The holiday season is in full swing and you might have caught yourself spending more time in the kitchen...and maybe spending more time eating sweets or just thinking about it🤣We sure have! So we've been recreating some classics into better-for-you versions, sweetened 100% with natures candy (aka Joolies🌴). 

 

Bounty or Mound bars are the delicious chocolate candy, with a soft, sweet,  coconut filling🥥 but they're also loaded with refined sugar. We teamed up with @munchingwithmariyah to bring you a festive holiday treat that's vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free! You can check out Yasmeen's IG page here and her blog here for more delicious recipes😊

 

Ingredients you'll need:

1. 1. Gluten-Free Oats
      • This serves as the base for our bars. We recommend using quick or rolled oats. Some of our favorite gluten-free oat brands are Thrive Market and Bob's Red Mill. If you are grain-free, feel free to substitute this out for another nut or coconut flakes.
   2. Almonds
      • We recommend using raw almonds to avoid any added oils or salt! It also supports a healthy gut, Omega-3 levels, and help control blood sugar levels thanks to its slow-digesting properties 👏
   3. Cocoa Powder
      • This is where we get our yummy chocolate flavor from, of course! You can substitute for raw cacao powder if needed, but it is a little bitter. Regardless, you'll get an awesome pump of antioxidants!
   4. Joolies Cocoa Date Syrup 
      • The only natural sweetener needed. A decadent, vegan chocolate syrup that will remind you of indulgent Hersey's syrup. Plus, you still maintain all the nutrient and health benefits of a medjool date in the syrup form!
   5. Coconut Oil
      • You want this to be softened for the coconut filling, so briefly pop in the microwave (like 3-5 seconds).
   6. Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
      • If you only have sweetened coconut on hand, just reduce the amount of date or maple syrup you add into the coconut layer.
   7. Coconut Milk
      • An important part of the coconut layer! Be sure to use the full-fat version to get the creamy texture of a bounty bar we all love!
   8. Peppermint Extract
      • All you need is a dash to get a hint of mint!  
   9. Chocolate Chips
      • We recommend using a dark chocolate without fillers, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and stuff like that (it melts a whole ton easier without it and is much better for your health)! Some of our favorites are Enjoy Life dark chocolate morsels and Hu dark chocolate gems 🍫

How To Store

These peppermint coconut bars are best stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and served chilled. They can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. 

You can also store the bars in the freezer within an airtight container. Lay them out on a sheet to initially freeze, then pop into a freezer-friendly container so they they won't stick to one another for one months.