I posted a vegan popcorn bars recipe ages ago, and it’s still one of my favourites. Today, I thought that adding a festive twist to my original recipe would make a great chocolatey snack for Christmas.
These bars are essentially popcorn and nuts, held together by some dates and melted chocolate. So, they’re not massively unhealthy, they can be served as bars or chopped into squares and placed in little snack bowls. I’ve been eating mine for breakfast but I’m not sure I’d recommend that as a viable serving suggestion…
This recipe takes next to no time at all to make, and required zero skills in the kitchen whatsoever, so anyone can make them. And, unlike baking recipes where you have to substitute something from the norm to make them vegan, these ones don’t have any vegan specific ingredients, so they won’t be received with that weird look people give food when you tell them there’s no dairy etc in something…
Nutritional Information
As there’s a large amount of nuts in these, they do come with some added nutritional value. They contain just under 6g of protein per bar, and 5.8g of fibre, which is just under a quarter of the recommended daily amount (25g). The almonds also provide just under a third of the RDA of vitamin E.
Festive Popcorn Bars Recipe
These bars make a great light snack, with orange and almond chocolate and some added orange extract to give them that Christmassy feel. I’ve used almonds and pistachios in mine, but feel free to sub the nuts for any others that you’d prefer.
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, soy free (depending on chocolate used) and vegan. It does contain nuts.
Festive Popcorn Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g dark chocolate I used 90g (the whole bar) of Green & Blacks Orange & Almond then topped up with plain dark chocolate)
- 100 g dates
- 2 cups popcorn
- 65 g almonds
- 35 g pistachios
- 1 tsp orange extract
Instructions
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Line a baking dish with greaseproof paper.
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Put the dates, pistachio and almonds in a food processor and pulse for 30-45 seconds until crumbly.
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In a large mixing bowl combine the date and nuts mixture with the popcorn.
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Now it’s time to melt the chocolate. Place chocolate in a large bowl over a pan of boiling water. Make sure the bowl and water aren’t touching then wait for chocolate to melt.
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Once chocolate is melted, stir in the orange extract and pour the chocolate over the other ingredients in the mixing bowl. Make sure the popcorn is fully coated.
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Now press the mixture into the baking dish, try to spread it as evenly as possible.
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Place the dish in the fridge and allow to set for two hours before serving. Or freeze them for 30 minutes.
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Once set, trim the edges to make them even (optional), then cut into 6 equal squares.
Serve and enjoy!
Do you like the sound of these simple chocolate snacks? Do you have any similar allergy friendly treats you serve your family?
Until tomorrow,
Sophie
Oh my gosh, darling, these sound incredible! I’ve been wanting to make something for my Christmas eve night in with my younger brother and these are perfect. Thank you! I’m sending you so much love.
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
These look amazing and I bet they taste great especially with the pistachio in them! Thanks for sharing this recipe x
Oooh this is right up my street, I’m going to give this a go!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Pistachios . . . my, I can eat a bag of them all on my own, even more so when they are unshelled. They have such a rich flavor! Popcorn peanut butter balls are such a delicious treat but I love this chocolate variety. 🙂
I’m not even vegan but these look lushhhhhhh!
Oh these sound amazing! I remember making popcorn balls as a kid. I thought it was so cool. And how cool that this recipe is also vegan. A win win!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Nice popcorn bars ❤
Looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
http://www.recklessdiary.ru
I really need to try this! Sounds delicious and a perfect snack for the Holidays (well, I would eat them all year round but okay 🙂 ). Thanks for sharing the recipe!
xoxo Simone | https://beautymone.com
Gonna try these, yum!! x
So lush, I need to try these 🙂 x