Choco-Coconut Bars

I’m on this chocolate kick lately.  I’ve been pretty stressed and busy with the kids’ activities, developing new products for my site, and getting ready for a business trip to NYC.  I don’t know about you, but when I’m extra tired and feeling this way, I tend to go for the chocolate. I want something to soothe me.

I WANT CHOCOLATE!

Since I make all my recipes gluten-free and vegan, I didn’t feel as guilty eating these bars.  And if you are a chocolate freak, you will love them!

Dang they are goooooood! No cardboard-tasting gluten-free food here.

Let’s make them shall we?

choco coconut bars
Gluten-Free Choco-Coconut Bars

Choco-Coconut Bars

Ingredients:

1 16 oz. can coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 1/2  cups graham cracker crumbs ( I used a vegan brand;
4 Tbsp.coconut oil
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (Enjoy Life is a good brand)
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9-inch square pan with a piece of parchment paper.

Add coconut milk into a medium-sized pot, and whisk in the coconut sugar. Simmer on low-medium heat for about 15 minutes.  Whisk until the mixture thickens.  Remove from heat to cool while you prepare the crust.

In a medium-sized pot, melt coconut oil over low heat for 3-5 minutes. Add to a mixing bowl along with graham cracker crumbs and maple syrup. Combine the ingredients.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and spread evenly. Press the crumbs into the pan.

Pour milk over the graham crust. Add the chocolate chips followed by the pecans.   Press the mixture down with your hands until the milk soaks upward into each layer.

Bake in the oven, uncovered, for 25 minutes.  Remove pan from oven and place on cooling rack for about 15 minutes.

Transfer the pan to your freezer for 2 hours or chill the bars in the fridge overnight.  This was the best method for me.

Cut into squares.  Serve and eat up.

Note:  I substituted coconut milk for dairy and coconut sugar for brown sugar.  You can also add 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut if you want even more coconut delicious-ness.

Makes approximately 12 bars.  I make pretty big squares, so you can stretch it out to 18.

Bars can be wrapped up and kept in fridge for up to one week.

I hope you try these, and if you have a splendid chocolate treat to share, leave a comment below.

4 Comments on “Choco-Coconut Bars”

  1. Lisa, those treats look awesome! Can’t wait to try them. I was just curious if you could tell us what brand of graham crackers you used? Also, is the coconut milk lite or full fat?
    Thanks! 🙂 Andrea

  2. Lisa
    How to I find out the five things to do to get my smokin’ hot body back? It must be in there somewhere, I keep saying to myself.
    🙂
    Amy

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