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These date sweetened vegan no bake almond joy bars are chewy and delicious, easy to make, made with real whole foods, gluten-free and oil-free!
I am pretty sure my obsession with dates and transforming them into incredibly delicious recipes will never get old! Seriously, what CAN’T dates do? Eating a vegan whole food plant based diet and omitting refined sugars has been an amazing transformation (I share lots of information on eating WFPB on my Instagram!)- not just for my health but for my creativity in the kitchen. Creating decadent desserts with fruit is just too fun. And now that we are nearing the summer months and it is hot hot hot in Florida, I am all about the no bake recipes and these vegan no bake almond joy bars are totally hitting the spot lately!
I was honestly never a huge fan on almond joys when I was younger but I have grown to LOVE coconut so when I was brainstorming some recipe ideas using dates, this one was a MUST MAKE.
These vegan date bars are:
Chewy
Downright Mouthwatering
SO Easy to Make
Vegan
Gluten-Free
Oil-Free
Whole Food Plant Based
& Decadent
Ingredients
These date sweetened vegan no bake almond joy bars are made with healthier whole food plant based ingredients like:
Medjool Dates– it is imperative for the texture of this recipe that the dates be plump, moist and sticky. If your dates feel dry and look wrinkled, soak them in hot water for about 10-15 mintues, drain the water and proceed with the recipe.
Unsweetened Shredded Coconut- make sure the coconut is unsweetened!
Natural Almond Butter
Sliced Almonds
Vanilla Extract
Pink Himalayan Salt
Almond Extract– a game changer in this recipe! The almond extract enhances all the flavors.
Vegan Dark Chocolate Chips
How to Make Vegan No Bake Almond Joy Bars
First, asses your medjool dates. It is imperative for the texture of these vegan date bars that the dates be plump, moist and sticky. If your dates feel dry and look wrinkled, soak them in hot water for about 10-15 mintues, drain the water and proceed with the recipe.
Next, line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Add the medjool dates, unsweetened shredded coconut, natural almond butter, vanilla extract, salt and almond extract to a food processor . Process for about a minute or so until the mixture looks crumbly and moist.
Then, add in your sliced almond and process the mixture again until the almond are in tiny pieces (if they are too big, it could affect how well the bars hold together).
Your mixture should be moist and sticky with no large pieces of dates or almonds remaining.
Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan in an even layer and press down firmly to ensure the bars stick together.
Next, add your dark chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds, stopping every 30 seconds to stir very well.
Add the melted dark chocolate to the loaf pan on top of the mixture and spread in an even layer with a small spatula. Add more shredded coconut and sliced almonds on top.
Freeze for about 10-12 minutes or until the chocolate has set, slice into bars and enjoy! You can eat these vegan no bake almond joy bars straight from the fridge, or let them sit at room temp for a few minutes to soften before eating.
More Vegan No Bake Recipes
Vegan No Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies [GF, Oil-Free]
No Bake Vegan Strawberry Almond Oat Bars [GF, Oil-Free]
Vegan No Bake Brownie Truffles [GF, Oil-Free]
Vegan No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Cups [Oil-Free]
Healthier Vegan No Bake Samoa Bars [GF]
FAQ
Of course! You can use any kind of chocolate you prefer. Dark chocolate chips will make these bars more decadent (how I like them) and semi-sweet chocolate chips will make these bars sweeter.
Store them covered in the refrigerator.
You most likely can, although they aren’t are juicy as medjool dates and they flavor is different, but it should work!
PIN IT for later!
If you make this recipe, I would love a rating and comment below! Don’t forget to take a photo and tag @wholesome.crumbs on Instagram!
Vegan No Bake Almond Joy Bars [GF, Oil-Free]
Equipment
- You will need: a food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates, packed see notes
- 1 & 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut plus extra for topping
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds plus extra for topping
- 2 tbsp natural almond butter
- 1 & 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt + a couple extra pinches
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 cup vegan dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- First, asses your medjool dates. It is imperative for the texture of these vegan date bars that the dates be plump, moist and sticky. If your dates feel dry and look wrinkled, soak them in hot water for about 10-15 mintues, drain the water and proceed with the recipe.
- Next, line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the medjool dates, unsweetened shredded coconut, natural almond butter, vanilla extract, salt and almond extract to a food processor . Process for about a minute or so until the mixture looks crumbly and moist.
- Then, add in your sliced almonds and process the mixture again until the almonds are in tiny pieces (if they are too big, it could affect how well the bars hold together). Your mixture should be moist and sticky with no large pieces of dates or almonds remaining.
- Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan in an even layer and press down firmly to ensure the bars stick together.
- Next, add your dark chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds, stopping every 30 seconds to stir very well.Add the melted chocolate to the loaf pan and spread in an even layer. Add more coconut and almonds on top.
- Freeze for about 10-12 minutes or until the chocolate has set, slice into bars and enjoy! You can eat these vegan no bake almond joy bars straight from the fridge, or let them sit at room temp for a few minutes to soften before eating.
Notes
- For the medjool dates: It is imperative for the texture of this recipe that the dates be plump, moist and sticky. If your dates feel dry and look wrinkled, soak them in hot water for about 10-15 mintues, drain the water and proceed with the recipe.
I have made the delicious Almond Joy Bars three times. I used almond flour since I had a big bag I was trying to use up and the bars came together in no time. I may even buy some almond extract, a flavor I usually find off-putting, to add next time I make them. I think the salt make the bars sing. I am very happy to have this recipe.
Thanks so much for your wonderful review, Eva! Yes I totally recommend the almond extract, it just gives them a little extra oomph that I love! 🙂
These are delicious! I did use almond flour like the previous reviewer because I only had whole almonds. I did chop some almonds for the topping along with the coconut. I have a feeling these will be in a regular rotation