I am just not sure there is anything better than nut butter and chocolate. Maybe the fact that I’m 4.5 weeks away from being done with my first year of grad school! But I feel like that is on another level. Can I tell you real quick that the weather in West Texas is crazy? Straight crazy. We’re talking 97 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next. It’s too much for this Southern California girl. I won’t complain about how San Diego’s weather is boring again, promise!

These bars start with making the easiest nut butter ever, Macadamia nut butter. Because the nuts have so much natural oil, you don’t need to process them for a long time or add much to make an amazing nut butter to use as you please! If you just want the nut butter, follow step 1 only! If you need some chocolate in your life (who doesn’t) follow the rest of the instructions. And don’t forget to enter to win some coconut oil! Can I tell you that coconut oil has changed my life? I cook with it, bake with it, and use it like lotion! It’s the best. Really.

Dark Chocolate Macadamia Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup macadamia nuts

1 tbsp pure maple syrup

sea salt to taste

2 tbsp Tropical Traditions coconut oil

2 tbsp raw honey (preferably local)

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Tropical Traditions coconut flakes

Directions

1. Place macadamia nuts in a food processor and puree until smooth (this takes about 4 minutes in my little mini kitchen aid). Add maple syrup and sea salt and puree until combined.

2. Pour into a small baking dish (8×8 or similar) and smooth out in one uniform layer. Place in the freezer for at least 15 minutes. (Option 1 – read on for option 2)

3. Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil over low heat and slowly add cocoa powder. Remove from heat and add remaining 2 tbsp honey. Spread chocolate mixture over frozen macadamia nut butter mixture. Sprinkle coconut flakes over the chocolate and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. (Option 1)

4. Option 2 (this is what I did) – Take a knife and swirl everything together, then add the coconut on top. This makes more of a single bar, where option 1 makes more of a Buttercup Bar type dessert!

Remove the dish from the freezer and let warm slightly (I run water over the bottom of the dish for 15-20 seconds) – don’t let it melt! Cut into squares and eat them all return them to the freezer.

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review and Giveaway

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

While I have had several different kinds of coconut oil, I wasn’t always sure that I could tell the difference. So the first thing I did was do a taste test with another brand. I could definitely tell the difference! Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil had a more fresh and a little bit of an earthy taste to it. I’ve heard people complain that cooking in coconut oil makes everything too sweet. Tropical Traditions doesn’t do this! Some of my favorite ways to use coconut oil: making eggs, in my coffee, as a moisturizer (yes on your body!), and of course to make Buttercup Bars.

Now’s your chance to win your own jar!

ENTER HERE

The giveaway officially ends Tuesday, April 23rd at 10pm CST!

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

[If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.]