Yep. That just happened.
I LOVE these bars. Pure joy in a bit. Or 18. Whichever route your mouth takes you. These would be perfect for a Saint Patty’s Day celebration! Why? Because I said so. And I was too lazy to create a paleo corned beef and cabbage recipe. Mainly because I didn’t want to eat it. I’m sure it’s delicious, but I’d rather eat caramel bars all day, every day. And I can do all that because it’s my blog. Winning!
I saw a full camouflage truck today. Complete camo. Yeah. That was a good idea.
The other day, my friend Missy gave me the idea of making vanilla chai almond butter. And I did it. And ate it all in one day. I wish I were lying. Thankfully I didn’t make a ton of it because I knew I would be alone in the house with it later that night, but it still stared at me for a good 30 minutes, until I consumed all of it.
I totes have a new crush. Not a man, sadly. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never meet the man of my dreams in Colorado. It’s just fact. I will have to go somewhere far from here to find a normal, attractive, incredibly fantastic man. Who is single. That’s a must…as you’ve heard from my past rants.
Holy balls, tangent, my new crush. Back on it. Her name is Joy, Joy the Baker. My other friend Joy introduced me to Joy the Baker’s blog and I was instantly hooked. All because she’s hilarious, and has some awesome photography. How are all these blog people so good at photography and I suck ass? Probably because I don’t have a crazy amazing camera. Yeah, that’s it, it’s the cameras fault.
Sometimes, when I cook a lot of food, I can smell myself when I workout. Then I want to throw up, mid workout. Like today, while I am doing the Open wod 12.4. 150 wall balls smelling like bacon is sure to make anyone uncomfortable. So excited.
Oh and btw, I will be putting together a post of everything I eat in a day to post on Saturday. Had a few questions about what my daily food intake looks like. It really is different every day so hopefully this helps. You can also look back at my first post about what my day usually looks like! It’s pretty boring. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Caramel Pecan Bars
- Yield: 5-6 1x
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1.5 cups pecans
- 3/4 cup almond flour/meal
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
For the caramel
- 12–14 medjool dates, pitted and soaked in water for an hour
- 5–6 tablespoons canned coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Add your pecans to a food processor and blend until you get more of a meal or flour, then add your melted coconut oil, raw honey and vanilla until you get a very delicious pecan butter.
- Add that pecan butter to a large bowl then add your almond flour/meal, baking soda and powder and salt, then add your egg and whisk all ingredients together.
- Grease a bread loaf pan with coconut oil and then add your crust ingredients to the pan and use a spoon to spread out evenly.
- Put in oven and bake for around 25-30 minutes or until middle is cooked completely through. Use the toothpick method to test it.
- While the crust bakes, lightly clean out your food processor (I licked it clean so I didn’t have an issue having to use any dish soap. wow.) then add your dates.
- Turn on until dates have broken down (less than a minute) then add your coconut milk tablespoon by tablespoon to the dates while the food processor is still running. Then add your water as well.
- And add your vanilla extract and pinch of salt.
- Process until you get a caramel. BOOM.
- Once your crust is done baking, let cool for about 10-15 minutes.
- Top caramel over crust using a spoon to smooth out.
- Put in fridge for 30 minutes to an hour to set. Or consume right then really.
- Keep in fridge if you have leftovers!
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More Layered Caramel:
Salted Caramel Cookie Ice Cream Cups
Holiday Raspberry Caramel Tart
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HOLY MOLY. You’ve outdone yourself now. I might never have to have a brownie cheat day ever.again. You’re my HERO!! XOXO
lol hope you like them!
FAVE DESSERT EVERRRR!! Just wolfed down two fatty bars. Did Isabel today and that dessert was absolutely necessary. Thanks again, Juli. You’re the paleo dessert queen of the world!!!!!!
These will be perfect for the first meeting of my newly created Living Paleo in Anchorage Meetup group. It’s Saturday. Members are new to Paleo, wildly curious about it so I hope this will convince them they are on the right path. Will share your website with this group!! Wish us luck!! With an abundance of wild game and wild caught salmon, we should be rockin big in no time!!
Thank you so much for spreading the word Laura!! I really appreciate that! i envy your salmon supply.
