Chocolate Squares

A no-bake rich chocolate dessert with a maple glaze. Even if you’re not vegan you’ll like this dessert. You may even love it!

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1/2 cup raw pecans
• 1/2 cup raw shredded coconut, unsweetened*
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon pure, alcohol-free vanilla extract*
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
• 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil to grease pan

Filling Ingredients:

• 10 dates, soaked for 2 hours, drained
• 1 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 cup cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract*
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt

Topping Ingredients:

• 1 recipe Maple Glaze

Directions:

1. In a food processor, pulse nuts until chopped small. Add remaining crust ingredients and process until well combine and clumps together.
2. Press the crust mixture evenly into a greased 9-inch x 9-inch square non-stick springform pan. Set aside.
3. Blend all the filling ingredients in a high powered blender for 2 minutes or until creamy smooth.
4. Pour filling mixture over crust and spread evenly with a silicone spatula or other spatula. Refrigerate 24 hours or until very firm. Cut into 9 or 16 equal size squares, depending on the serving size desired.
5. Transfer all the squares to a serving platter or each to its own serving plate. Use a squeeze bottle to decorate each serving with the Maple Glaze. Stores refrigerated in a covered container for up to 4 days.

Variations:

1. Instead of decorating with Maple Glaze, decorate with Chocolate Sauce.
2. Add a dollop of Banana Mango Cream.

Yield:
Makes 9 or 16 servings

* There is a small possibility of shredded coconut being gluten and dairy contaminated from having been manufactured in facilities that use wheat and milk, and though most extracts contain alcohol primarily derived from gluten-free corn, uncompromising vegans and people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity may want to contact manufacturers to be sure that their products are vegan and gluten-free.