If you are craving something sweet but want to keep it healthier, these no bake salted cream caramel bars are perfect. They taste like candy but come with the bonus of being packed with good for you ingredients.

The base is soft yet sturdy with a subtle sweetness from the honey, while the rich chocolate ganache coating on top adds a slight crunch when you bite into it. The balance of sweet, salty, and chocolatey flavors makes them feel like a treat, but they are much better for you than traditional candy bars.

Why they are better than candy…

Lots of candy bars are loaded with refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients, (which is ok on occasion), but as an everyday treat, but we want more wholesome and good for us….right?

Well you are in luck, as with this recipe, you still get that delicious candy-like flavor and texture, but with extra nutrition, so they are more satisfying and won’t leave you with a sugar crash.

With my busy schedule and the constant struggle to keep my diet healthy, healthy snack bars are what keep me going when I have to skip meals or don’t have time to make breakfast.

Making healthy no-bake bars is one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen! I always set aside some time in the weekends for a batch or two of something to snack on.

Anything already yummy that I can make a little healthier is a win in my house. I especially like that I can give my family a treat without worrying about added ingredients and sugar overload!

Why you will love this recipe…

Healthy: There is no processed sugar! You can easily opt for healthy dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips for the topping or leave it out altogether.

Make-ahead: This is an excellent healthy dessert recipe to make a day ahead, and perfect for sharing with friends.

It’s only a few ingredients. Despite having three layers, you don’t need many ingredients to make these bars.

Perfect texture. I like to describe these as a cross between peanut butter bars and no bake oatmeal bars, but just that much more delicious. They are thick, chewy, and have that glorious caramel center.

This recipe is another one of the “bet you can’t eat just one”. It’s hard to eat just one of these no-bake healthy bars, which makes sense, because they are so yummy. If you are anything like me, you will finish one square and then return to the pan for another sliver…and then another. Oh well, we can’t all be perfect!

But seriously, these delightful bars are a delicious and healthy snack that satisfies your sweet tooth and will give you all the energy you need to power through your day.

So, gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and treat yourself to a guilt-free indulgence that you can feel good about sharing! Get ready to impress your friends and family with this sweet and salty delightful treat that’s sure to become a favorite!

Salted Cream Caramel Bars

These no-bake bars are soft, chewy, and a secretly healthy sweet treat!  Healthy homemade no bake wholefood bars - salted caramel and chocolate - a match made in dessert heaven!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword caramel bars no bake, clean eating dessert or snack, no bake healthier salted caramel bars, salted cream caramel bars

Servings 12

Ingredients

Base Crust

• 1 cup cashews or almonds
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

Caramel Layer

• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup cashew or almond butter
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• 1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts

Chocolate Cream Ganache

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch fine sea salt

Topping

• 1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts 

Instructions

Base Crust

• Line a 7 x 5-inch loaf 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 cashews, oats, coconut, coconut oil and honey into a food processor and process until well combined. Add coconut oil and honey and blend again until the ingredients start to form a dough and the mixture is sticky. Add a little water, a tablespoon at a time if needed for the dough to come together.

  Be careful not to over process as its nice to have texture and different sized “bits” in your base crust.

  Scoop mixture out into lined pan and spread out evenly with a spatula or back of a spoon.

  Place in fridge while you make the caramel layer.

Caramel Layer

• Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Whisk together over medium low heat until all ingredients are melted together (approximately 3 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Add the salted peanuts and fold in.

  Spread over the base crust with a spoon and place in fridge for 30 minutes.

   

Chocolate Cream Ganache

• Place the chocolate chips in a medium heatproof bowl.

  Combine the coconut milk, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and set over a medium/low heat.

  Heat, swirling occasionally, until the coconut milk is hot and steamy, just below a simmer, 2-3 minutes.

  Pour the hot coconut milk mixture over the chocolate chips. Let sit 1 minute, then whisk gently until the ganache is silky-smooth. Whisk gently so as not to incorporate too many air bubbles into the ganache; it does not look as pretty as smooth ganache!

  When the chocolate mixture is fully melted and well combined, remove the bars from the fridge and pour over the chocolate cream ganache. Smooth out with a spatula or back of a spoon.

  Top with salted peanuts and place back in the fridge for 2 hours or freezer for 1 hour before slicing into 12 bars or more smaller squares.

  Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or up to 3 months in freezer. If frozen take out 20 minutes before serving to soften.

   

   

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