Dark Chocolate Amaranth Bars (6 Ingredients!)
User Reviews
5
Dark Chocolate Amaranth Bars (6 Ingredients!)
Description
Dark Chocolate Amaranth Bars (6 Ingredients!) are crafted by popping amaranth grains to create a light, crispy base. These are mixed with melted dark chocolate chips, almond butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt to bind the ingredients together. The result is a bar featuring crunchy puffed amaranth with smooth, rich dark chocolate and a nutty undertone from almond butter. The combination yields a balanced sweet treat with an interesting texture contrast.
The popping technique requires careful heating of the amaranth in a hot pan for about 10 seconds to avoid burning while achieving maximum puffiness. Once cooled, the puffed grains are combined with the melted chocolate mixture and pressed into a pan to set, then chilled until firm. These bars can be sliced and enjoyed as a snack or a light dessert.
The bars rely on only six ingredients, making them straightforward to prepare and customizable; for those avoiding nuts, sunflower seed butter can replace almond butter. The recipe outlines the importance of not overcooking the amaranth to maintain the delicate crisp texture crucial to these bars.
Ingredients
- 6-7 Tbsp amaranth 6-7 Tbsp uncooked yields ~1 ¼ cup or 65 g popped/puffed, uncooked
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips ensure vegan-friendly as needed, such as Enjoy Life, or pieces
- 1/4 cup almond butter if nut-free, sub sunflower seed butter, creamy, unsweetened
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 healthy pinch salt sea salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a standard-size loaf pan or similar-sized dish (~8 ½ x 4 ½ inches) with parchment paper and set aside.
- To pop the amaranth, heat a large rimmed skillet (or large saucepan) over medium-high heat. Set a medium mixing bowl to the side for the popped amaranth. Once the pan is hot (give it at least 3-5 minutes to heat up), add 1 Tbsp (10 g) unpopped amaranth and immediately cover with a lid. Shake/slide the pot back and forth over the heat (wearing oven mitts can be helpful) to move the grain around. It should start popping within 1-3 seconds and be done popping at the 10-second mark (if it’s not, that means the pan isn’t hot enough). Quickly empty into the mixing bowl.
- Be sure to pull the amaranth off the heat at around 10 seconds (or when the unpopped grains are turning from golden to dark brown) or the amaranth will burn. It’s okay if not every single grain has popped. It may take a couple tries to dial in your heat and not burn the grains, but then you’ll hit your stride!
- Continue until you have roughly 1 ¼ cup (65 g) popped grain (adjust amount if altering number of servings).
- Add 1 inch of water to a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Place a small glass or metal bowl over the saucepan and add the chocolate chips, almond butter, and coconut oil. Heat, stirring occasionally with a spatula or spoon, until melted and no lumps remain (~3-5 minutes). You can also melt them in a heat-proof glass bowl in the microwave in 20-second increments.
- Once melted, stir in the salt and vanilla and carefully remove from the heat. Pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of popped amaranth and stir until it is evenly coated in chocolate.
- Transfer to the parchment-lined pan and refrigerate until set — about 1 hour. Then slice into bars — we like slicing into ~12 bars as they are rich and satisfying even as a small bar.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 1 month.
Notes
- Use sunflower seed butter to make this recipe nut-free instead of almond butter.
- Carefully monitor amaranth when popping to prevent burning; about 10 seconds is sufficient.
- Chilling the bars for about 1 hour helps them set properly before slicing.
- Nutrition estimates should be used as rough guidelines.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12(Bars)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 100 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1bar (~1 inch x 2 inches) | |
| Calories | 100 | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 8.9g | 3% |
| Protein | 2.4g | 5% |
| Fat | 7.4g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.9g | 5% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1.8g | 9% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 6mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 70mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1.9g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2.9g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 0IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 27mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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