08 Mar Sesame Chews

Oh how I loved those sesame crisp candies when I was growing up. Not only did you risk breaking your teeth, but once softened, they stuck to your teeth and yanked out fillings….my dentist’s dream!

Kidding aside, sesame seeds themselves are a nutrition powerhouse. They are packed with important, bone-building minerals (calcium and magnesium), iron, zinc, selenium and manganese. They also contain antioxidants, folic acid, B vitamins, protein and fiber – phew!

Wishing for a sweet sesame seed snack that was a little more tooth-friendly, I set to making these “chews” (although I think I like Ruth’s description of “fudge” better). These really do only take minutes to make and are really tasty. I used coconut milk powder which is such a versatile product. It’s a gut-friendly pre-biotic and contains the highly coveted lauric acid. It can enhance smoothies, be used in a pinch for recipes that call for coconut milk, and in this recipe, lend a nice texture to the finished product. I also added 1/4 cup of my favourite SunWarrior protein powder. It’s a super clean, vegan, non-GMO product that is a staple at our house. These chews are not even cooked – a few ingredients simply warmed to thoroughly mix, then simply add the rest of the ingredients and let cool in the fridge.

Sesame Chews

1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup organic peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut milk powder
1/4 cup protein powder (I used Sun Warrior)
1 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla

Warm to liquid 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Add honey and peanut butter and blend until thoroughly mixed. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Transfer mixture to parchment lined pan and set in fridge for 30 minutes. Cut into desired squares. Store in fridge. Enjoy!