ALMOND JOY Dessert Bars!

Hey my Darlings! How are ya?

Thank you for all of your sweet comments on the Fundraiser Auction I participated it!  It was such a great experience and it gave me a huge feeling of accomplishment afterwards! You guys are SWEETER THAN SUGAR (and so much healthier too)!!

Oh, and the treats I should healthify – how about the Chocolate Covered Pretzels, the Peanut Butter Cupcakes (with the little bears on top), and PERHAPS something else? Red Velvet Cookies with Beets perhaps?

Do you like Almond Joys?  I remember eating Almond Joys when I was a little girl; but since they are NOT the healthiest treat, I don’t want to eat them.

(picture source)

Here’s the Almond Joy’s Ingredient List:

Just by looking at an Almond Joy, you would think it would have a short ingredient list, like Chocolate, Shredded Coconut, and Almonds!  But apparently, they are just SUGAR, SUGAR, and TRANS FATS!

With an Ingredient list like this, I don’t want to eat them. Nevertheless, I still enjoy their flavor.

Therefore, I use them “in” my recipes. For me, Almond Joys are one of the candy bars that inspire me and my recipes. My Almond Joy Pizzert Babies and My Almond Joy OIAJ are just a couple examples!

AND NOW they have inspired something else –

Something absolutely SPECTACULAR!

Almond Joy Dessert Bars!

Hehe, even though these are called “Dessert Bars,” I would totally eat these for Breakfast!

Almond Joy Dessert Bars

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Notes: Dive into this lovely with a side of Banana Ice Cream! You can use Raisins or even Carob Chips in place of the Chocolate Chips. If you want a real Almondy experience, try adding 1/2 tsp Almond Extract. If you don’t have any coconut oil, try some canola oil. Vegan, No Sugar Added, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Soy Free, and of course HEALTHY!

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cups ripe mashed banana
• 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• optional: 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2  Tb baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (see note)

These are slightly sweet, but if you like desserts sweeter, simply use agave in place of part of the almond milk.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a  13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine oil, banana, almond milk, and maple syrup.

Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

Stir in coconut, sliced almonds, cinnamon, and chocolate chips.

Immediately pour mixture into prepared baking pan (you want to put it in the oven as soon as possible since the baking soda and the baking powder were activated when you mixed them with the wet).

Bake about 19-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove pan from oven and let mixture cool in pan. Cut into 15 bars.

I like to store the cooled bars in the refrigerator or freezer. The counter top can work, too.

Best part –

Grab a fork and DIG IN!

But, hands are just as acceptable.

Stay tuned for my Vegetarian Cooking Class!

Which Chocolate/Candy Bars are  you favorite? Almond Joys and Reese’s for me!

Do they inspire your recipes? Haha, I seem to really like Almond Joys and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! Like my Blissful Reese’s Pizzert Babies, my Reese’s Nut Butter, and many others!

xoxox,

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