Indulge Guilt-Free: Easy No-Bake Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars Recipe
Oh, boy, do these incredibly addictive No-Bake Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars perfectly fulfill that persistent chocolate craving! The best part? You don’t have to feel an ounce of guilt, as they’re crafted with minimal refined sugar and packed with a wealth of wholesome, good-for-you ingredients. Imagine a delightfully chewy base crowned with a rich, fudgy chocolate layer – a truly perfect little indulgence that comes together with astonishing ease in mere minutes. Simply stir the ingredients, pat them into a pan, and let the magic happen. Prepare to discover your new favorite healthy-ish treat! (Skip to recipe.)
What do you do when your husband arrives home from work, utterly defeated, and the very first thing he utters is, “You’ve absolutely *got* to stop making those bars – they’re just *too* addictive!”? Well, if you’re anything like me, you immediately pull out the ingredients and joyfully whip up another batch. Because, well… you’re such a good listener, right? (Wink, wink.) It’s a testament to just how irresistibly delicious these No-Bake Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars truly are – a delightful problem you’ll be happy to have!
The Ultimate Guilt-Free Indulgence: No-Bake Chocolate Almond Bars
These Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars are an absolute breeze to prepare, requiring no baking whatsoever. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a pan full of rich, fudgy squares ready to chill in the refrigerator. And the best part? You can savor every bite without an ounce of guilt. These bars are so packed with wholesome ingredients that they’re practically a health food! Of course, they contain chocolate – but let’s be honest, we’re all enthusiastic advocates for the “chocolate-as-a-separate-food-group” movement, aren’t we? It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while still nourishing your body.
It’s truly remarkable how a simple combination of coconut flour, hearty oats, and shredded coconut, when stirred into a luscious mound of almond butter and maple syrup, transforms into a thick, wonderfully chewy mass that requires no baking. This innovative approach yields a perfectly firm and satisfying base. Then, when you crown this delightful foundation with a rich fudge layer, meticulously crafted from more creamy almond butter swirled together with that all-important, irresistible chocolate, you create an extraordinary double layer of pure deliciousness. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, making these bars an unforgettable treat.
Packed with Nutrients: A Smart Snacking Choice
Beyond their incredible taste, these bars are loaded with an impressive array of nutrients, making them a truly smart snacking choice. Almonds, the star ingredient, are renowned for their high content of protein, fiber, and Vitamin E, along with powerful antioxidants found in their skins (which are thankfully included in almond butter!). Coconut flour, simply ground dried coconut, is naturally gluten-free and can be enjoyed raw, contributing to the unique texture of the base without the need for baking. These nourishing ingredients work in harmony to help you feel fuller for longer, effectively curbing those mid-day hunger pangs. Consequently, just one of these delectable Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars as a snack can genuinely prevent you from reaching for less wholesome, “junky” treats. It’s a true win-win situation: you satisfy your cravings while simultaneously supporting your health and well-being. Each little bar contains the equivalent of only about 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips and ½ tablespoon of maple syrup, making it a surprisingly modest indulgence with big benefits.
If you’ve always been a fan of classic Nanaimo Bars but often find yourself hesitant to indulge in their ultra-sweet decadence, then you are in for an absolute treat. You’ll be thrilled to discover that these Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars flawlessly fulfill all the requirements to address that very same craving, but without any of the accompanying guilt. They offer a similar multi-layered texture and rich flavor profile, yet with a significantly healthier twist, making them the perfect mindful alternative for any sweet tooth.
A Simple Recipe, Elevated: My Personal Touches
This fantastic recipe originates from a new cookbook by the renowned Donna Hay – often dubbed Australia’s Martha Stewart. I was immediately captivated by its elegant simplicity and couldn’t resist putting it to the test. My interest was certainly rewarded, as these bars have become an absolute sensation in our household. I personally couldn’t resist enhancing the recipe with a few of my own personal touches: a hint of almond extract to truly amplify that wonderful almond flavor, and a bit of shredded coconut added to the chewy base layer for an extra textural crunch and an intensified tropical note. And honestly, if you happen to have some flaky sea salt, like Maldon, lying around in your cupboard – please, I implore you, add it! It elevates these bars from delicious to absolutely divine. Those tiny, crunchy pops of salt work a magical transformation on the chocolate, making it taste so much more intensely chocolatey and balancing the sweetness with a sophisticated savory counterpoint.
After successfully preparing the third pan of these delectable bars in as many weeks (with just two of us to eat them, mind you!), I can confidently declare that they have thoroughly passed every crucial test. They’ve earned top marks in the taste test, proven their mettle in the easy-to-make challenge, and aced the almost-healthy snack assessment. This recipe is a keeper, guaranteeing satisfaction for both your taste buds and your desire for convenience and wholesome ingredients.
