These bars are gooey, sweet and comfortable. Maybe you think comfortable is a weird adjective for food, but I think it’s appropriate. Of course this recipe is reminiscent of PB&J (aka, the foodstuff of my childhood), so the flavor combo brings back memories for me of being young and not having a substantial care in the world. Comfort. I will be the first to admit these bars can get messy. So have a napkin handy … or #yolo it and proudly wear bits of jam and chocolate on your face for the remainder of the day, I won’t judge. Isn’t getting a bit dirty part of life, anyway? —EvE
MAKES 6 TO 8 BARS
ALMOND BUTTER BASE
1 cup (80 g) rolled oats
½ cup (90 g) almond butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup
¼ cup (28 g) ground flaxseed
JAM
1 cup (150 g) berries of choice
4 tbsp (40 g) chia seeds
1 cup (180 g) raw or dark chocolate, melted
FOR THE ALMOND BUTTER BASE
Grind the rolled oats into flour in a blender. Then mix this together with the other ingredients in a bowl. Press it into the bottom of a lined bread pan (I used two small ones). Put it in the fridge.
FOR THE JAM
Mash or blend the berries until smooth, and then thoroughly stir in the chia seeds, letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the chia seeds can gel with the mashed berries and thicken into jam. Spread this onto your base, drizzling the chocolate on evenly. I swirled in some more almond butter at this point because … why not? Stick it back in the fridge and let it sit for an hour; then slice and munch! Slice them carefully—the jam is gooey.
*SEE PHOTO INSERT