Holiday Reciep - Grain Free Magic Cookie Bars

Grain-Free Magic Cookie Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

35 minutes

12-15 bars

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups almond meal

1/2 cup nut butter or coconut oil

8 to 14 oz. of sweetened almond or coconut milk 

1 1/3 cup coconut flakes, finely shredded, no sugar added

1 cup chopped pecans  (optional)

1 2/3 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a food processor or with a fork, combine almond meal with nut butter or oil.
3. Press the almond meal mixture in a well greased 9 x 13 " Pyrex dish.
4. Pour the sweetened almond or coconut milk over the top of the almond mixture.
5. Spread the coconut and chocolate chips evenly over the sweetened condensed milk.
6. Press down evenly with a fork.
7. **Alternatively, you can add half of the sweetened  milk, then the coconut and chocolate chips, with the second half of the sweetened milk on the top of those.
8. Either way works nicely.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until bubbly and brown.
10. Cool well.
11. You may even refrigerate overnight.
12. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Notes

**For me, layering the homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk, a layer on the crust, and a layer over the top of the chocolate, nuts and coconut flakes, worked perfectly.

Health and Fitness Tip Friday

Curb your sweet tooth

Got a late-night sugar craving that just won't quit? To satisfy

 your sweet tooth without

pushing yourself over the calorie edge, even in the late night

hours, think 'fruit first. I will

have a 1/2 cup of grapes if I can't cut my cravings or a

chocolate shakeology shake.

Whatever you do, resist that chocolate cake, ice cream, or

candy and instead enjoy a half

cup of grapes, strawberries or a sliced apple with a

tablespoon of nut butter (like peanut or

almond). Then sleep sweet, knowing you're still on the right, healthy track.