Holiday Harvest Bites

This dessert is perfect for the Thanksgiving Holiday, as it has a little bit of everything in one dish; tart cranberries, buttery walnuts, rich cacao and creamy medjool dates…. Holy YES. It’s creamy, sweet, crunchy, and slightly rich!

Ingredients

Cacao Base

• 4 C Almond Meal (almonds processed to fine texture)
• 15 dates (soaked and pitted)
• .25 C cacao powder
• 1/3 C soaking date water (or, plain water)
• .5 tsp sea salt
• .5 tsp vanilla

Cranberry Orange Spread

• 2 C dried cranberries
• 15-20 drops orange essential oil (or, rind from one orange)
• 2/3 C water

Caramel Crunch

• 11 dates (pitted and soaked)
• 1/3 C water from soaking dates
• 2 T lemon juice
• .5 tsp sea salt
• .5 tsp vanilla
• 2 C chopped walnuts

Instructions

In a food processor, process all ingredients except water. Once combined, slowly add water until mixture starts to stick. In a square baking dish lined with parchment paper, press mixture into pan. Set aside.Cranberry Orange SpreadIn a high-speed blender, blend all ingredients until smooth. Spread mixture over cacao base and place in the bottom of a dehydrator (D) for 8 hours at 105 degrees.

Caramel CrunchIn a high-speed blender, blend first set of ingredients until smooth. Transfer caramel to a bowl and fold in chopped walnuts. Spread and press mixture over cranberry layer once it has been in the D for 6 hours. Place back in the D for 8 hours at 105.Store in Refrigerator for one week – or, in the freezer indefinitely.