1cup (120g)Shelled Pistachiosunroasted and unsalted
2cups (340g)Pitted Dates
½cup (128g)Cashew Butteror your choice of nut butter
¼cup (84g)Honey
1teaspoonVanilla Extract
1teaspoonKosher Salt
1Lemon or Orangezested
For the Chocolate Topping
1TablespoonOlive Oil
3ozDark Chocolate
2Tablespoons (15g)Shelled Pistachios
Instructions
Add the oats, cashews, and pistachios to a sheet pan and toast for 15 minutes at 350ºF. Keep the additional 2 tablespoons of pistachios for the topping separate, either toasting on a separate pan at the same time or toasting after.
While the nuts and oats cool briefly, add the dates, cashew butter, honey, vanilla, salt, and lemon zest to a food processor or blender. Pulse a few times to just bring everything together. You're not looking to make a smooth puree.
Add the cooled nuts and oats and pulse a few more times. Again, just mixing everything together and not completely blending.
Once everything is sticking together, transfer to a dish or sheet pan to form the bars. Press the mixture into an even layer inside the dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes. (I used a 9"x11" baking dish. The bars will work in any dish but will vary in thickness.)
After 30 minutes, melt the chocolate and olive oil together over low heat. Once melted, pour over the chilled granola and spread to an even layer. Roughly chop the extra 2 tablespoons of toasted pistachios and sprinkle over the bars along with a pinch of flaky salt. Refrigerate for an hour before slicing.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
If you have roasted cashews and pistachios on hand, you can toast the oats on their own. Omit the extra salt if you're using roasted and salted nuts.