Looking for sea moss recipes beyond sea moss gel? You’ve found it with these fudgy energy bars!
These sea moss vegan energy bars offer top-notch nutrition in a deliciously chewy chocolate treat.
But first, you may be asking… Sea Moss? What is it?
If you are not familiar with sea moss, it is a mineral-rich superfood that can be beneficial in your whole foods plant-based diet. Sea moss is a food that contains 92 minerals & nutrients of the 102 our bodies need, in a bio-available form that your body recognizes.
It’s truly a “superfood”, and in its freeze-dried form, it’s also very versatile. You can find full more details about nutrient-dense sea moss in this post.
Sea moss is most often consumed as a perishable sea moss gel, and therefore unavailable for many people.
Fortunately, Survival Moss has innovated a freeze-dried sea moss product, which is shelf-stable for years and can be added to foods or used in recipes such as these chocolate energy bars.
I love Survival Moss products so much. This is the first of a series of posts of sea moss recipes showing how you can use their high-quality freeze-dried sea moss, lion’s mane, and chaga nuggets in delicious recipes.
Sea Moss Recipes: Ingredients in these Fudgy Bars
- Freeze-Dried Sea Moss Powder: Survival Moss has pioneered the process of freeze-drying sea moss. The moss retains all the nutrients, while not having any ‘sea’ flavor. You would never guess there is sea moss in these bars!
- Lion’s Mane Powder: This is an optional ingredient. I decided to include lion’s mane as an additional superfood for these vegan energy bars. The recipe offers a substitution for the lion’s mane.
- Cocoa powder: For the cocoa flavor, of course!
- Pumpkin Seeds: I love pumpkin seeds, and use them often instead of nuts. Use a raw unsalted pumpkin seed, such as these.
- Pitted Dates: Dates naturally sweeten the bars.
- Rolled Oats (or Puffed Quinoa or Rice Crisps) for texture
- Pure vanilla extract: Vanilla complements the cocoa
- Topping: I give options for a homemade date-based topping, or a quicker-fix!
How to Make Fudgy Energy Bars
All you need for these sea moss energy bars is a food processor. I have 2 processors, the Breville and the Ninja. For sticky mixes like vegan energy bars, I always use my Ninja. The double-blade works wonders with the dates. When processing dates with other processors, they sometimes get lodged on the blade and the processor stalls. I’ve never had this happen with the Ninja.
While it’s not as large as my Breville (which I use for burger mixtures and other big batch prep), it’s the best machine for sticky mixtures using dates, such as these fudgy squares and also other energy balls/squares.
Sea Moss Fudgy Bars: The Topping
For these vegan energy bars, I give a couple of topping options. Why?
Well, initially I used a smear of my favorite chocolate tahini on the bars. But I know my audience! And I expected some of you would love a homemade topping – and one lower in fat.
So I delivered with a date-based topping. If you make that topping, you’ll want to use a smaller processor or smaller jar on a high-powered blender. You could also use another chocolate nut butter as a topping if you prefer, such as a chocolate hazelnut spread.
Sea Moss Recipes: Vegan Energy Bars Recipe
It’s time to get to the recipe! If you don’t yet have the Survival Moss freeze-dried sea moss, get stocked here. I know some of you already have it in anticipation of this recipe. If not, be sure to use code DREENA for 10% off your order. You don’t “need” the lion’s mane, but if you have it on hand – bonus!
Sea Moss Fudgy Energy Bars
These bars are not just whole foods-based, gluten-free and oil-free, they are also nut- free AND will packed with nutrient-rich sea moss and lion’s mane to support immune system and brain health.
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed cup pitted dates
- 1/4 cup raisins can substitute more dates
- 1 cup unsalted/raw pumpkin seeds (can substitute nuts if preferred)
- 1/3 cup freeze-dried sea moss powder
- 1 tbsp freeze-dried lion’s mane powder or more sea moss powder
- 1/2 cup rolled or quick oats or quinoa puff cereal
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 – 1 tbsp water if needed, see directions
Topping:
- either 1/2 – 2/3 cup SOOM chocolate tahini see note OR prepare topping below
- OR lower-fat prepared topping makes about 3/4 cup
- 1 cup pitted dates not packed; will need to be soaked, see directions
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 -2 tbsp pumpkin seed butter can use Soom chocolate tahini or sub a nut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla or 1/4 tsp vanilla bean powder
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
Instructions
Base:
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Prepare a 9”x9” pan by lining with parchment paper.
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In a food processor, add all ingredients and process.
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It will take several minutes for the mixture to become sticky – it should be able to hold together when pressed between your fingers. This depends partially on the moisture in the dates. If it’s taking a while, add 1-2 tbsp of water and that will bring it together.
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Once it’s sticky and forming clumps on the blade, transfer to your prepared pan and press into pan evenly.
Topping:
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To prepare date-based topping, first soak the dates in boiled water. Just place in a bowl and cover with freshly boiled water. Allow to soak for 15-20 minutes.
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Once soaked, remove from bowl, without squeezing dates or trying to remove too much water. Simply use your hand or a slotted spoon to remove dates.
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Place the softened dates in a small blender or mini-processor, and add the remaining ingredients.
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Process until smooth. If difficult to process, add 1-2 tsp of water to process, but don’t add too much water as you want the topping to be thick.
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Use a spatula to spread the topping over the base of the bars, and refrigerate until set, about 1/2 hour.
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Cut bars into squares and enjoy! Bars can also be frozen.
Share in the comments how you customized these bars! x Dreena
