Chocolate covered coconut bars are an easy candy treat that’s gluten free and vegan! You will love this rich and decadent chocolatey dessert.
Taking a trip down the candy aisle can be a frustrating situation for someone with food allergies. There are so many candies that contain dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy…you name it. Candy is loaded with allergens.
Thankfully, there are allergy friendly brands of candy now, like PASCHA Chocolate, or Enjoy Life. But you can also make your own homemade chocolate candy, which I think is even more delicious.
These chocolate covered coconut bars are so super rich and decadent – I think you will love them even more than traditional versions like mounds bars or almond joy.
It’s easy to make your own candy – we love these caramel chocolate Easter eggs and this simple chocolate coconut bark.
These thick coconut bars are a favorite dessert of my husband’s. The good news is, it’s so simple to make these! Just a few minutes of active time, and then time chilling in the refrigerator so that they firm up.
Ingredient Notes
- Sweetener – I used sugar in this recipe, but you can also use maple syrup if you wish. The coconut layer will be a little bit stickier if you choose to use a liquid sweetener.
- Coconut Oil – Unrefined coconut oil will have a nice coconut flavor, and that’s what I used in this recipe.
- Dairy Free Chocolate Chips – Enjoy Life or PASCHA brand both make dairy free chocolate chips that will work well in this recipe.
Step by Step Instructions
- Heat the coconut oil and sugar in a small saucepan and stir until melted.
- Add the coconut flakes and stir. Pour into a loaf pan that is lined with parchment paper.
- Pat the coconut down firmly and then put the pan in the refrigerator to chill.
- Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil, and pour over the coconut layer.
- Refrigerate again until firm – about one hour.
How to Slice
These bars have a firmer texture than the original candy bar version. It’s best to store them in the refrigerator and pull them out a little bit before you want to serve them.
To slice these bars, pull the parchment paper up and out to release the bars from the pan. Place on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice.
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Recipe
Chocolate Covered Coconut Bars.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups unsweetened coconut flakes
- 2 ½ Tablespoons organic cane sugar
- 6 Tablespoons organic coconut oil
For the topping:
- ¾ cups dairy free chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon organic coconut oil
Instructions
- Line an 8×4 inch loaf pan with waxed paper, and grease with a little bit of coconut oil.
- In a sauce pan, combine the coconut oil and the sugar. Heat over medium low heat until melted and combined.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in the unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Press the mixture into the loaf pan and press down firmly with a piece of waxed paper so the coconut is very flat and tightly packed. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Microwave the chocolate chips for 45 seconds, stir, and microwave for 10 second intervals if needed until fully melted. Stir in the ½ teaspoon of coconut oil.
- Spread the chocolate over the chilled coconut bar mixture. Refrigerate again until fully cooled.
- Remove from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before serving. Slice into bars of desired size.
Notes
Nutrition
Melina
Hey Kelly, I was wondering if these bars can be kept outside de refrigerator like regular bars? thank you!
Kelly Roenicke
They will get pretty melty if you do that, just due to the nature of coconut oil.
Mei @ Lettuce Meat
Tried these with half coconut and half Rice Krispies (ran out of coconut), and used leftover Easter chocolate eggs :-). Yummy! Next time it might be fun to serve them in little waffle cups!
Thanks, Kelly, for this great and simple recipe!
vegetarianmammac
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :) I can’t wait to see what you share this week!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Marci
These will be a big hit in my family, and they are quick to make which makes it even better.
gretchen | kumquat
summer colds are all wrong. sorry. but these bars look amazing.
Lisa
I made these with Stevia instead of sugar. Delicious!
Kelly
Thanks for letting me know they worked out well with Stevia! That’s great to hear!
Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasil)
Boo to the summer cold but yay to these delish looking morsels!
Kelly
Thank you, Deanna!
Dana Artinyan, RD
Love that there are no “scary preservatives.” I’m definitely drooling over these!
Kelly
Thanks, Dana!
Kelly @ View Along the Way
Oh no! I hope you’re feeling better! These looks amazing and simple!
Kelly
Thanks, Kelly! We are on the mend now!
Farrah
I’m sorry that you’re sick! Hope you feel/get better soon! These look delicious! (I love recipes that don’t call for very many ingredients! :D! )
Kelly
Thank you, Farrah!
sarah grace
yummy! I love almond joys and mounds so I bet I would love this!
Kelly
I think you would!
Hank McKinsey
YUM! Coconut is my favorite. I can’t believe how simple this looks to make :) Thanks so much for sharing and I hope you and your family get well soon!
Kelly
Thank you so much!
Kylie @ immaeatthat
Why do these look so fluffy and perfect?!! I need to get some coconut flakes stat!
I’m on the downhill side of a summer cold also…I hope you’re feeling better soon!!! I’m sending you wishes of ice cold smoothies (summer cold need smoothies; winter colds need soup…or that’s how I feel:)).
Kelly
I hope you feel better, Kylie!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I hope your cold gets better, Kelly! These coconut bars sound delicious! Such a nice change from regular ice cream.
Kelly
Thanks, Gayle!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
This sounds like my kind of dessert. I love anything with coconut in it.
Kelly
Me, too!
Annie @Maebells
These look fantastic! I love coconut! The only thing that makes coconut butter is topping it with chocolate!
Kelly
Too true, Annie! :)
Lisa
Kelly, that thick coconut layer looks amazing!! Can’t wait to try these!
Kelly
Thanks, Lisa!
Julia
Ohhhh girl! Get better soon! I was there earlier this summer – such a pain! But it sounds like you’re doing everything you can to heal yourself, so hopefully things turn around lickety split. I’ll taste/eat all the coconut bars for you, no prob, you’re welcome ;) Love these, dear!
Kelly
Summer colds are the worst, right? :)
Caitlin
I’ll taste them for you! I always picked out the coconut chocolates from the assorted See’s box, so this is right up my chocolate and coconut loving alley :)
Kelly
I used to pick out the coconut ones, and the caramel ones as well! I hated the fruit flavored ones. :)
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven
Awww summer colds are the worst! Hope you and your family feel better soon! On a postitive note, I will GLADLY take all of these gorgeous bars off your hands. LOL. I love love chocolate and coconut together! These remind me of Mounds bars. :)
Kelly
Thanks, Sarah!