All you need is 4 simple ingredients, to make these healthy Vegan Almond Joy bars. Way better than store-bought and so simple to prepare they are bound to become your new favorite go-to treat.
Coconut flakes mixed with creamy, sweetened condensed coconut milk are shaped into small bars, topped with a crunchy almond, and then dipped into melted vegan dark chocolate. Rich, sweet, crunchy, and purely decadent.
Almond Joy candy bar is an American candy bar currently manufactured by The Hershey Company. If you’ve ever looked at the label, you’ll see a long list of ingredients, and, unfortunately, some of them are not vegan. Since I am a huge fan of anything chocolate and, of course, vegan candy recipes, I decided to create my own, vegan version so we can all enjoy this sweet treat.
If you like this vegan candy bar recipe, you’ll love these Banana Snickers, this Vegan Chocolate Bar, and these Vegan Chocolate Pecan Turtles.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Almond Joy Recipe
- Only 4 ingredients: Just 4 simple, shelf-stable ingredients are needed to make these almond joy bars.
- No Bake: No need to turn on the oven to make these homemade almond joy treats which makes them ideal for those hot summer days when you’re craving something sweet.
- Healthy: No artificial ingredients, sweeteners, or additives.
Ingredients
- Coconut flakes: Use unsweetened shredded coconut flakes. These are usually found in the baking aisle of the grocery store. Read the label carefully so you don’t pick up sweetened coconut flakes which will make your almond joys too sweet.
- Sweetened condensed coconut milk: Canned sweetened condensed coconut milk makes these chocolates rich and creamy. I like to use Edward and Sons but any brand you can find will work.
- Chocolate chips: Use vegan dark chocolate chips or a vegan chocolate bar for a deep chocolate flavor.
- Almonds: Whole almonds add the finishing touch to these almond joy bars. You can use salted or unsalted, whichever you prefer.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Use a different nut: If you aren’t a fan of almonds, use pecans, walnuts, or any nut you have on hand. For visual impact, use the whole nut.
- Change the chocolate: I made dark chocolate almond joy but you can try semi-sweet or vegan white chocolate if you prefer a different type of chocolate.
- Add some spice: Stir ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper into the melted chocolate for a touch of spice.
- Try coffee flavored: Mix ground instant espresso powder into the melted chocolate for a mocha-flavored almond joy.
- Nut-free: Make homemade Mounds bars (the candy bar without nuts) instead. Simply leave the nut off and drizzle the chocolate over the coconut mixture.
How to Make Vegan Almond Joy
Here’s how to make almond joys in just a few simple steps.
Step 1: Make the coconut mixture. Combine the coconut flakes and sweetened condensed coconut milk in a bowl and mix well.
Step 2: Scoop. Scoop up a small handful of the coconut mixture. You can use a scoop or ¼ cup measuring cup.
Step 3: Shape into bars. Shape the coconut into a bar and place an almond on top and gently press it into the coconut mixture so it stays in place.
Step 4: Let the bars harden. Place the bars in the fridge to harden for 20-30 minutes if they are on the softer side or let them harden on the kitchen counter.
Step 5: Coat the bars in chocolate. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or over a double boiler and dip each bar into it. Use a fork to dip it in the melted chocolate like a traditional Almond Joy.
Step 6: Drizzle instead of dip. You can dip the bottom of the bar into the chocolate and drizzle more chocolate on top if you want a more decorative look. I like to do a few of each, especially when serving for a party.
Step 7: Repeat. Place the bars back on the tray after dipping and continue coating the remaining bars.
Step 8: Let the bars harden again. Place the bars in the fridge until the chocolate hardens, then enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
These vegan almond candy bars make a great snack or dessert. Here are a few ways to serve them:
- Pair these tasty treats with this Mango Blueberry Smoothie or this Creamy Lemonade for an afternoon snack.
- Make for a decadent dessert buffet along with White Chocolate Lava Cake, Vegan Ladyfingers, and this Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake.
Expert Tips
- To thin out the vegan chocolate chips: If you find the melted chocolate is too thick, add a few teaspoons of coconut oil to thin it out.
- Refrigerate nuts: Nuts can go rancid quickly, so store any uneaten nuts in the fridge.
- Storage: Store uneaten almond joy bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also stash them in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you do store them in the freezer, remove them a few minutes before you want to eat them so they can soften.
- To sweeten the bars: If you find these homemade almond joy candy bars aren’t as sweet as you’d like, add a few teaspoons of maple syrup to the melted chocolate.
Video
Recipe FAQs
If you’ve looked at the almond joy ingredients, you’ll see they are not vegan as they contain milk ingredients.
I grabbed a small handful of shredded coconut mixture to shape these almond joy bites, but you can also use a ¼ cup measuring cup or ice cream scoop to portion the bars.
You can use sweetened coconut, but your bars may turn out too sweet. If you can’t find unsweetened shredded coconut, you can use unsweetened coconut chips and put them in the food processor to shred them.
More Delicious Vegan Sweets Recipes
Vegan Almond Joy
Ingredients
- 3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
- 1 can sweetened condensed coconut milk 7.4 oz (I used Edward and Sons)
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 10 almonds more or less
Instructions
- Add the coconut flakes and sweetened condensed coconut milk to a bowl and mix them well.
- Scoop up a small handful of the coconut mixture and shape it into a bar. Place an almond on top and press it down into the coconut mixture gently. You should get about 10 bars.
- You can place the bars in the fridge to harden for 20-30 minutes if they are on the softer side.
- Melt the chocolate and dip each bar into it. You can cover the whole bar in chocolate like a traditional Almond Joy, or you can dip the bottom of the bar into the chocolate and drizzle more chocolate on top, if you want a more decorative look.
- Place the bars in the fridge until the chocolate hardens, then enjoy!
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