Raw Almond Joy Bars
Today’s post was supposed to be about buckwheat. I have been soaking, sprouting, and grinding all week. I was just about to start putting together the buckwheat recipes when a member of the Rawmazing Facebook Group posted this recipe for almond joy bars and challenged me to make it raw. I took a quick look and snap. So much for the buckwheat!
The “crust” for these almond joy bars is a wonderful layer of almond butter and cacao powder. I used raw, organic coconut crystals for sweetening as I am really trying to keep my sweeteners as close to the source as possible. Plus they have a wonderful deep flavor. Not unlike molasses or brown sugar.
This is a pretty easy make….have at it and have fun! As with all desserts, these recipes are very calorie dense. I am not the person who is going to tell you that you can eat a raw dessert for breakfast. But as a tasty, sweet treat, raw desserts are full of healthy nutrients that typical desserts just don’t have.
Raw Almond Joy Bars
First Layer:
- 3/4 cup raw almond butter (I make my own from this recipe: Almond Butter)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 1/3 cup raw coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- pinch Himalayan salt
- Whisk all ingredients together and pour into oiled, parchment lined 8 x 8-inch glass pan. Set in refrigerator aside making topping. The bottom layer should be set up (but not completely hard) before adding the next layer.
Second Layer
- 2 cups of dried, unsweetened, raw coconut
- 2/3 cup coconut butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons raw agave nectar (or liquid sweetener of choice)
- 1-2 teaspoons organic almond flavoring (not raw)
- Place coconut in medium bowl.
- Whisk coconut butter (not the same as coconut oil), agave and almond flavor. Pour over coconut and mix well.
- Pat over first layer, top with chopped almonds and ganache. (see below)
- Refrigerate to set.
Third Layer
- 1/3 cup almonds, coarsely chopped
Ganache (recipe here)
Lori wrote on January 24, 2016
I love your recipes!
Susan wrote on January 25, 2016
Awe…thank you so much, Lori! 🙂
Nicole wrote on October 12, 2015
My husband and I found these absolutely delicious, but like others, I had problems keeping them in “bar” form. The coconut layer broke away if kept cold in the fridge. And if brought to room temperature the bottom almond butter/chocolate layer turned liquid soft. We ate it all anyway but can anyone offer adaptations to this recipe so they hang together? I’d love to be able to serve these to others.
Drew wrote on October 2, 2015
Wow! This looks delicious and not too hard to make! Love it
Stanley wrote on March 28, 2015
You could have easily incorporated buckwheat into this recipe. Yeah, sprouted buckwheat works amazing in desserts! I even made a cheesecake where i used buckwheat instead of cashews, and it was a hit. It can be very helpful to those following low-fat diets.
Susan wrote on April 1, 2015
Hi Stanley! That’s great and give it a try. Let us know how it comes out! Cheers!
shawn wrote on February 24, 2015
On mine, the top layer never bound with the bottom layer and the two layers separated easily. It seemed to do this because the layers were oily (and I let them set as directed).