Peanut Butter Caramel Slice

Layers of flavors create one of my best desserts yet, peanut butter caramel slice. A pecan crust is covered with all natural creamy peanut butter, salted caramel made with dates then topped with chocolate. The sweet and salty with peanut butter, chocolate, pecans and a caramel inspired filling is enough to make you say just one more please!  All 100% vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and raw. This is the most dreamy decadent desserts. "Better than a snickers" declared my husband. The best part? One regular snickers bar is 250 calories vs. 197 calories, has 27 grams of sugar vs. 1.6 grams, 120 mg of sodium vs. 36 mg., 33 grams of carbs vs. 4.6 grams, with 4 grams of protein in a snickers and 7.5 in these bars!

The ingredients in a snickers bar are: MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PALM OIL, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, SALT, EGG WHITES, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. ALLERGY INFORMATION: CONTAINS PEANUTS, MILK, EGG AND SOY. MAY CONTAIN TREE NUTS.

The ingredients in this recipe would read:
Medjool Dates, Pecans, Water, Natural Peanut Butter, Raw Cacao, Coconut Oil, Agave, Sea Salt, Pure Vanilla Extract.

In other words, you can enjoy this recipe with ingredients that are good for you and still hit that sweet candy bar craving. Upon our first taste test we decided we better try another. I can't believe these are good for you. If I had a coffee shop or restaurant, these desserts would be there. Instead, you can make your own in the comfort of your home. Plant based eating tastes so good! You are going to LOVE this recipe! They are an unbelievable combination of flavors, enjoy!! With Love & Light, Christa ​

Crust: 
1 Cup Pecans
1/2 Cup Soft Medjool Dates
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

First Layer:
3/4 Cup Natural Peanut Butter

Second Layer:
3/4 Cup Medjool Dates (soft)
3/4 Cup Water
1 tsp Vanilla
Hefty Pinch Sea Salt

Third layer:
3 Tbsp Cacao
3 Tbsp Agave
3 Tbsp Coconut Oil (melted - organic, virgen)
Opt: Pinch of Sea Salt
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1. Pulse crust ingredients (1 cup pecans, 1/2 cup soft medjool dates, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp sea salt) in food processor until well combined and sticky, press firmly into desired pan, lined with parchment paper or lightly greased foil. I used a loaf pan, increase recipe for larger pans. 
2. Heat 3/4 cup natural peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat until it is warm and creamy, or make it fresh and it will be warm. I made mine fresh in about 5 minutes, click for recipe. Spread on top of the crust with a spatula. 
3. Pulse second layer ingredients (3/4 cup medjool dates, 3/4 cup water, 1 tsp vanilla and hefty pinch of sea salt) in food processor until super smooth, 1-2 minutes, no chunks. Spread on top of the peanut butter.
4. In a small bowl, mix together the third layer ingredients (3 tbsp. cacao, 3 tbsp. agave, 3 tbsp. melted coconut oil + salt if using) with a fork until smooth, use a spatula to smooth on top. Freeze for 4 + hrs until firm, slice and serve. The nice thing about these is they require little to no time to thaw so you can enjoy them quickly! :) 

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Inspired by the concept of a caramel slice with the thought of why not add peanut butter? No recipe was looked at, all created with inspiration. Tag @artisticvegan or #artisticvegan so I can re-post if you make this recipe. 

Snickers Information pulled from: http://www.snickers.com/nutritional-info