Healthy Caramel Nougat Bars
This healthy candy recipe features layers of chewy nougat, gooey caramel, and rich chocolate. Packed with good for you ingredients like nuts, coconut and dates, they taste 100% like a legit rich, chewy traditional candy bar! They are gluten free, egg free, dairy-free and free of refined sugar but are still sweet, even addictive and they come in an adorable little package.While yes, candy is…..candy, this doesn’t mean it can’t still be rich in nutrients and void of unhealthy ingredients found in most traditional store bought treats (think refined sugars, chemical additives, artificial flavours and colours, inflammatory oils and so on.) Here are a few reasons why this healthy candy bar recipe is a much healthier option than store bought sweets.No refined sugar - Instead of using processed sugars like cane, corn syrup, maltodextrin, agave or artificial sweeteners that can spike your blood sugar and mess with your gut microbiome, this healthy candy bar recipe uses dates and honey to sweeten. You can adjust how much you use or leave it out completely. High in nutrients - One of the reasons why candy has been deemed“unhealthy” is because it typically lacks nutrients that work to keep our blood sugar balanced, hormones happy and provide an overall feeling of satiation, hence why most of the time we are still hungry after consuming. This ‘healthified’ candy recipe sneaks in a ton of nutrients to help keep us satisfied. It has an optimal balance of macro-nutrients (protein,healthy carbs and fats + fiber) unlike pretty much all store bought candy.People trying to reduce their sugar intake often complain about the lack of sweets in their quest to get healthier. That’s because a low-carb way of eating is very focused on eliminating harmful sugar from your diet. But there are options for that lingering sweet tooth in your life.Hence this healthy candy is both low-carb and packed with healthy fats and antioxidants. Eating more healthy fats is a great way to help satisfying your sweet cravings without the sugar.Not only is this candy bar insanely delicious and easy to prepare, it also comes with some surprising health benefits. From vitamins and minerals to plenty of healthy fats that support hormone health and neurotransmitter production, these little delights are the perfect addition to any healthy eating plan.Yes siree, this candy is super rich, uber-decadent - but secretly healthy and guilt-free! Yup, that means no butter, no white sugar and no sweetened condensed milk… just pure, fudgy, nutty goodness.
Servings 16
Ingredients
Nougat Layer
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut (or any other) milk
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Caramel Peanut Layer
- 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/2 cup coconut (or any other) milk
- 1/4 cup almond (or any other nut) butter
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt
- 1 cup peanuts, raw or roasted, crushed/chopped
Chocolate Coating
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Instructions
Nougat Layer
- Line an 8 x 5-inch loaf pan or similar sized 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. Or use a silicon loaf or baking pan.In a medium mixing bowl, combine almond meal, coconut flour, honey and coconut oil and mix until a crumbly texture forms. Add coconut milk and continue to stir adding more milk if necessary until a smooth batter is formed. Pour the batter in the lined pan and place in the refrigerator.
Caramel Peanut Layer
- While the nougat layer chills, make the caramel.Place dates, coconut milk, honey, almond butter, vanilla and salt into a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Some lumps left from the dates are fine.This may take several minutes of blending/pulsing depending on your blender and you may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender bowl if necessary.You can adjust the consistency by adding more coconut milk if it is too thick to pour easily. Taste test and add more honey or vanilla if you think it needs it.Take the baking pan out of the fridge and spread the caramel over the chilled nougat with a spatula or back of a spoon. Sprinkle with the nuts, pressing them gently into the caramel layer. Cover and place in the refrigerator or freezer for 2 hours (or more) to set.Once set, cut the bars. Remove from the pan and with a sharp knife, cut into 16 bars or desired size and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place back in the fridge or freezer while you melt the chocolate.
Chocolate Coating
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in medium sized dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.Moving quickly, take the bars out of the fridge or freezer and using a fork underneath to hold the bar (or use 2 forks), dip the bottom half of each bar in the melted chocolate and place back on the parchment, then drizzle chocolate over the top of each bar. Refrigerate or freeze 20 minutes so the chocolate hardens, then serve. Store leftovers covered in plastic wrap in the freezer or refrigerator. They will stay good in the freezer for up to one month.
