate Covered Almond Bars

i don't know why i keep posting about this recipe, but i do. Maybe it is because every time i make them, i prepare them a little bit differently each time, and i feel like they just keep getting better and better so i need to record how i make them this time around. i don't even know. All i do know is these protein chocolate coated candy bars are so incredible, i love how they turn out every time, no matter which way i mix and blitz and pack and measure, these bars are amazing. they are not too sweet, i love that there is a savory side to them, and yet, covered in that semi sweet chocolate just makes them truly shine in the decadent department. Who would also guess there bars are not half bad for you? I did not put any dairy, eggs, or even sugar for that matter anywhere near them. They aren't laced with high fructose corn syrup. Just healthy wholesome almonds, creamy peanut butter, and a few other hearty ingredients that are natural and make something wonderful when whipped together! They are gluten free too, if you're into that sort of thing...

so, this time around, i did not have any flax seed meal on hand, so i just skipped that, but i would have for sure put that in, because it does give the bars an overall rich and grainy delicious taste, but you'll be fine without it this time. 

I also had purchased raw almonds, but it only was about 8 oz of whole almonds, until i blitzed them myself, almond particles flying all over my kitchen, then did it stretch to about 2 loose cups of crunchy textured almond bits. i added about three fourths of a cup of almond flour to hefty it up, and that worked brilliantly! i figured it all came from the same tree, so why not? I loved how the texture is soft, and crunchy all at the same time. 

I'll get on to this round of bars. I'm just going to write it out exactly how i made them this time.

1 8 oz whole raw almonds 
just under 1 cup almond flour
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 
3/4 cup shredded coconut 
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
3/4 cup melted coconut oil 
1 tablespoon agave nectar 

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 

so, i used my immersion blender to semi blitz the raw almonds into smaller pieces, partially ground, but not completely, like very coarse coffee grounds. 

that went in a large bowl, along with the almond flour and it felt like 3 cups total of everything. i don't think it really matters, but if you were wondering. you can stretch the almonds to finer ground, or coarsely ground, it is up to you! 

i then added the shredded coconut and the wet ingredients. 

mix well. 

it was perfectly wet and not too dry at all, and i packed it in a small shallow baking dish. 8x8 would work perfectly! 

I popped it in the freezer to chill. 

i melted the semi sweet chocolate chips in 20 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between. 
once it was smooth and silky, it was time to pull out the bar mixture!

spread the chocolate evenly over the bars and pop back in the fridge to let it all chill. 

cut into squares and eat when ever you want! i made these because we are going on a road trip tomorrow to see my brother in Wisconsin and i wanted some fun treats for along the way! 

i hope you enjoy these!! I know i sure do!