We’re all for supporting those who want to eat less meat and dairy but our issue with plant-based and vegan cooking is that some (not all!) of the recipes can taste, well, blah. In addition to some having not as much flavour and excitement as we’d like, a lot of these plant-focused recipes also contain expensive and hard-to-find ingredients, most of which you only need a few tablespoons of. That’s why we’re super excited to share this recipe for these tasty nut butter bars, courtesy of Earth Balance, that are totally vegan but you’d never know it. They’re like an elevated version of those peanut butter cups we all know and love.
The only more obscure ingredient that these tasty bars call for is coconut flour and it can easily be found at most grocery stores as well as your local health store and online. Here’s how to make them!
See also: How To Make Delicious Creamy Plant-Based Mashed Potatoes
Yields: 16 bars
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 cups (325 mL) Earth Balance Creamy Peanut Butter, divided
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) Chopped roasted peanuts
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) Coconut flour
- 1/3 cup (75 mL) Maple syrup
- 1 tsp (5 mL) Vanilla extract
- 1 cup (250 mL) Vegan chocolate chips
Method:
- Stir together 1 cup of peanut butter, peanuts, coconut flour, maple syrup and vanilla extract until well blended. Spread into parchment paper-lined 8-inch square pan; smooth top. Set aside.
- In a heatproof bowl set over a larger saucepan of barely simmering water, heat together vegan chocolate chips and remaining peanut butter, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes or until melted. Let cool slightly.
- Spread melted chocolate over peanut butter layer in pan; smooth top. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. Remove from pan and cut into bars.
- For a nice touch, sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt.
Photo & recipe: Earth Balance via Ready Set Eat
