Recipes: Vegan Strawberry Oat Bars

I'll admit it. I have an enormous sweet tooth. It's quite possible that every tooth in my mouth is a sweet tooth. Who knows. What I do know is that I cannot sit around all day eating cookies and ice cream (if only...) so I've been trying to come up with replacements. This vegan dessert is so sweet and so delicious, it just screams summertime. Thankfully you can make it now!

1.5 cups dates (pitted)
1/4 cup raw unsalted almonds (or cashews)
3 Tbsp rolled oats
1.5 cup fresh strawberries
1 tsp pink himalayan salt

~In a food processor (I improvised and used my Nutribullet--a little janky but it sufficed) combine dates, nuts, oats and salt.

~Press the mixture onto a piece of parchment or into a loaf pan, about 8x10 or so. Either way, spread until the mixture is about 1/4 - 1/2" thin.

~Mash half the strawberries in a bowl by using either a fork or the top of a whisk. Mash until they are all smushed but do not over-mash, and drain the extra juice from the strawberries. Spread on top of the date mixture.

~Slice the remaining strawberries and arrange on top of mashed strawberries. Cut into bars and DIG IN! Best if stored in refrigerator afterward.