Easy Fruit and Nut Bars

The following recipe is one that the kids and I have played with and discovered together on our journey through gluten free and healthier living.  This recipe is thoroughly kid tested AND kid and husband approved.  We made a batch tonight for photos and it is almost all gone.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (Psalm 127:3)

Easy Fruit and Nut Bars

Ingredients:

1.5 Cups Dried Fruit *

1/2 to 1 Cup Toasted Almond, Walnuts or Pecans

Pinch of salt

1/4 to 1/3 Cup Melted Dark Chocolate

Directions:

1. In a food processor, combine dried fruit, salt and nuts and mix until ground. 

2. Place parchment paper in a 9x5 loaf pan, covering sides and bottom.  Put the ground fruit and nuts into the pan and flatten on the bottom to ends and corners evenly.  

3. Pull up on parchment paper and remove fruit piece, placing on plate or cutting board upside down.  Remove parchment paper. 

4. Drizzle with melted chocolate, cut into 12 pieces and place in the refrigerator until chocolate is hardened.  We prefer to keep the bars cold for storage, but they can be kept room temperature as well.  Enjoy!

*For the bars pictured I used 1.5 cups of mixed dried fruit (apples, cranberries, dates and apricots) along with both almonds and pecans.  I also pressed sunflower seeds into the bottom per my husbands request for more crunch.  All agree on the yum factor.  We have also combined apricots, dates and pecans as well as cranberries, apricots and almonds and enjoyed both combinations.