Healthy (and raw!) Pecan Bar recipe (212 calories)

FunkBunny · December 2010

If pecan pie is on your mind, you and your guests will love this raw and healthy version.

While this recipe calls for only healthy ingredients, it produces a super-rich and sweet pecan pie that is best served in small portions. Rather than serve this pie in traditional triangular portions, I recommend that you use a good knife to divide this into 2-inch squares (about 18-24 servings). One or two squares are enough to satisfy the fiercest of dessert addicts among your family and guests.
177-212 calories a serving (depending on how big of squares you cut it into)...a reduction from the typical 390 for a slice of traditional pecan pie!

Ingredients:

2 cups almonds (raw, if available), soaked for one hour, drained, dried
3 dozen pitted dates, soaked for one hour, drained (save water)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups raw pecans, soaked for one hour, drained, dried
Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

Put almonds and 10 dates in a food processor and blend until they come together into a crust-like consistency. Add a small amount of water (saved from soaking the dates) if necessary to aid in bringing almonds and dates together.

Grease a pie plate or square baking pan with a light coat of extra-virgin olive oil - this will help prevent the pie from sticking to the plate.

Use a spatula or the underside of a spoon to press the almond-date crust into the bottom of the plate or pan. Be sure to spread it up the sides of the plate or pan to form a full pie crust. Put the finished crust in the freezer until you are ready to fill it.

Combine the remaining dates, fresh lemon or lime juice, cinnamon, sea salt, and vanilla in a food processor and blend until the mixture takes on a smooth, homogenized consistency. Use a small amount of water (left over from soaking dates) if necessary.

Spread the date filling evenly over the almond-date crust.

Arrange raw pecans on top of date filling and press down lightly to help keep the pecans in place.

Enjoy this raw and healthy pecan pie!