10 Mar Sesame Hemp Bars

Posted at 00:00h in Recipes by

Remember those sesame crisps we enjoyed as kids? I loved those teeth-breaking treats!

I recently had a craving for sesame seeds, and I’m convinced it’s nature’s way of telling me I need more calcium in my diet. I’m a bit wary of calcium supplements. There is definitely convincing arguments on both sides of the “calcium supplementation” conversation, which certainly doesn’t make it less confusing. However, at the end of the day, I am still going to get as many of my nutrients in food format vs supplements, as I’m convinced the body recognizes nutrients in the context of whole food.

…but back to my craving for a sweet treat….

As with almost all of my recipes, it’s really all about what I have on-hand. I happened to have both black and white sesame seeds in the fridge, so we were off to a good start. I highly recommend having black sesame seeds on-hand. Not only are they super nutritious (high in both calcium and iron), but they make a spectacular addition to just about any dish by adding visual interest and enhancing the taste.

These take minutes to assemble, and after baking, sprinkle hemp hearts on top, cover with parchment paper, and weigh down the bars so they end up more dense. I simply placed cans of beans on top while they cooled. Once cooled, cut into bars and enjoy (with no cracked teeth!).

Sesame Hemp Bars

1 cup white sesame seeds
1/4 cup black sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt ( I used Himalayan)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons hemp hearts

Combine seeds and salt. In separate bowl, combine honey, peanut butter and vanilla. Gradually add honey mixture to seeds and mix well. Transfer to parchment-lined 8 x 8 inch  pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes (watch though, as the seeds can quickly turn on you). Remove from oven when lightly browned and sprinkle with hemp hearts. Cover with parchment and weigh down with cans or something heavy. This step is optional; however, it makes the bars nice and dense. Once cooled, cut bars into desired size. Enjoy!