No-Bake Almond-Date Financiers
Vegan no-bake bars with toasted almonds, dates and orange zest that taste like a French financier without the oven.
Best for A fiber-rich, plant-based bite with heart-healthy fats and no refined sugar.
The classic French financier is all about brown butter and almonds, so I rebuilt that flavor with no butter and no oven at all. Toasted almonds give the deep, nutty backbone; Medjool dates bind everything with whole-food sweetness and a good hit of fiber. These press together into tidy little bars that snap clean when chilled and taste far more grown-up than a standard energy bar.
Ingredients
- 200 g whole raw almonds , toasted, divided
- 250 g medjool dates , pitted, about 14 large
- 60 g almond butter , smooth, unsweetened
- 50 g rolled oats
- 1 orange , zest only
- 2 ml pure almond extract
- 1 g fine sea salt
- 20 g Sliced almonds , for topping (optional – can be omitted)
Instructions
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1
If your almonds aren't already toasted, spread them in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast, tossing often, until fragrant and lightly golden, about 8 minutes; let cool. Line a 20 cm square pan or a small loaf pan with parchment, leaving an overhang. If the dates feel firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain well and pat dry.
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2
Set aside 60 g of the toasted almonds and roughly chop them for texture. Add the remaining 140 g almonds and the oats to a food processor and pulse to a coarse meal. Add the dates, almond butter, orange zest, almond extract and salt, then process until the mixture climbs the sides and clumps together when pressed between two fingers, 60 to 90 seconds. Pulse in the chopped almonds just until distributed.
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3
Tip the mixture into the lined pan and press very firmly into an even layer, using the flat bottom of a glass to compact it; poor compaction is why bars crumble. Scatter the sliced almonds over the top and press them in. Chill for at least 60 minutes until firm, then lift out by the parchment and cut into 12 bars with a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.