RECIPE: Orange nut bars

Ingredients

1 cup cashews
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Zest from half of a navel orange
1/2 tsp sea salt
½ tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp honey (total of 9 tbsp)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper, leaving flaps on all 4 sides. Set aside.

Roughly chop the almonds and cashews by hand, in a hand chopper, in a blender, or in a food processor. Pieces should be about 1/4" at the largest.

Combine all ingredients except honey in a large bowl and stir until combined. Pour in the honey and mix with a fork until everything is evenly coated. Spread mixture into the prepared baking dish, pressing down to pack it in and reach all edges and corners of the pan.

Bake for 20 minutes. Watch carefully towards the end to be sure the honey isn't burning. It should be bubbly around the edges.

Remove from oven to a wire rack. Use the parchment flaps to carefully press the bars down some more and compact them while they cool all the way. After the bars have cooled about 30 minutes, lift the bars out of the pan by the parchment paper flaps and flip over onto another piece of parchment so the bottom is now the top.

Reshape back into a square and press down. Peel off the parchment paper. Allow to cool completely and cut into (16) 2" x 2" bars. Wrap individually in parchment to keep them from sticking together. Eat within 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts
Calories: 137
Total Fat: 9g
Sodium: 75mg
Carbohydrates: 11g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 7g
Protein: 2g