Raw Chocolate Orange Slice

Name: Raw Chocolate Orange Slice
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups (330 g) Medjool dates (See Note 1); 1 1/2 cups (225 g) raw cashews; 1/3 cup (40 g) cacao powder (See Note 2); 3 tsp white chia seeds; 3 tsp orange zest - finely grated; 3 tbsp orange juice (See Note 3); 2 tsp cacao powder

For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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This delicious Raw Chocolate Orange Slice is incredibly easy to make and is a healthy, satisfying sweet treat. These sweet bites are also refined sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan.

Overhead shot of slices, with some orange and cashews around the edge.

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Why we love this recipe:
Ingredients in this recipe:
Step by step instructions:
Tips for success and FAQs:
More delicious recipes for you to try:
Raw Chocolate Orange Slice

Why we love this recipe:

Some combinations of flavours work so well together and chocolate and orange are two of the best. The zesty orange flavour perfectly complements the rich chocolate. Inspired by my Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls, you will need just 6 simple ingredients to make these bars.

They are so simple to prepare. Aside from tasting delicious, they are also:

Vegan, gluten and refined sugar-free – making them suitable for many people with special dietary requirements;
Made from raw ingredients, and do not require cooking;
These are versatile sweet treats. Enjoy one with a morning coffee, add to a lunch box, take on picnics or give as a gift. Just parcel some in a cellophane bag and tie it with a pretty ribbon.
Suitable for freezing.

If you crave something sweet or need a boost of energy to help you through the day, these Raw Chocolate Orange Bars are ideal. They taste decadent and rich, whilst being made from all-natural ingredients and free of refined sugar.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Medjool dates – these are fresh fruit, not the dried dates commonly found in the baking section of the supermarket. They have a natural sweetness and stickiness that works perfectly for these Energy Bars.

Cashews – I use raw cashews. They have a rich, creamy flavour and as they are softer than many other nuts they easily blend to a smooth paste. You can, however, leave them with a little texture if you prefer.

Cacao powder – pronounced “ka-cow”, is made from minimally processed cocoa beans and maintains the nutritional benefits of the bean. It is, in essence, chocolate in its purest form.

Chia seeds – currently enjoying enormous popularity, chia seeds were once a staple in the Mayan and Aztec diets. Chia seeds absorb liquid and form a gel, helping bind these orange and chocolate bites.

Orange juice and zest – I add a little orange juice to help bind the mixture together, and some zest to get that extra boost of orange flavour.

Step by step instructions:

Steps 1-4 of preparing this recipe in a photo collage - preparing the tin, remove the pits from the date, add roughly chopped dates to food processor and add the remaining ingredients.

Steps 5-8 of preparing this recipe in a photo collage - adding the mixture to a tin, pressing it down, dusting with cacao powder and covering in cling wrap to set.

Prepare a dish by lining with cling wrap, leaving a little hanging over the edges so you will be able to easily remove the bars and sprinkle with cacao.
Wash the dates and remove their seeds.
Add the dates to the bowl of a food processor and roughly chop.
Add the cashews, cacao powder, chia seeds, orange juice and zest. Blend until combined to your preference, either smooth or left chunky. Check that the mixture is sufficiently moist to be able to firmly flatten into your dish. If not, add a couple more dates or a teaspoon of orange juice and blend again.
Turn the mixture into the prepared dish.
Using the back of a large spoon or spatula, press the mixture firmly to evenly distribute it and compress it.
Sprinkle with a little more cacao.
Refrigerate for about an hour to help the mixture firm up, then cut into bars and store them in an airtight container.

Overhead shot of the complete slice, cut into pieces.

Tips for success and FAQs:

The dates that we use in this Raw Chocolate Orange Slice are Medjool dates. These are fresh dates, available from the greengrocer or fruit and veg section of the supermarket.

After blending the mixture, take a small amount, press it together between your fingers to check if it can be compressed to make bars which will hold together. If the mixture is too crumbly, add a small amount of orange juice to bind it together.

How long will the Raw Chocolate Orange Slice last?

They will last in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container, for about one week.

Can you freeze the slice?

To keep the slice for longer, store it in an airtight container in the freezer for about 3 months.

Side shot of sliced bars, with some cashews and orange slices around the edge.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

After some more delicious snack ideas? These are also vegan, gluten and refined sugar free, and very simple to prepare:

Enjoy the rich taste of these delicious Chocolate Orange Bars. I would love to hear from you when you have given them a try!

Alex xx