Chocolate Chip Coconut No-Bake Granola Bars

Chocolate Chip Coconut No-Bake Granola Bars

Ingredients:
dates, deglet noor
water, bottled, generic
oats
shortening confectionery, coconut (hydrogenated) and or palm kernel (hydrogenated)
spartan, real semi-sweet chocolate baking chips,
nuts, almonds
seeds, pumpkin and squash seeds, whole, roasted, without salt
seeds, sunflower seed kernels, dried
spices, cinnamon, ground
nuts, almonds
applesauce, canned, unsweetened, without added ascorbic acid (includes usda commodity)
vanilla extract

Directions:
Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with waxed paper so that the paper hangs over the edges of dish.
Combine dates and water in a food processor or blender; process until a paste forms, adding more water if needed to thin it.
Combine oats, coconut, chocolate chips, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Add date paste, almond butter, applesauce, and vanilla extract; mix, using your hands, until wet ingredients are fully incorporated.
Press mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Cover with another piece of waxed paper and press down using a can or mini roller.
Freeze for 1 hour.
Remove dish from freezer and lift out of dish using the edges of the waxed paper.
Cut into 25 squares.