A healthy, gluten-free and vegan recipe for no bake magic bars that is full of nuts, coconut, cacao nibs and natural sweeteners.
Hello healthy, meet delicious. A deliciously healthy dessert that does not make you feel uber guilty about eating it when you’re done?! Sign me up!! Over a year ago I discovered the awesomeness of raw desserts.
These desserts are made with natural sugars and are not heated above ~110 degrees, hence preserving all of the nutritional benefits found in the ingredients. Besides the fact that they are jam-packed full of feel-good nutrients, but they’re also super easy to prepare.
Forget the messy cleanup of batters and icing splatters. You only need 1 piece of equipment–a food processor. If you don’t have one yet, you should check out this one here. It’s the one I use and it has been tested to the max and still keeps on ah-processing.
So… about these magic bars. I consider them pretty magic since the crust is a fine mix of almond flour, maple syrup, and peanut butter. Yup, I’m on a nut butter kick this week (check out this PB&J Chia Seed Pudding recipe!), but I promise I will post something different next week.
After the peanut butter layer comes the “caramel” glaze. This glaze is made from dates, a little more maple syrup and water. Easy enough, right!
Sprinkle on a bit of coconut and cacao nibs (or chocolate chips if you’re feeling a little crazy), refrigerate and hide in the WAY far back of the fridge so no one else devours your guiltless treats before you do.
Hope you enjoy!
Want more recipes like these Healthy No Bake Magic Bars?
Healthy, 4-Ingredient Monster Cookie Bites
No-Bake Gluten Free Fig Newtons
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal Bites
Oatmeal Cookie Gluten Free Magic Bars
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Ingredients
Peanut Butter Crust:
- 1 ½ c almond flour
- ½ c peanut butter smooth or crunchy
- 2 T coconut oil melted
- 1/3 c maple syrup
- ¾ c coconut shredded, unsweetened
Caramel Glaze:
- 1 T coconut oil melted
- ¾ c dates pits removed, coarsely chopped
- ¼ c water
- 1 T . maple syrup
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 T cacao nibs
- 3 T coconut shredded, unsweetened
Instructions
For the Peanut Butter Crust:
- In the bowl of a food processor combine all of the peanut butter crust ingredients. Process for 1-2 minutes, or until mixture begins to hold together and form a ball.
- Press peanut butter crust into a parchment paper-lined 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Refrigerate while preparing the caramel glaze.
For the Caramel Glaze:
- Place oil, dates, water, syrup and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Process for 2 minutes, stopping every 20-30 seconds to scrape the sides. You want the dates to be completely smooth and the glaze to have a caramel consistency.
- (Optional) Place glaze into a ziptop bag and cut one of the corners. Squeeze glaze out of the bag over the peanut butter crust layer in a criss-cross pattern.
- If you don’t want to do the above, you can simply spread the glaze over the peanut butter bars.
- Sprinkle the remaining 2-3 T. cacao nibs and coconut over the caramel glaze.
- Refrigerate bars for at least 1 hour before serving and keep refrigerated between servings. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi London,
Looks great 1t is that a tablespoon?
1 t is a teaspoon, not a tablespoon. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Outstanding! I made them in mini muffin cups! What a treat!
Yay!! So happy you enjoyed the recipe, Val! Thanks for your comment 🙂
What can I use instead of almond flour, I need something nut free?
Great question, Jen! I haven’t personally tested these out with anything other than almond flour, however, oat flour might work well! I would love to know what you try and how it turns out for you 🙂
Is there something else I can use instead of coconut oil? Thanks.
Hi! You will want to go with something that is pretty subtle in flavor, like safflower and sunflower oil. Butter will also work if you are not vegan!
Hi, do I put cacao nibs in the caramel mixture or are they just for on top?
Thanks!
They’re just for the top, but you can include as many as you like 🙂
Are the dates regular dried dates or medjool dates? Thanks ????
You can use either, Kelsey!! My favorites to use are definitely Medjool dates… they have so much more flavor! However, feel free to use whatever you can find 🙂
I used almond butter . This is the BEST bar! Can’t stop eating! Thank you for the recipe!
I bet they were delicious with almond butter!! Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed them 🙂
Could you use Agave nectar in place of the maple syrup
Absolutely, Tonya!! Agave nectar, maple syrup, and honey are interchangeable in all of my no-bake dessert recipes. Just know that the flavor will be slightly affected 🙂