No-Bake Cocoa Nut Bars
Your new favorite indulgent-but-healthy treat: nut-oat-date crust and cocoa topping with flaked coconut and a little salt on top. It’s easy and crowd-pleasing!
These are perfect to make if you have a little bit of canned coconut milk left over from a different recipe. There is little bit of thick coconut milk in the topping and base to help them firm up.
I think cashews make the prettiest cookie-dough-colored base, but I used walnuts for the ones in this picture. Whatever nuts you like to use, it will be good!
These are no weight-loss treat (you’ll find some of those in my post 5 Desserts Sweetened Only with Fruit), but they are great for anyone who needs more calories: athletes, children who eat like birds, or those struggling to maintain weight. They’re also ideal for general life enjoyment and sharing with anyone who you want to convince that plant-based treats can be delicious.
Here are some other no-bake dessert recipes you need to try if you haven’t yet!
Gingerbread Cookie Dough Bites
Incredibly indulgent and irresistible dessert bars made of a nut base and chocolate topping. They melt easily, so keep them in the freezer (or at least a fridge).
- 1 cup raw nuts (cashews, walnuts, and/or almonds)
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup dates, pits removed
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 TBSP coconut cream (thick part from can of coconut milk) or coconut oil
- 3/4 cup dairy-free semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 TBSP coconut cream or coconut oil
- shredded unsweetened coconut
- coarse salt
-
In a food processor, process the nuts until fine. Add the rest of the base ingredients and process until very smooth and it has clumped into a large ball. It will take a couple minutes.
-
Press into the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. Line with parchment paper if you'd like easy removal. They do come out fairy easily without parchment paper, too. Press until evenly spaced out, then place the pan in the freezer while you make the topping.
-
Melt the chocolate chips and coconut cream or coconut oil in a bowl for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Pour over the base and spread evenly. Sprinkle with some shredded coconut and coarse salt.
-
Let firm up in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Cut into bars 4 rows both ways to make 16 squares. Keep in the freezer.
*For a non chocolate chip version, melt together 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/3 cup cocoa powder and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Melt and pour over.
Adapted from Dishing Out Health.
These are incredible. I made them to take to a girls night where no one else east WFPB. They LOVED them. My treats were the hit of our girls night, they even requested the recipe! Thank you Faith for another great healthier desert option.
These are amazing! I’ve made them several times and constantly crave them. Definitely a keeper!
So glad you like them! Thank you very much for coming back to leave a review!