These Salted Caramel Chocolate Bars are healthier, vegan, gluten free AND still tastes crazy delicious! They are 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!
There are so many easy to make healthy dessert recipes like these Salted Caramel Chocolate Pecan Tarts, No Bake Cookie Dough Bars, Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies and these Mini Mint Chocolate Cheesecake Bites! Wouldn't they all be even yummier with Apple Chai Latte, Chamomile Latte, Low Carb Bulletproof Hot Chocolate or even some Spiked Apple Cider!
Why You Should Make These Salted Caramel Chocolate Bars
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!
No bake desserts are perfect 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.
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 tricky at times and you really need the perfect ratio of flour to liquid.
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.
Check out this fun video which shows how easy these are to make!
Recipe Ingredients
- Almond flour - I use the super fine almond flour in all of my baked goods because it lends the lightest, ideal texture, especially in gluten free desserts.
- Ground flax - This contains protein, fiber and has a wonderful texture that is perfect for baked (and non baked) goods. I use this one all the time.
- Cocoa powder - Please read your ingredient labels, it should only ay 100% cocoa powder and nothing else.
- Pure maple syrup - The key here is to use 100% pure maple syrup. The taste and quality are far more superior to ones that just say "maple syrup".
- Coconut oil - I use refined coconut oil which has very little coconut taste (Yes, I know it's not a popular opinion but I don't like the taste of coconut!) The only issue is that refined coconut oil has less antioxidants and vitamins than the virgin coconut oil (as well as a higher smoke points which is good to remember for baked goods) so if you like the taste of coconut, then you can easily use virgin coconut oil.
- Unrefined sugar - This can be whatever sugar you have in the house. I like to use unrefined sugar because it's minimally processed and contains some nutrients. You can use maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, or even try a sugar free alternative such as Monk fruit.
- Coconut cream - I like to use the unsweetened coconut cream because it doesn't contain all of those unnecessary added sugars.
- Chocolate chips - I used sugar free chocolate chips in these tarts. Please read the ingredients for your sugar free chocolate chips. Many of them contain large amounts of sugar alcohols which can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. I use these sugar free chocolate chips all the time.
Recipe Tips
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.
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.
Related Recipes
Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars from Joy Food Sunshine
Salted Caramel and Pecan Chocolate Tarts from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars from A Big Man's World
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Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Bars
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
- â…› teaspoon salt
- For the caramel:
- â…“ cup unrefined sugar
- ¼ cup coconut cream
- â…› 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.
Paula - bell'alimento
Wow that's a whole lotta ooey gooey goodness right there. Want. Stat.
lauren.kelly
I totally love gooey desserts Paula 🙂
Cookin+Canuck
Now those are some amazing chocolate bars! And I love the ingredient list...healthy while still making something decadent.
christine
If I hadn't seen your ingredients I would NEVER guess that these are a healthier option. They look so decadent.
lauren.kelly
Thanks Christine!!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
What. the. heck.
I feel like strides were just made in grain-free baking. I don't even know what to say. These are just amazing. So totally my kind of recipe!
lauren.kelly
Oh thank you Erin!!
Lora @cakeduchess
I love the ingredients in the filling...just fantastic!! I am always into any thing chocolate, and your bars are tempting me so! I have a friend that would love your blog...I'm going to pass your blog name to her later on. Really nice, Lauren!!
lauren.kelly
Thank you so much Lora!!
Heather / girlichef
Never in a million years would I have guessed these were healthified - they look so rich and decadent! My cheeks are tingling a little bit...
lauren.kelly
Mine are too Heather! 🙂
Martha @ A Family Feast
So I was just about to leave a comment telling you how wonderful these look....when my husband walked by and did a double-take and asked me "What is THAT? Looks delicious!" 🙂
lauren.kelly
Thank you Martha! 🙂
Angie
What decadent chocolate bars! These would be perfect for Valentine's Day!
lauren.kelly
Thank you Angie!
kita
Forget my sweetheart, this is for me... And I'm hiding them... and not telling... Maybe he can have some of the second batch.
lauren.kelly
That's so awesome Kita!
Lana | Never Enough Thyme
I really love these as an option to the overly sweet, overly fat, sticky, gooey, gloppy store-bought selections. I'm definitely giving homemade this year!
lauren.kelly
Thanks Lana! I completely agree 🙂
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)
Woah. Now these look ultra decadent and amazing!
lauren.kelly
Thanks Kim!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Gorgeous! Oh this just sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing!! I can't wait to try that caramel sauce.
lauren.kelly
Thanks Sam!
Mary Anne
wow these look absolutely amazing. Can't wait to make these!
lauren.kelly
Thanks MaryAnne, I hope you like them!
[email protected]+A+Healthy+Life+For+Me
These look great, love the healthier alternative.
lauren.kelly
Thank you Amy!
[email protected]+A+Mind+Full+Mom
What a great recipe. Such a better alternative to the usual!
lauren.kelly
Thanks Kristen!