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Over the last couple of weeks, Mr. Scrummy and I have somehow got ourselves addicted to old Seinfeld reruns. A family member mentioned it, we watched one episode soon after and then before we knew it we were totally hooked. At first, having never seen even one episode of Seinfeld before, I wasn’t so keen. The first episode we watched (‘The Hamptons’, if you were ever a Seinfeld fan) seemed full of dated and, frankly, quite sexist, almost slapstick-style jokes. But I thought I’d give it a chance and watch a couple more episodes and then … bam, just can’t stop watching them now. My favourite character is Elaine. She’s so honest, fun and feisty!
So as I particularly enjoyed last night’s episode, and as it began with a food theme, I thought I’d share the first few exchanges of the script with you. Just in case you don’t know, Jerry Seinfeld is a comedian and the show always starts and ends with him on stage telling jokes. So here goes:
JERRY: You know, I tell ya, I gotta say that I’m enjoying adulthood. For a lot of reasons. And, I’ll tell you reason number one: as an adult, if I want a cookie, I have a cookie, okay? I have three cookies or four cookies, or eleven cookies if I want. Many times I will intentionally ruin my entire appetite. Just ruin it. And then, I call my mother up right after to tell her that I did it. “Hello, Mom? Yeah, I just ruined my entire appetite … cookies.” See, because as an adult, we understand that even if you ruin an appetite, there’s another appetite coming right behind it. There’s no danger in running out of appetites. I’ve got millions of them, I’ll ruin them whenever I want!
Now as I have a tendency to do this before dinner with things like chips and dips and crumpets and biscuits, I thought it’d be a great idea to come up with a healthier pre-dinner snack. Yes, I’ll probably still ruin my appetite on occasion because I just didn’t have enough self-control to wait until dinner, but at least it’ll be ruined by something super wholesome like these 5-ingredient raw chocolate orange bars. I discovered some bars very similar to this in the supermarket a while ago and ever since have been meaning to attempt to re-create them at home. Although I say it myself, I seem to have got them right first time!
There are only five ingredients in these bars (I know, the name gave that one away) … dates, raw cashew nuts, sultanas, raw cacao powder and the zest and juice of one orange. They are also ridiculously easy to make, requiring just a few minutes of whizzing up in a food processor.
So that’s the fabulous thing about these, but the miraculous thing is that they taste like the sweetest, most decadent dessert – like an extra gooey brownie or even soft chocolaty toffee or fudge – all with a fairly intense hit of orange flavour. You would never in a zillion years guess that there is NO refined sugar, chocolate, butter or oil in them. Just pure goodness. And they are even gluten free. Great news, no?
So next time I get a pre-dinner snack attack, I’m going to reach for one of these and feel all smug – even if I can’t eat my dinner afterwards! 😉
5-ingredient raw chocolate orange bars
Ingredients
- 1 orange juiced and zested
- 6 ounces pitted dates
- 2/3 cup raw cashew nuts
- 1/3 cup raisins or sultanas I used raisins
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
Instructions
- Line a fairly small square baking tin (I had 8x8 inch) with baking paper and set aside.
- Put the dates in a small bowl and pour half of the orange juice over them. Put aside for a moment.
- Put the cashews and the rest of the orange juice in your food processor and process until they are all mashed up and clump together in a ball (this took quite a while – at least 2 or 3 minutes).
- Tip the cashew and orange mixture into a bowl. Then tip the dates/orange juice and sultanas into the food processor and process for a short while until they too are all mashed up and form a sticky ball (this won’t take as long as the cashews).
- Add the mashed up dates/sultanas to the cashew/orange mixture in the bowl, then add the cacao and orange zest and mash everything together well until it resembles a thick chocolate cake batter.
- Tip the mixture into the baking tin and spread out and press down until it’s evenly pressed in and smooth.
- Cover and put in the fridge or freezer to harden a little, then cut into 8 to 10 bars (I cut mine into 8, but that makes fairly large bars).
Notes
Nutrition
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Chicago Jogger says
Yum – this looks like an amazing healthy snack. I love anything with dates!
Helen says
Thank you! This is my favourite healthy snack – I must make some more!
Mel Green says
Where did you get your raw cacao powder from Helen? Neither my big Sainsburys nor big Tescos seemed to have it.
Helen says
Hi, Mel! I actually got it from a health food shop near our home. Let me know if you can’t find any and I can get you some and send it. These are delicious, by the way. Let me know what you think!
Ashley @ My Midwest Table says
Chocolate + orange is such a great combination. These bars look fudgy and all sorts of delicious. And aren’t food processors magical? Love that you can throw all ingredients in and you’re done!
Seinfeld is a hilarious show. Love that they tout it’s a show about nothing. Who would’ve though nothing is so funny? 🙂
Helen says
Haha … I’ve never heard that it’s a show ‘about nothing’ before, but that’s so so true! It’s very light – never really too serious – which is why I like it. So glad you like these lovely fudgey bars … I can’t stop eating them every time I make them!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Only 5 ingredients and healthy too?! These raw bars are definitely a recipe I need to make!
Helen says
Hi, Thalia! Glad you like them! Try making them into truffles, too … they work really well that way!
Isadora says
I love that you just discovered Seinfeld and that you love it! I always love watching a good Seinfeld re-run on tv! These orange bars look awesome and that is so neat that they are raw! I think we have already had this conversation, but the orange and chocolate combo always makes me think of Christmas time and I love it!
Helen says
Oh, you can repeat that any time you like, Izzy … I love the orange-choc combo, too! (hence quite a few orange-choc recipes on my blog!) You’re so right that it’s a real Christmasy flavour, too. Now, what else can I make with this flavour combo? 😉
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
So funny that you’re addicted to Seinfeld! I’m an original fan (from “back in the day”!) And wow – I’m also a fan of these gorgeous chocolate bars, right from my first glimpse! Can’t wait to try them – so easy, so healthy, so (yay!) chocolate-y! Definitely pinning! 😀
Helen says
Hello, Shelley! So glad you like the sound of these chocolate-y beauties! I’ve been eating them all week so can safely say they are a hit … well, at least in our house. 🙂
Gintare @Gourmantine says
These look sensational and so perfect to nibble upon when in need of a snack (and I always need them). I’ve missed so many of your beautiful posts, but it’s always such a pleasure to come back and read 🙂
Helen says
Hello, Gintare! I’ve been missing a lot of your posts, too … now I have to fix that! Life has definitely been ‘getting in the way’ lately! I hope you’re well and thanks for passing by!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I love Seinfeld, Helen! There are so many great episodes, but I love that quote you put up. I frequently ruin my appetite with cookies…darn cookies and lack of will power! This chocolate looks amazing, and love that it is healthy for you!
Helen says
So glad you liked the quote, Denise … I’m still steadily working my way through the seasons (totally not in order!) but this quote from this episode is one of my favourite so far. Glad you like the bars, too … I can’t stop eating them!