Stop! Don’t even. These look too damn good! I’ll be making these STAT. One quick question: any suggestions for substituting the pecans? We have nut allergies here – bummer. I typically sub Bob’s Red Mill GF flour for the almond flour and SunButter for peanut butter (which I haven’t tasted in almost two years now and don’t even miss it – I was a junkie and probably made my son allergic while he was in utero – bad Mommy).
Oh, and FYI – since eating Paleo, which has only been maybe a month now, I’ve made like 15-20 of your recipes. Your blog is my “go to” – the recipes are ridick delish;)
You’re awesome Staceyk! I would say probably coconut flour or the GF flour would work, you’ll just have to mess around with the recipe a little. Hope it still turns out!!
If you figure it out, Stacey, please let me know! Husband is allergic to just about every nut there is (except walnuts). These look EPIC!
Thanks Stephanie!
You have got to stop posting so many amazing recipes! My “to-make” list is overflowing. My current dilemma: sticky apple bars or these caramel bars for a picnic this weekend? Decisions, decisions…
haha you got the whole weekend to create now!!
Wow – I’m getting hooked to your blog. Soo many yummy foods! Thank you for being creative in the kitchen and sharing it…it’s saves me a lot of whooopsies!
Thanks so much Brittany!!
Are the dates used for as a sweetner? Like could it be replaced with honey or would that totally change the consistency of the caramel? And possibly the taste?
No you definitely need the dates, its what makes the caramel
Enjoy your recipes and your rantings but why do you have to use such vulgar language? I can tell you are a fabulous person but that type of language adds nothing positive to who you are and takes away (my) the pleasure of reading your postings.
My mother feels the exact same way Jan, so you’re definitely not alone in that feeling. I just write how my brain thinks and curse words are often included in that babble. Someday that may change 🙂
I have been hesitant to comment on the same things, but when I pass along recipes from your site, I copy and paste them, then include the link with a forewarning about the language. I am also hesitant to buy a tank for the same reason. Some people may think that we’re prudes, but nope, I’m just a mom who prefers not to talk like that.
I am really enjoying your recipes, and your fun personality, so I will keep coming back. you are really helping me with eating Paleo!
I understand that. You and my mother should get together and compare notes!
I hope you weren’t offended at all, that wasn’t my intention. I really do appreciate your sense of humor, kindness to everyone who replies, and your recipes!
No way Elizabeth!! I am who i am and I appreciate everyone who reads my blog 🙂 so thank you for that!
Bacon smell! That’s motivation if you ask me. I know you didn’t, but still there are worse things you could smell like. Like that week I had to go without a kitchen and had no idea what paleo was and the majority of my diet consisted of pizza pockets…
Ugh that is way worse!!
WTF! I thought all the hot, single, outdoorsy available men resided in Colorado?? You just killed the dream. I can tell you this much..they’re not in NYC..unless you want a guy with tight jeans, big glasses and f*cked up hair. Oh- and thanks for this killer recipe!
I’m sorry to bust your bubble lol but maybe all men are kinda lame everywhere?
Rugby players. Y’all have a ton of them in CO and NY. I’m all kinds of biased, since I’m married to one, but seriously…a rugby game is a buffet of hot dudes on the move. All shapes and sizes, but all MEN, not those wimpy, weak pushovers that seem to be the trend in dudes these days. Plus, I’ve never met one who didn’t appreciate an athletic woman. Google a local team, and check out a game. Even if you don’t meet anyone worth getting to know, there are worse ways to spend a Saturday spring afternoon!
Oh, and I made these bars last night. They are fantastic.
Funny you say that because I workout and coach at a Rugby gym. ALL of the guys are rugby boys. And they are all in relationships or complete messes lol. But some are fun to look at!! Glad you liked the bars!
Whoa! What team? Rugby up in Colorado is some of the best in the country…why am I not surprised that one of their teams has their own gym? Man. That is so darn cool.
Barbarians! And it’s not exactly their own gym…the owner of the gym is also their coach. They’re definitely cool guys
just said a little prayer of thanks…I bought dates in costco last weekend for no other reason than they had them. Can’t wait to make these tonight! Thanks for what will no doubt become another favorite recipe!!!
Let me know what you think!!!
ohemgee… they are amazing! I think it is so cute that you cut yours into squares. I did that with one, and then just got a fork.
Oh Tiff, don’t you worry, I forked it too. Gotta at least act like i’m a professional