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Tips for Success and Variations
Kitchen Frau Notes: These notes are designed to help you customize and perfect your No-Bake Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars, ensuring delicious results every time.
You have the option to make these bars with peanut butter instead of almond butter, offering a different flavor profile. However, it’s crucial to use an all-natural peanut butter that is notably runny, possessing a similar consistency to almond butter. This ensures the base mixture binds correctly. If you opt for peanut butter, remember to replace the almond extract with an additional half teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to complement the peanut flavor.
A key ingredient for the unique chewiness of these bars is coconut flour. Please do not attempt to replace coconut flour with any other type of flour. Coconut flour has a distinctive property of absorbing a significant amount of moisture, which is precisely what gives these bars their delightful chewiness and firm structure without baking. Substituting it with another flour will likely result in a base that doesn’t firm up in the same way, potentially leading to a crumbly or overly soft texture.
For flexibility with pantry staples, you could use either all rolled oats or all shredded coconut if you don’t have both on hand. Alternatively, you can replace either the coconut or the oats with an equal amount of finely chopped nuts of your choice, such as walnuts or pecans, to add a different crunch and flavor dimension to the base layer.
When it comes to salt, the specific type makes a big difference. Do not replace the Maldon flaky sea salt with regular table salt, as the latter is much finer and will make the bars excessively salty. If you don’t have Maldon, look for another crunchy type of coarse crystalized finishing salt. This type of salt provides those wonderful little pops of briny flavor that enhance the chocolate without overwhelming the sweetness.
No-Bake Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars Recipe
Adapted from ‘Everyday Fresh, Meals in Minutes’ by Donna Hay
These versatile bars can be easily adapted to various dietary needs:
- Gluten-Free: Ensure you use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- Dairy-Free & Vegan: Simply choose dairy-free chocolate chips for the top layer.
- Grain-Free: Replace the rolled oats with an additional ¼ cup of shredded coconut for a completely grain-free base.
- Nut-Free: Substitute the almond butter with a seed butter (like sunflower seed butter) and swap the almond extract for more vanilla extract.
For the Almond Base Layer:
- 1 cup (250g) natural almond butter
- ½ cup (120ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon pure almond extract
- ½ cup (60g) coconut flour
- ¼ cup (25g) rolled oats (small flake/quick oats), ensure gluten-free if necessary
- ¼ cup (25g) fine, unsweetened shredded coconut
For the Fudgy Chocolate Top Layer:
- ½ cup (125g) natural almond butter
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (180g) chocolate chips (or finely chopped dark/70% chocolate)
- ½ teaspoon pure almond extract
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (such as Maldon salt) – entirely optional, but highly recommended for an elevated flavor experience
Instructions:
- Prepare the Pan: Begin by lining an 8 x 8 inch (20cm x 20cm) square pan with parchment paper. Ensure the paper extends up the sides of the pan; this will make lifting the finished bars out effortlessly.
- Craft the Base Layer: In a generously sized bowl (or the mixing bowl of a stand mixer), combine the almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Stir these ingredients together thoroughly until well incorporated and smooth.
- Add Dry Base Ingredients: Incorporate the coconut flour, rolled oats, and shredded coconut into the wet mixture. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overbeat if using a stand mixer, as this can sometimes cause the oil to separate from the almond butter. (If this happens, the mixture is still perfectly usable, just a little messier.)
- Press the Base: Transfer this thick mixture into your prepared pan. Using your hands or the back of a spoon, firmly and evenly press the mixture down to form a compact base layer.
- Prepare the Chocolate Top Layer: For the fudgy topping, combine the almond butter, chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate), and almond extract in the top of a double boiler. Alternatively, you can use a microwave-safe bowl; heat in two 30-second intervals on high, stirring well in between, until the chocolate is almost melted. Remove from heat (or microwave) and continue stirring until any remaining chocolate bits are completely melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Assemble the Layers: Carefully spread this luscious chocolate mixture evenly over the almond base layer in the pan.
- Add Salt (Optional but Recommended): If you’re using the flaky sea salt, sprinkle it generously over the chocolate layer while it’s still soft. The salt truly adds a delightful pop of flavor that enhances the chocolate beautifully.
- Chill to Perfection: Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chocolate layer is completely hardened and set. Patience is key here for perfect bars!
- Cut and Serve: Once fully chilled, use the parchment paper to lift the entire slab of bars out onto a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut the slab into 18 bars (creating 3 rows of 6) or 16 squares (creating 4 rows of 4), depending on your preferred serving size.
- Storage: Store these delicious No-Bake Chewy Chocolate Almond Bars in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. However, given their irresistible nature, it’s highly likely they’ll be long gone much sooner than that!
Makes 16 to 18 bars.
Guten Appetit! Enjoy your homemade, wholesome treat!
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