No-Bake Vegan Almond Joy Bars
Love chocolate and coconut? You will love these no-bake vegan almond joy bars! This recipe is gluten-free, oil-free, refined sugar-free and easy to make with just 4 ingredients. Enjoy for a healthy homemade dessert.
Almond, coconut and chocolate make the perfect combo in these delicious no-bake bars. If you love chocolate and coconut together, you will love these for a healthy homemade dessert!
They’re soft and chewy with a bit of crunch from the chocolate and the recipe is so easy to make. Toss everything in a food processor, blend, press, slice and enjoy!
If you’re looking for more homemade candy bars, you’ll have to try these copycat Butterfingers, Twix, Snickers and Mounds bars next.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these bars. Let’s
- Coconut. Use unsweetened fine or medium shredded coconut.
- Chocolate. I used Enjoy Life Mega Chunks but any chopped dark chocolate or vegan chocolate chips work well. You can use Lily’s Premium Dark Chocolate Chips for a sugar-free option. If you’re not vegan, any chocolate works
- Almonds. You’ll need plain, raw almonds with no added salt or oil. If they’re dry roasted that’s ok though, it will add extra flavour!
- Dates. Soft and moist dates are important as they help hold everything together. If your dates are dry, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using.
I also added a bit of Simply Organic Almond Extract to mine to really bring out the almond flavour. You could add a little coconut extract too if you had some on hand!
Step by Step Instructions
You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full written instructions but these step-by-step photos will help you visualize the process. Have a peek before beginning the recipe.
Step 1. Process the Coconut
First, add the shredded coconut to your food processor and blend for 5-10 minutes until it starts to form a paste. It doesn’t need to be as drippy as coconut butter but if should resemble a thick, grainy paste.
Step 2. Add the Dates, Almonds and Chocolate
Add the dates and almonds to the food processor with the coconut paste and mix until it forms a thick dough.
Once that’s combined, add the chocolate and pulse the food processor a few times to mix it in.
Step 3. Form the bars and top with chocolate
Evenly press the dough into a baking pan, firmly pressing it into each corner. If you’re adding the chocolate topping (obviously recommended!), melt the chocolate and evenly spread it over the bars.
Quick Tip: Line the pan with parchment paper to make it easy to lift them out once set.
Step 4. Freeze, slice and enjoy!
Set the whole pan in the freezer until the bars are firm.
Quick Tip: If you added chocolate on top, make sure you let the bars sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before slicing in order to prevent the chocolate from cracking when you slice it.
Related Recipes
Here are some more yummy no-bake desserts to try:
- No-Bake Chocolate Caramel Bars
- No-Bake Cashew Tahini Bars
- Homemade Snickers
- Homemade Twix Bars
- Chocolate Fudge Bars
Did you try this recipe?
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I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a review and be sure to tag me @runningonrealfood if you post it on social media.
No-Bake Vegan Almond Joy Bars
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 20
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These delicious no-bake bars feature the classic combo of chocolate and coconut, inspired by Almond Joy. Enjoy these sweet treats for a healthy homemade dessert or energizing snack anytime. Just 4 ingredients needed!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (200 g) unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup (160 g) raw almonds
- 1 cup packed (225 g), pitted soft dates (see notes)
- 1/2 cup (90 g) dairy-free chocolate chunks or chips, or chopped dark chocolate
- 1/2 tsp almond extract, optional
- 1/2 cup (90 g) dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate, for topping (optional)
- more coconut, for topping
Instructions
- Add the coconut to a food processor and processor for 5-10 minutes unit it starts to form a thick paste.
- Add the almonds and dates and mix until it forms a thick dough. Add the almond extract if you’re using it.
- Add the chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate and pulse a few times to combine.
- Line a 7-8 inch square baking pan with saran wrap or parchment paper then firmly press the dough into the pan taking a few minutes to work it into all the corners and smooth it out.
- Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate on the stovetop or in the microwave then spread it over the bars. Sprinkle a little coconut on top, if desired.
- Place in the freezer for at least 1 hour. If you topped the bars with chocolate, let them sit at room temperate for 10-15 minutes before slicing to prevent the chocolate from cracking.
- Lift out of the pan and cut into 20 bars.
Notes
Soft, moist dates are best for this recipe. If your dates are dry, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 172
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
Keywords: almond joy bars, no-bake almond joy bars
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published on December 18, 2016. It was updated in February 2020 with new photos and text.
This was amazing and easy! I added a couple of frozen cherries. Thank you, will be making this one over and over.
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Thanks Erin!
We made these and they are delicious….love the dates in them!!! The mixture was a little dry so ended up adding some coconut milk and a little coconut oil to moisten. Other than that, so yummy! When I’m trying to be good, I eat half of a bar….works sometimes!!!:)
Love all no-bake recipes too.
★★★★★
Love these! I don’t use the almond extract and they still taste so much like almond joy bars!
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Hi I was wondering what the nutrient facts are for this recipe per bar? Thank you!
Hi, you can find them listed at the bottom of the recipe. Thanks!
Most amazing bars EVER! Now I’m just trying to keep myself from eating all of them at once!
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Hahaha, I know, it’s so hard!! I’m so glad you enjoyed them. Feel free to send some my way if you’re worried you might eat them all at once 😉 Thanks for the comment!
There is definitely one best way to eat almond and this recipe of yours just prove it. Thanks a lot for sharing this one. Definitely a lot of your readers now are eager and excited to try this one and serve it to their family and friends.
Thank you Deryn, no-bake recipes are the best!
Thanks Gustavo!
I love no-bake recipes! This recipe makes cooking easy and enjoyable!
love this recipe!
★★★★★