How To Make Healthy Chocolate Energy Bars For Navratri

Navratri arrives twice every year, first in the month of Chaitra, which corresponds to March–April in the Gregorian calendar, and then again in the month of Sharad, which is September–October. Among these two Navratri, the one considered most significant is Sharad Navratri. It is due to its spiritual significance associated with the Ashwin month or lunar month, and it ends with Vijayadashmi or Dussehra. Sharad Navratri is often the time when people observe a 9-day fast. During the fasting period, it is essential to have something that is both energizing and light on the stomach, while preserving the sattvic quality.

One dessert that checks all these boxes is chocolate-dry fruit bars. You might enjoy chikki during fasting, and these bars take it one step further with the flavor of chocolate and the nutrition of dried fruits. In addition to being chocolatey and sattvic, these bars are naturally sweetened with dates and figs, allowing you to enjoy them as much as you like. Try this recipe for Navratri and stay satisfied even during a long period of fasting.

Navratri Energy Bar Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dates
• ½ cup figs
• ½ cup fox nuts (makhana), roasted
• ¼ cup almonds
• ¼ cup cashews
• 2 tbsp walnuts
• 2 tbsp chia seeds or flax seeds
• 2 tbsp coconut flakes (dry or fresh, unsweetened)
• 2–3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp dark chocolate
• 1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
• A pinch of cardamom powder
• A pinch of sendha namak

Method:

Step 1: Roast the Nuts & Seeds

Start by lightly roasting almonds, cashews, walnuts, makhana, and various seeds, such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, in a dry pan without any ghee until they turn fragrant and golden. Once roasted, let them cool on a paper towel-lined tray. A paper towel will absorb the remaining moisture and help keep the seeds dry as they cool down.

Step 2: Prepare the Base

Soak the pitted dates and figs in warm water until they become moist and slightly swollen. Use a powerful mixer grinder to blend the dates into a sticky yet uniform paste with no lumps. The paste should have a smooth consistency.

Step 3: Mix Chocolate Flavor

Heat some ghee or coconut oil in a small pan. Add the prepared date paste along with some cocoa powder and grated dark chocolate. Combine all the ingredients together until a smooth mixture forms. This will be the base of bars. At first, it will be thick, but as you cook, it will start to loosen up and spread out, which is necessary for mixing the ingredients.

Step 4: Combine Everything

To this mixture, add roasted nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, cardamom powder, and a pinch of sendha namak. You can skip salt if you want, but just a pinch will enhance the sweet and deep flavor. Mix everything well until the mixture binds together.

Step 5: Set the Bars

Once the mixture is ready, it is time to turn it into bars. Transfer the mixture into a greased flat tray with raised edges. Press the mixture evenly, making sure that no side is thicker than the others and that it is evenly flattened. Use a spatula to help even out the surface. Once it is flat, set it in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours. Don’t take it out before it is firm, or else the bars will fall apart and crumble.

Step 6: Cut & Serve

Once the mixture is set, slice it into bars or squares and serve with desired toppings. For later use, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 to 10 days.

Why Is This Navratri Energy Bar Recipe Perfect For The Festival?

• These bars are naturally sweetened with dates and figs. Hence, there is no need to add refined sugar. The addition of refined sugar makes sweet treats unhealthy; therefore, swapping sugar with dates and figs is a better option.

• The bars are made with healthy, energy-packed ingredients like nuts and seeds. This makes it a perfect sweet to curb cravings and sustain energy during fasting.

• The combination of cocoa and dark chocolate makes regular bars extremely indulgent. Treats like these make fasting more enjoyable and help you sustain energy while keeping the fast. Even if your fast lasts for 9 days, these bars will help you replenish energy and curb cravings.

• These bars are an easy grab-and-go snack during vrat. Even when you want to go to the office, you can take these bars and enjoy them as a snack in between work.