Raw Vegan Energy Bars

• 1 cup raw walnuts or any other nut of choice
• 1/2 cup dried cherries (substitute pitted dates, figs or prunes)
• 1/3 cup just nuts peanut or almond butter
• 2 heaping Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 Tbsp honey or pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened, desiccated coconut

1. Place walnuts in blender or food processor and blend for about 20 seconds or until nuts are fairly well ground. Add cherries, peanut/almond butter, chia seeds and honey/maple syrup blending until the entire mixture is well combined. The mixture should be sticky - if it's too dry, add a little bit more nut butter or vanilla essence or coconut oil to create moisture.
2. Meanwhile, place a piece of wax or parchment paper into a loaf pan (the pan should be in the range of 8" x 4") such that it hangs over the sides.
3. Remove mixture from blender and press it into the base of the loaf pan using the back of a spoon or other implement to flatten and smooth it down.
4. Sprinkle the surface of the mixture with pepitas and coconut, pressing down gently with your fingers so that they adhere to the surface.

walnuts, cherries, just nuts, chia seeds, honey, pepitas, coconut

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/raw-vegan-energy-bars-52674011 (may not work)