These Banana Caramel Bars are easy to make in a food processor, and they are super creamy and refreshing. These gluten-free and paleo friendly bars have a chewy almond-date crust, topped with banana nice cream and a caramel swirl.

On top of the crust, we have got the irresistibly smooth and creamy banana “nice cream” filling. The filling is simple: just frozen bananas, cashew butter (or whatever your fave nut butter is), coconut milk, vanilla extract, and a healthy hit of protein powder goodness!

The idea was to improve the macro balance (protein, carbohydrate, healthy fats). This is not about calorie counting: It’s about paying attention to key nutrients and taking in the daily recommended portion your body needs to maintain your energy levels and overall wellbeing.

What are three reasons why proteins are important in a healthy balanced diet? Eating high-protein foods has many health and fitness benefits, including:

Speeding recovery after exercise and/or injury

Reducing muscle loss

Building lean muscle

Helping maintain a healthy weight

Curbing hunger

A well-balanced diet with proper ratios of macro nutrients (protein, healthy carbs and fats) provides all of the: energy you need to keep active throughout the day. nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illness.

When you find your optimal balance and amounts of macro nutrients, you take a major step toward reaching your health goals and this balance has been improved in this recipe by the addition of healthy protein.

As well as being really easy to make, these bars are healthier than your average treat as they are made with wholesome REAL food ingredients. They are ideal for a grab and go breakfast.

The whole family LOVED these bars; they were gone in under 24 hours. They passed the test of some of the hardest dessert critics (my family!). Most said that their chewy texture reminded them of a candy bar.

This recipe is a fun twist to classic ice cream where the main ingredient is banana and makes this the creamiest texture!  Nice cream is a term that has come to represent any frozen creamy treat free from loads of sugar and artificial flavors. You simply blitz frozen fruit in a food processor or high-speed blender and the end result is a whole-food ice cream that is rich, creamy, and luscious enough for a special occasion yet light and easy enough for an any time indulgence.

It’s called ‘nice cream’ rather than ice cream, just to differentiate the two. Nice cream is a super easy, take on traditional ice cream, yet made very differently. It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Ice-cream just out of bananas. It tastes like ice-cream and it is so damn good! This is definitely one for the recipe bible.

You can satisfy an ice cream craving guilt-free with this “nice cream”! Seems so simple, that it feels like you are cheating a bit… but to be honest – it’s delectable stuff. And let’s face it, why make it complicated when something this simple can taste insanely delightful! Once you start making nice creams, you will stop buying store bought ice creams, the creaminess it has is nothing less than any ice cream and the plus point is, it is absolutely healthy!

Why you will love these recipe:

It’s healthy ice cream! There’s no cholesterol or refined sugar added, with plenty of healthy protein and fats to help keep you feeling satisfied.

It’s delicious! Once you taste it, you won’t believe that the ice cream filling is made with a base of bananas. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a healthy ice cream that is a fun recipe that everyone loves. The best part is that it is nutritious, made with real food ingredients and seriously better than store bought.

Mix-in ingredients – There are dozens of ways to transform your nice cream bars. Two of the easiest ways are by either mixing in ingredients or adding toppings. For mix-ins, try swirling in other flavors like fresh fruit or berries, chopped nuts, coconut shreds, Nutella or nut butters. This recipe has caramel sauce swirled into the filling (homemade, sugar-free recipe below in notes).

Waiting is the hardest part – The longer you wait for this to freeze and set, the creamier and more firm it will be. Luckily, making this recipe is super easy aside from the waiting game! This recipe is a ‘healthified’ take on traditional sugar-loaded ice cream bars. For those days where you are craving a candy bar, but want a healthy, delicious, low-effort way to enjoy the same sweet treat, I’ve got you covered with this recipe that tastes better than any store bought version.

Banana Caramel Nice Cream Protein Bars

If you are looking for a healthier treat, then this is the perfect recipe for you! If you haven’t given the frozen banana “ice cream”thing a try yet, I encourage you to do it soon, preferably with these decadent and delicious nice cream bars.

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Lunch, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword banana caramel nice cream protein bars, clean eating dessert or snack, healthy banana nice cream bars, magnum ice cream bars recipe, no bake nice cream bars

Servings 16

Ingredients

Base Crust

• 1 cup almonds or walnuts
• 1 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut

Banana Nice Cream

• 4 bananas, sliced, frozen
• 1/2 cup coconut (or any other) milk
• 1/4 cup cashew (or any other nut or seed) butter
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 scoops protein or collagen peptides powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Swirl

• 1/2 cup caramel sauce, store bought or sugar free recipe link below in notes

Instructions

Base Crust

• Line a 8 x 8-inch baking pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting.

  Place almonds and coconut into a food processer and process until broken down and crumbly. Add dates and continue to process until mixture is sticky and well combined. Be careful not to over process as its nice to have texture variance and different sized “bits”in your ice cream base.

  Press the base mixture into the bottom of your pan or dish evenly. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

Nice Cream Filling

• Place all filling ingredients, bananas, milk, cashew butter, honey, protein powder and vanilla extract into the food processor and process until smooth and creamy.

  Depending on the power of your blender this might take a few minutes. Stop blending to scrape the sides and continue to blend until very smooth. Taste test add more honey or vanilla if you think it needs it.

  Pour the filling over the chilled crust and spread evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon.

Caramel Sauce

• Drizzle with the caramel swirl. Use a knife to swirl it into the banana ice cream.

  Place in the freezer to harden for at least two hours before cutting into 16 squares with a sharp knife. To help cut clean slices, run the knife under hot water in between each slice. Store in the freezer.

Notes

Homemade Coconut Caramel Sauce

A thick, luxurious coconut caramel sauce - all you need is a can of coconut milk or cream and a few wholesome pantry staples. Sweet and gooey, just like it should be yet way healthier than anything store bought that is likely to be packed with refined sugar, corn syrup and heaven knows what other unhealthy ingredients.

Its so easy to make your own silky smooth, healthy caramel sauce with just 5 ingredients: cooked in one pot until thickened to desired consistency

Easy, creamy, and healthier - made with all-natural ingredients and goes with everything you pour it over! It’s truly a magical thing. You will never want store-bought again.

Go here for the recipe: 

 

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If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites