Trail Bites: Fruit and Nut Bars

Do you ever crave something sweet but you want to eat something good for you too?  Fruit and nuts all rolled in to one sound like a fantastic treat.  These bites are portable and can be stored at room temperature so they are great to take on the trail.  The Date & Almond bars are decadent and brownie like, while the Apricot Cashew bars are sweet and tangy.

Date & Almond Bars
12 Dates
1/4 cup raw almonds
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Agave nectar to taste

Apricot Cashew Bars
3 ounces dried apricots
1/3 cup raw cashews
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
Agave nectar to taste

For both recipes, directions are the same.

Place all ingredients into a food processor and grind until ingredients begin to stick together.  If the mixture is a bit dry, you can add a sprinkle of water and process for a few more seconds.  Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and place the fruit and nut mixture in the pan.  Pat the mixture down firmly and wrap the plastic over the top.  Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.  Take the bars out of the freezer and slice into 6 pieces.  Wrap individually or store in an airtight container.