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October 14 is National Dessert Day. This unique holiday celebrates indulging in the sweets. For many people, dessert is the best part of the meal. Over the years, sweet after dinner treats transformed from simple candied fruits and nuts to more elaborate concoctions. Today anything from store bought cookies to made from scratch pastries to a fancy mousse tower qualifies as dessert.
To participate in this special day, celebrants are encouraged to enjoy a sweet treat.
I decided to seize the opportunity to make a vegan, gluten free treat that didn’t require a lot of prep time.
I found this delightfully simple dessert on Pinterest. Check out the original recipe HERE. With a couple of slight alterations, I made these easy no bake peanut butter chocolate bars in minutes.
Check out my contribution to National Dessert Day!
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
This quick and easy recipe is perfect for an occasional snack. Using just six ingredients, these bars are vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free and dairy free. And the ingredients are common, in my kitchen. I typically have them on hand.
The peanut butter base combines pure maple syrup, gluten free flour, vanilla and creamy peanut butter. I use a sugar free peanut butter, Crazy Richard’s 100% Peanuts. It’s found in the jelly section at Wal-Mart and health conscious grocery stores.
Any gluten free flour will work. I normally use gluten free oat flour. However, I happened to have on hand a one-for-one gluten free flour so I used that. This brand is Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour gluten free. A cup of this four replaces a cup of regular flour.
And pure maple syrup makes an excellent substitute for sugar. Tonight I used the Natural Grocer’s house brand.
The topping is unsweetened cocoa powder, coconut oil and pure maple syrup.
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter I used no sugar added
- 1 cup gluten free flour such as oat
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla
Chocolate Topping
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Instructions
- Line a square pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine peanut butter, gluten free flour, pure maple syrup and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Press into prepared pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, pure maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Pour topping over peanut butter base, smoothing with a knife.
- Chill in freezer for 15 minutes to set. Score and cut with a knife. Store left overs in a covered container in the refrigerator. Makes 12 - 16 bars.
The Taste Test
These bars took 10 minutes to prep. I popped them into the freezer and then prepared dinner. So easy!
After dinner, while a cup of peppermint tea steeped, I cut bars to sample. This simple recipe yields a delicious dessert, perfect with my cup of hot tea.
The bars have the consistency of fudge and they are just as rich. One bar satisfies completely. I enjoyed celebrating National Dessert Day with a wonderful treat that does not include guilt or unwanted foods.
I don’t indulge in dessert often. When I do, this is exactly what I want, a simple treat without sugar, dairy, gluten and eggs.
I won’t wait until next October and National Dessert Day, to make these easy no bake peanut butter chocolate bars again!
Do you have a favorite dessert?
Try These Other Vegan Desserts:
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