I’m eating one of these Spicy Power Bars as I type this. I’m slightly obsessed with them. Because they remind me of my past.
About 20 years ago, when I was living in New York City and had just hooked up with my adorable husband, I became very interested in Ayurveda. One of the amazing practitioners that I learned from, Pratima Raichur, had created her own version of a healing tonic, referred to in Ayurvedic circles as chyawanprash. Her product was called Bindi Chywangrans and it was delicious. My friends used to ask me what it was and I would tell them it was a special, healing, energy supplement. They teased me a lot about it!
Fast forward to the present. About a month ago, I found some interesting looking energy bars in downtown Boulder. I bought one and ate it. It kept reminding me of a taste from my past, though I could not quite put my finger on it. Finally, I realized that this bar tasted like Bindi!
Being the tinkerer that I am, I decided I would recreate the Nude Nutritionals Food Bars to taste even more Chwanpransh-like and my bindi bars were born thanks to Pratima (owner of Tej Clinic) and Nude Nutritionals (creator of the fabulous little grab and go bar).
Here’s my recipe for a super nourishing, delicious, tri-doshic power bar.
Spicy Power Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup macadamia nuts
- 1 cup dates (remove pits)
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
Instructions
- Place nuts, dates and cherries in a food processor, pulse until well ground
- Pulse in vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and salt
- Remove mixture from food processor and press into a 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Refrigerate overnight (6-8 hours)
- Cut into squares and serve
Note: You may want to try my other Power Bar recipe made with almonds!
Update: several readers have commented below that this recipe was not yielding enough to fill the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish. I remade this again today and realized that I needed to double everything, so that it filled up the entire pan –when I was testing this recipe I was smooshing different batches of each version into half a pan. So, you will find that every ingredient has doubled (except for the vanilla). Sorry for the mixup! (This is what happens when you write recipes at 2am!)
I found out only yesterday that my book is now in its 5th printing just about a year after publication. Over on Amazon.com I have received quite varied reviews and I appreciate them all 94 of them, especially this one. If you’d like to add your two cents to the conversation, head on over to Amazon.com and leave a review. It doesn’t matter how many stars you give me, what’s important is to join the chat. Thanks everyone!
Glynis Ward says
My husband is addicted to Larabars. I like them too, they are delicious but this recipe is so similar, and so much less expensive! Imagine being able to make a bunch of these delicious bars and throw them in the freezer for those “must need” on the go days! Perfect.
Thank-you!!
Gabrielle says
Yum! These look great. As a newbie in the GF world I am amazed at how many yummy recipes are out there. Heres me thinking that I was doomed for a lifetime of cardboard tasteless concoctions!
Would love to win the giveaway!
xox
Evelyn Mae says
Hmmm, cardamom is my absolute favorite spice! I will have to give these a try just for that special taste cardamom gives.
Blessings,
~Mrs. R.
Mary says
We are new to the gluten free world but after looking thru your cookbook can hardly wait to get my almond flour! Sounds like your site was a fortunate find when looking up gluten free online! Would love to win your give away-
adriane says
love your blog!
Emily says
Wa hooo 5th printing! I sold two copies of your book today at work! I like spreading the almond flour love. Just wanted to say, one of these days, I WILL email you back. It gets bits and pieces added to it every so often in between study breaks.
These bars sound amazzzzing too! Xoxo
Sunny B says
These remind me of another gluten free fruit and nut bar available in stores, although the spices you use here have to add a beautiful flair to the flavor of the bar. This seems like the perfect balance between my sweet tooth and the deterant I have for spending $3-$5 on a bar. Thank you for your brilliance!
Nancy says
Can I just say YUM? I love savory, spicy and sweet together and I can already imagine how these will taste. And sometimes it’s nice to have a recipe you can just assemble, and not have to cook. Which reminds me, I’m off to make the Chia pudding from your website before bed!
Susan Shaver says
Yummy looking and sounding bars. If I had cardomom I would make themm right now and it;s after 9 pm.
Sandy Seefeldt says
Life is so much better since I discovered your recipes!!