Candy bars-gluten free and vegan
Holy cow these candy bars are the absolute bomb, gluten free, vegan and no so bad for you.
I literally should have quadrupled the batch of these candy bars when I made them last week. Holly molly where they the best… They were sensational to say the least but at the same time dangerous since stopping at just one bar was rather difficult for me…what the heck, I think I have to make them again this weekend!
Have you used dates for making desserts before? If you haven’t you really should give it a try. I started not too long ago. Probably about a year ago to be exact. Not only dates are a healthier option to use in place of unrefined sugar, but they are extremely versatile. Give dates a try, I think you will love them too.
On another note, for the first time ever I am started to cook most of my meals for the week on Sunday. I started summer school and since my schedule is super crazy including study time, gym, picking the kids from school, kids activities, running small errands etc, I hardly have enough time to fit everything in anymore. I really had to device a plan to cook most of my weekly meals during the weekend with the exception of perhaps one.
Last Sunday I cooked five meals in record time. One hour to be exact. Of course I was cooking like a mad woman but the amount of cooking time that I will be saving during the week would be priceless. Will see how it goes this coming Sunday because today I spent $300 on groceries. I have never spent that kind of money in just one grocery trip before. Oh well, it was really good quality food.
Anyhow, I think if you are new to dates, or are thinking about giving them a try, this is the recipe you need to make. You would love the end result. Just make sure you keep these candy bars in the freezer and thaw for 5-10 minutes before digging in.
I truly hope you like these candy bars. Let me know if you don’t, however, I doubt that :-)
Enjoy!
PrintCandy bars-gluten free and vegan
Miryam's original recipe
Yield: 16 bars
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
Crust
- 2 cups old fashion oats, Gluten Free
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons almond milk
- 1 cup pitted prunes or dates
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
Middle Layer
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/3 cup almond milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
Caramel Layer
- 2 cups pitted dates
- 1/2 salted peanuts
- 2-3 tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp celtic salt or Himalayan salt
Top Layer
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
Directions:
Line a 8x8 square baking pan with unbleached parchment paper and set aside.
In your food processor add the crust ingredients. With a spatula, press the mixture onto your prepared baking pan.
Place the middle layer ingredients in the food processor and pulse until the ingredients come together. It will look like pizza dough. Press this mixture over the crust. I used my fingers, however, it is a bit sticky.
Place the caramel layer ingredients in your food processor. Pulse until you obtain a spreadable mixture just like in the pictures. You may have to add a tad more water if it is not a spreadable consistency. Add the chopped peanuts to the caramel layer and with a spatula spread the caramel mixture over the middle almond layer.
Place the top layer ingredients in a microwavable dish and microwave for 30 seconds intervals until the coconut oil as melted and the ingredients are liquified. Spread this mixture over the caramel layer and freeze until set. About 3-4 hours.
Take the mixture out of the square pan and cut into squares. Keep candy in the freezer and thaw for 5-10 minutes before eating.
NOTE: If your dates are a bit dried when you make the caramel layer you can soaked them up for 10 minutes before placing them in the food processor. My dates were quite soft and moist so I didn't have to do this step.
Hello there. My name is Miryam and I am the clinical dietitian and Physician Assistant behind Eat Good 4 Life. My wish is to inspire you to start cooking healthier so that you can live a longer and happier life. Thanks for stopping by (
Wow! These look so amazing. I can’t eat oats so would have to sub that out with puffed rice or something similar but I can’t wait to try these in a week or two when I get a chance to make them. Thanks for the recipe. Will let you know how they turn out :D
That sounds like a good substitution. Let me know how you like them :-)
Love this recipe so much. Thanks for sharing. Pinning it ;-)
I love using dates in desserts! I too find them so easy to eat! These look so great!
I love all the layers! Who would have thought those decadent treats are even good for you!
These are absolutely amazing, Miryam!!!
Love the layers! I need to do more with dates!
This was a bit problematic for me. First, the middle layer was a bit liquedy and not like pizza doe so I added more almond flour thinking that would make it more doughey but that did not work, so I poured it in. Of course, the caramel layer is next so I knew that would be problematic. I followed the directions exactly so I placed the caramel ingredients in the food processor. OOPS it tells you later to add the peanuts, that were listed in the ingredients so now they are itty bitty pieces in the caramel mix. I had to add a lot more than 3 T water probably more than double. I layered it on the middle almond layer carefully because it was liquid. There was a note at the bottom about hydrating the dates. Mine weren’t really dry but that would be a nice notation in the caramel layer area. It is in the freezer now so I don’t know how this will taste but so far I feel like a failure.
Oh no, so sorry. The peanuts are suppose to remain whole that is why you add them later on when the caramel layer is smooth in consistency. The amt of water is noted in the recipe in which you may have to add more. Depending on the dates you are using you may have to use more or less. As far as the middle layer, if yours was not doughy enough adding more almond flour should have worked. Well, I hope they come out of the freezer the right consistency. Since the layers will solidify the recipe maybe safe. Let me know how it turns out. I hope it is edible! Sorry yours didn’t turn out as planned.
I would love to try so many of the great looking and sounding recipes that you have. But,many of them call for dates. Which I LOVE but just eating one or two of them give me lots of (being said in a low whisper) gas.
Oh noo…the only sub I know for them is dried dates but those are even worse when it comes to gas :-(
Hi, these look amazing. Almond flour is so expensive. Could you suggest an alternative? Wild ground almonds work?
Thanks :)
Sure thing. Just make sure they are really ground :-)
AWESOME! I had these on my wish list for months before finding an excuse to make them – a dinner party with my gluten free sister in law. I thought I could get away with making them in a mini food processor, but that didn’t work, so I transferred it to the magic bullet, that didn’t work either. Took forever to get a workable consistency on the caramel layer. But they turned out great tasting! So I bought a big food processor just to be able to make these ALL THE TIME. Only been 3 times now, but I plan on making them tonight. I also had an issue with the flour layer not looking like “dough”, but I just layer it on anyways and it’s fine. Each time they turn out a little different but they always taste amazing! These are a hit every time I share them!!! THANK YOU! :)
Yes having a powerful food processor helps a lot :-) I am glad you are so persistent with the recipe and that you like it so much. That caramel layer is a bit more work. I need to make it again soon!