Fri-daaaay.
Good to see you, old friend.
I love my job (someone just seriously pinch me that THESE CHOCOLATE BARS ARE MY JOB), but even still, Fridays have some kind of magic in them.
Friday night pizza is only a few hours away and I can stay up irresponsibly late perusing Etsy and VRBO for dream house decor and trips that aren’t real. My idea of fun. And then Friday leads to Saturday, and Saturday morning’s breakfast possibilities are endless – whole wheat pancakes? sausage potato egg bake? a trip to the coffee shop? and Saturday leads to Sunday, and who knows? Sunday might even find me outside, walking around like a normal person to get re-introduced to the sun (♡♡♡♡♡) after months wrapped in hoodies, wool socks, and blankets. This is Friday, and this is my face on Friday. –> 😀
So let’s complete the Friday experience with some chocolate. And raspberries. And almond butter and tons of toppings that are pretty. Yeah?
I’d like y’all (since Charleston is in my soul now and I say things like y’all) to meet these beautiful, naturally sweetened, loaded Chocolate Raspberry Almond Butter Bars. Hugs and kisses are appropriate.
Chocolate Raspberry Almond Butter Bars, in case you didn’t know, start with a layer of frozen raspberries and pecans (but you have different fruit and different nuts? just do what you need to do, girlfriend) and then comes the good stuff –> a layer of melted chocolate fudgy butter sauce, and then a second layer of creamy almond-buttery sauce, and then, finally, maybe most importantly, the toppings come out to play: cacao nibs, crushed nuts, seeds, flaked coconut, and/or powdered sugar if u like it fan-say.
Baking? No siree. Pop these babies in the freezer for 30 minutes and BOOM. You’ve got yourself a super-pretty, feel-good, pre-dinner snack. Not that I ever eat stuff like this before dinner. I mean, me? Come on, you guys. Nevvvver.
In addition to being gorgeous, decently healthful, and indulgent to the max, these little treat bars are essentially Use Anything In Your Pantry kind of bars, which is my number one favorite kind of dessert recipe.
Frozen strawberries? Cashews? Oats? Non-frozen pomegranate arils? Pistachios? Peanut Butter? SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.
Also, they are naturally sweetened, meaning we’re not loading this up with sugar but just a few spoonfuls of honey to sweeten each of the layers. And by some freezer miracle, the honey doesn’t really freeze – it does one better. It sort of creates these gooey pockets of sweet goodness reminiscent of a layer of caramel, and YEAH. I am not even complaining.
Go shorty, it’s the weekend.
Time to treat yoself.
Chocolate Raspberry Almond Butter Bars
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 slices (nutrition is for 1 out of 12) 1x
Description
Chocolate Raspberry Almond Butter Bars! So beautiful, naturally sweetened, and fully loaded. Naturally sweetened, so these are completely guilt-free!
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons salted butter, divided
- 8 tablespoons coconut oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 4 tablespoons honey, divided
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- a couple pinches of salt (to taste)
- 1 heaping cup frozen raspberries
- 1/2 cup whole or chopped pecans
- cacao nibs, flaked coconut, sea salt, or anything else you might like as a topping
Instructions
- Line a pie plate with parchment paper or foil. Arrange the raspberries and the pecans in a single layer.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons coconut oil together until smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Taste, adjust, and pour the mixture over the berries in the pie plate.
- Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons coconut oil together until smooth. Add the almond butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt – stir until melted. Taste, adjust, and pour the mixture over the chocolate mixture in the pan.
- Freeze for at least 30 minutes – right around the 30 minute mark they will be sturdy and solid but still awesomely semi-soft and bite-able. Cut into wedges to serve. (I stored my leftovers in the freezer and then just let them thaw a bit before eating each time.)
Notes
You could mix the two melted mixtures together but I sort of liked having them in two layers. You can necessarily tell (I tried to swirl but it didn’t really work) but I just liked the idea of them being layered better than mixing them all together.
The texture of these is a cross between a fudgsicle and chocolate bark. It will be more fudgy and gooey (and better, IMO) if you let it thaw out a little bit before eating.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: chocolate almond bark, chocolate raspberry bars, almond butter recipe
I wouldn’t make these again – the congealed fat from the coconut oil and butter in a hardened layer on top was very off putting and unpleasant.
Thank you for your feedback.
heey! Im allergic to butter well lactose in general do you think I could use coconut butter instead?
Hi, Miki! As far as I know, that would work fine. Here is a link with tips on baking with coconut butter: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/tips-for-baking-with-coconut-butter/. Hope that helps!
ok so it has been what 10 days now and i still can’t get these good looking treats out of my mind!! i pretty much want raspberry and coconut everything. xo
These look sinfully good! I might as well glue them to hip as that is where they will end up! Why does everything that tastes really good have to sugar and butter? If salad looked and tasted like this I would turn to a healthier lifestyle but alas I am destined to a fat butt and a big smile on my face!
Just made this. Really easy, and really tasty. My chocolate layer had pretty much set by the time the almond butter layer was ready, so I didn’t get the mix of dark and light on top (it’s just all the light layer). Next time I might prepare them at the same time. I also did it in a square pan so that I could cut them in small bars. It’s an indulgent treat, with all the butter and oil, so a little bite every now and then is perfect 🙂
Yep! Thanks for the comment Heather!
This is one of the prettiest desserts I’ve ever made. Thank you for posting!
http://breakfastatcarols.blogspot.com/
Thanks Caroline! Glad you liked it.
This looks SO good!
hi
These look gorge. I’m using cacao powder these days as it is full of good antioxidants. Does anyone know if I Would I be able to use this in this recipe and if I would only use 1 tablespoon instead? I’m new to the cacao game. Also could I use maple syrup instead of honey. It’s the same thickness so I would think it would be okay?
Thanks to anyone who can comment
Yes, maple syrup would be fine! And I haven’t used cacao powder but this recipe is pretty adaptable so I’d say go for it.
Yum, it looks so delicious. I am pretty sure I will make them!
That closeup of the raspberry convinced me…
insanely deliciouus 🙂
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
These bars look too good for words! And no bake? Count me in!!
this is exactly what every friday deserves, of course after obligatory pizza 🙂
Fridays are the best, but these would even make them better! I think I’d keep them just the way you made them, but it’s good to know there are lots of options.
I just made this with frozen cherries…. SO good! I subbed half of the butter for 1/8 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt. I’ll definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Thanks for the comment – I’m so glad to hear that you liked it Shannon! And love the frozen cherries – yum.
Holy all that is good – these look epic!!! I can’t wait to try these out at home! <3
What a beautiful snack! This is such a great mix you put together!
Chocolate and nuts are two of my favorite things in this world. This bar looks like is right up my alley. I wonder if I can keep myself from eating the entire thing once I make them.
Mmm…chocolate…raspberries…almonds (my favorite nuts) what could be better? 🙂
These look absolutely delicious! I love how versatile the recipe is as well! I think your pistachio suggestion might just be my favorite. I will definitely be giving these a try!
Oh I’m in love with these. And just have to tell you again how much I enjoy reading your blogs! Your personality is so much fun and I just love everything you write!
Aloha! (Check VRBO #288522 on north shore of Oahu…My parents beach rental in Haleiwa–which is very simple and affordable and perfect for 2!) xoxox
Okay WILL DO!
THANK YOU!!!!!!! Cheers, Ardith
Oh my. Absolutely fantabulous!
Mmm these look perfect for an afternoon snack! I’m taking these to work next week fo sho.
Could you use fresh strawberries or fresh blueberries?
Sure! Sounds great. I wish we had some here right now…