Elixir Eats: Cacao Spirulina Squares

Our topic last Wellness Wednesday was all about the wonderful benefits of Spirulina, the protein packed micro algae. We just had to get creative in the kitchen to show you just how deliciously versatile this green superfood can be!

Instead of a typical green smoothie or juice, we decided to disguise it in a healthy sweet treat, as a lot of people may agree that Spirulina does not have the most pleasant taste!

Behold our chocolatey Spirulina Squares! They are nutty, gooey, nutritious and sweet. What’s even better, is that they are DATE FREE! Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE dates, they have many nutritional benefits. They are full of fibre, vitamins, minerals and have the most amazing caramel taste. Unfortunately however, they are very concentrated in natural sugars, but still a healthier alternative to refined sugar. This time we thought we would cater for those who are wishing to cut down on their sugar intake this new year. There are a lot of people still detoxing away their indulgences from festive season, so our Spirulina squares are just for you, infact anyone and everyone can enjoy these bad boys! They are a good source of protein, fibre and healthy fats. These help keep you energised, fuller for longer and will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Yay to sneaking our greens in this delicious snack, let’s show you what to do!

Ingredients

SQUARES

3/4 cup almond butter

1/2 cup of ground almonds

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup melted coconut oil

1 tbsp spirulina powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 tbsp lucuma powder

2 tbsp chia seeds

2 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp carob powder

4 tbsp brown rice syrup

pinch of himalayan salt

1 tbsp hemp seeds for mixture and extra to sprinkle

SPIRULINA CASHEW CREAM

1/4 tsp of spirulina

1/2 cup soaked cashews

1 tbsp coconut oil

squeeze lemon juice

3 tbsp almond milk

2 tbsp brown rice syrup

makes 16 small squares.

Prep

You need a high speed food processor to really mix it all up well.

Line a rectangular baking tray with cling film, this makes it easy to lift the set mixture out of the tray and cut into squares!

Soak the cashews for a minimum of 4 hours, over night has the best results!

How we did it

1. Combine all the main square ingredients into the food processor, blitzing the mixture until it is sticky and smooth, similar to how a protein ball mixture would look.

2. Decant the mixture into your baking tray, squishing it down and smoothing over the top with a the back of a metal spoon. Set aside in the freezer.

3. While this is setting, you can make a start on the cashew topping. Drain and rinse the cashews and pop into a high speed blender. We used a Nutri Bullet.

4. Add the remaining cream ingredients and whizz it all up. It should be fairly thick so you can spread it over the squares.

5. Finally decorate with hemp seeds and put into the freezer so it can set.

6. Leave for about half an hour, and then cut into squares!

7. Delicious! These are wonderful enjoyed when hunger strikes or as a fantastic post work out snack.

ELIXIR TIP: Keep these treats in the freezer so the cashew cream stays fresh, but take out the freezer prior to eating. Treats at room temperature bring out more flavour!

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