I don’t toss the term wonder around lightly. In fact, even though I’ve called many a recipe wonderful before, I’ve never deemed any of them something of wonder. This means that these Coconut & Oat Wonder Bars may be one of the most delicious things to have ever come out of my kitchen. In short, they are filled with pure wonder.

These Coconut & Oat Wonder Bars are packed with simple, plant-based ingredients – most of which are probably in your pantry right now. These include:

Dates & raisins
Pecans
Shredded coconut
Coconut oil
Rolled oats
And cacao powder

10 minutes prep time. 8 simple ingredients. 9 wondrous bars.

Here’s the scoop. The base of our bars is made up of incredibly nutrient dense ingredients like pecans, unsweetened coconut flakes, and coconut oil. Pecans are made up of monounsaturated fats, while coconut is composed of MCT – medium chain triglycerides. Both of these fats do wonders for our body – believe it or not. Monounsaturated fats, found in pecans and other nuts, are tried and tested for their heart benefits, cholesterol-lowering abilities, and noted source of plant protein. The MCT’s found in coconuts and coconut oil is also noted to raise the body’s good HDL cholesterol and lower bad LDL cholesterol, all while providing antibacterial properties from its high concentration of lauric acid. Don’t fear fats, especially when they deliver this much goodness.

The nut and coconut base is held together with sweet and sticky medjool dates and raisins – which means you won’t need to add a drop of other sugars. Rolled oats are added to the party and make these bars much more substantial and fiber filled. With a high concentration of fiber, these bars are slow to digest – meaning your blood sugar will not be spiked and ravaged. Simply put, these wholesome and wonderful bars will keep you filled, energized, and glowing for hours.

Pecans + coconut + oats + dried fruits like dates and raisins + a drizzle of superfood raw chocolate = pure, coconut & oat goodness. It’s time to get your wonder on.

Coconut & Oat Wonder Bars

Makes 9 square bars

Coconut & Oat Bars:
12 large and sticky Medjool dates
½ cup raisins
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
½ cup pecans
Pinch of sea salt
¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (plus more to garnish)
1 cup rolled oats

Wonder Dark Chocolate Drizzle:
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
Pinch of sea salt

Begin with making the bars. In a food processor add dates, raisins, coconut oil, pecans, sea salt, and shredded coconut. Pulse until combined and sticky, about 30 seconds. Add in rolled oats and pulse until combined.

Dump bar mixture into a parchment paper lined 9×9 or 8×8 baking tray. Press down mixture into the bottom of pan to make a level and flat square. Place baking tray in freezer to chill for 30 minutes.

While the oat bars are chilling, prepare the chocolate drizzle. In a small saucepan on the stove add in coconut oil, maple syrup (if using), cacao powder, and salt. Gently warm over low heat and stir until the sauce is chocolaty and consistent in texture. Remove from heat and set aside.

Remove oat bars from freezer and cut into 9 even squares. Drizzle with the chocolate sauce and watch before your eyes as it magically hardens. Sprinkle bars with additional shredded coconut if desired.

Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they will keep for about a week. Enjoy!