Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Bars {No Bake, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free}

With Valentine's day coming up soon, why not make a dessert that's healthier, vegan, gluten free AND still tastes crazy delicious? It's light, gooey and healthy!

I am all for giving your sweetheart something sweet for Valentine's Day, but why not make them a little healthier?  There's something about Valentine's Day and salted caramel.  They are a match made in heaven.

Maybe it reminds me of when my dad would give me those chocolates in the heart shape every year and the only one I would eat (and not spit out) was the chocolate caramel! Don't get me started on the chocolate coconut ones.... I would have to spit them out and rinse my mouth it.

Did you know that I absolutely despise coconut? The smell, taste...all of it. You know I am extremely picky!

These bars are ooey-gooey and taste sinful even if they are packed with fiber, antioxidants and healthy fats.  No one has to know, it'll be our secret.  And add the fact that these babies are no bake?  This just got real guys.  I am so excited about these. My kids loved them too. Even the picky one!

I love no bake desserts all year long, but especially during the summer. It's always too hot to turn the oven on. It basically heats up the whole house! And who in their right mind would eat to heat up their house when it's 90 degrees outside? Not me.

Check out this fun video which shows how easy these are to make!

I personally love dark chocolate, especially with the salted caramel, but you can easily use milk chocolate if you'd like.  These are so easy to make, so use what you are in the mood for or what you already have at home!

If you are like me you always have regular cocoa powder and dark chocolate cocoa powder in your house. I'm always ready to go!

This is one of the recipes that you most likely will have all of the ingredients on hand. There's nothing crazy in there. Ok, you might not have coconut cream in your house all the time, but maybe you should stock up for the future. I usually buy 6 cans at a time when I go to Trader Joe's.

This way I am ready to go whenever a salted caramel craving strikes. I always like to be prepared. And I get the salted caramel craving more often than you'd think.

I also like to make these when I go to parties or get togethers because it is very allergy friendly. The only thing I haven't covered are nut allergies since there's almond flour in there. But these are perfect for vegans, celiacs (gluten free) and those with dairy allergies.

I am working on making this with coconut flour for my friends with nut allergies. I have tried it now two times with luck. But I am not giving up! Gluten free dessert recipes rarely are perfect on the first try. At least that's the case for me.

When I was writing my first cookbook, The Everything Wheat Free Diet Cookbook, the dessert chapter was definitely the most difficult for me. Sometimes I would have to create a recipe 5 or 6 times just to get it right! Gluten free flours can be fickle at times and you really need the perfect ratio of flour to liquid.

So I will keep trying until I can make these bars nut free too! It might just take me a while...

Isn't that caramel so gooey and delicious?  It might be a little messy, but oh so worth it! Sometimes I put them in the freezer for a few minutes before I slice them to harden up a bit.  It depends on how messy you want to get.

But also when you put them in the freezer for a few minutes it makes them easier to slice. Either way, they still taste incredible.

Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Bars

4.34 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, treat

Servings: 9 bars

Author: Lauren Kelly

Ingredients

• ▢ For the crust:
• ▢ ½ cup almond flour I used Bob's Red Mill
• ▢ ¼ cup flax meal or ground flax
• ▢ 2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
• ▢ 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
• ▢ 1 teaspoon coconut oil melted
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ For the caramel:
• ▢ ⅓ cup unrefined sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup coconut cream
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ For the Topping:
• ▢ 10 ounces dark chocolate chips

Instructions

• Place parchment paper on the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch baking pan. Spray with baking spray on top of parchment paper.
• Mix all of the ingredients together to make the crust.
• Press crust onto bottom of the pan. Place in the refrigerator while you make the caramel.
• Mix all the ingredients for the caramel together in a small saucepan over a low heat.
• Stir continuously while it thickens, about 3-4 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Pour caramel ontop of chocolate crust.
• Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or in a sauce pan over low heat. Pour on top of caramel sauce.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour to harden.
• Cut into 9 bars. Eat immediately and store leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

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Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 bar
Amount Per Serving
Calories 214 Calories from Fat 122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13.5g21%
Saturated Fat 7.2g36%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 7mg0%
Potassium 77mg2%
Total Carbohydrates 26.6g9%
Dietary Fiber 2.3g9%
Sugars 20.0g
Protein 4.0g

*Nutrition information not guaranteed, provided by www.caloriecount.com

If you like these (can't blame you) you just might like these too:

Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Bark

Salted Caramel and Pecan Chocolate Tarts

Mint Chocolate Mint Cheesecakes 

I hope you enjoy these Salted Carmel Dark Chocolate Bars too! I can't wait to make them again for all 4 of my sweeties 🙂

Let me know what other recipes you'd like me to create. Are you interested in more healthy dessert recipes? Or maybe you'd like to see more main dishes? Breakfast ideas? I would love to know!

What's your favorite healthy, no bake treat ? I am always looking for new ideas so please share your favorites with me!

Thanks for stopping by!