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No Bake Chocolate Cashew Fig Bars {Vegan, Paleo}

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These fig bars are a no-bake dessert made in 3 easy steps! Full of antioxidant-rich chocolate, figs, coconut, and cashews, this no-bake recipe is vegan, paleo, grain free, and gluten-free. Perfect for snacking on the go or a healthy dessert. 

paleo snack bars made with coconut, chocolate, nuts and dried figs

 

Hey friends! It’s time for (yet another) pantry staple recipe”snack bar” style. All you need are 6 simple ingredients.

MY GO TO NO BAKE SNACK BAR

We all have a go-to snack bar or bite recipe, don’t we? Whether it be homemade vegan protein bars or store bought, there’s one that just clicks with us and stays with us.

My personal favorites are no-bake paleo mango protein bars and 3 step Baklava Bars. One nutty, one fruity. Delicious and super easy to make. Chewy and lightly sweet.

But what happens when your need for dark chocolate, coconut, and nuts take over? Kind of like a Mounds bar. Well, except way better and made with real food. I may be biased.

Healthy no bake snack bars to the rescue!

This fig bars recipe makes a fantastic go-to snack.

It’s a combination of energy bar, dessert bar, paleo/vegan bar… and all things heavenly bar. No honey or sugar needed, because they are naturally sweet!

Fig bars for any occasion!

I think you’ll love these ideas. Tried and tested. And they go fast… Just sayin’. You might want to make multiple batches.

  1.  Lunch Box! Yes, these are peanut free and they look like a candy bar. Kids will be SUPER happy and healthy. Plus these bars are both paleo and vegan so they accommodate to a lot of allergy-friendly kiddos, ya know? Oh and while you’re at it, throw in some of these oatmeal cookie energy bites for the lunch box.
  2. Pre or Post Workout Fuel. Natural fruit and nut carbohydrates for energy. Coconut is great because it contains a boost in iron, while cashews give the bars a little protein boost. Both are excellent for fueling the body before your workout, and assisting in recovery after the workout.
  3. Healthy Dessert. The chocolate cashew fig bars taste seriously like candy bars. The figs are sweet enough that with the chocolate and coconut on top, the texture is very much like a Mounds candy bar.
  4. Breakfast on the go. No-bake fig bars are great when you need to eat on the run. You can run with a naturally sweet chocolate bar for breakfast. There is nothing wrong with this idea!

Just as delicious as my blueberry carrot cake bars, but these have CHOCOLATE in them! They are balanced with macro nutrients and super filling.

 

I know what you’re thinking. ” that’s cool Lindsay, but how do these no-bake bars actually stick together then?” You were thinking that, right? Haha. I’ll give you a hint. They are in season. They are delicious. They are full of powerful anti-cancer fighting nutrients. They are amazing when dried. Yup-> figs!

Nutritional Information

Combining dried Turkish figs with dark chocolate, coconut, and cashew create one heck of a power bar!

Healthy fats, fiber, and a hefty amount of antioxidants!

When figs are dried, their health benefits and nutrients INCREASE!

Figs are also rich in potassium and magnesium, which is good news for those who don’t like bananas, but need the crucial minerals. Nature’s candy really does wonders y’all!

Bonus Nutrition Fact –> Cashews and dried figs are both a great source of vitamin K. I love me some VITAMIN K! You know this from my cashew creamy mustard Brussel Sprouts superfood salad.

So maybe you should eat the Brussel Sprouts salad for lunch followed with one of these no bake dark chocolate fig bars. Then you will be one “SUPERFOOD” powered HUMAN! Just a suggestion.

How to make the fig bars recipe

Just a quick 3 step approach!

 

  1. Chop the ingredients in the food processor. Press into a lined brownie pan.
  2. Melt dark chocolate to coat the top of the bars, and sprinkle a few flakes of toasted coconut and sliced fig on top.

 

Set them in the fridge for a bit to chill and firm up a wee bit.

Then voila! They are done and ready to eat (now or later). Slice and serve. Or do what I do; wrap each one in plastic wrap or wax paper then place into the fridge or freezer. A quick snack or breakfast to go!

I even have a video to show you how easy the recipe is to make. Check it out!

Fig Bars Recipe Video

But what I love about these natural sweet no bake dark chocolate bars is that they don’t even look healthy. Is that wrong to say? No bake Chocolate Coconut Cashew Bars made in 3 easy steps! Tasty no bake chocolate bars that are vegan & paleo. No oil needed. A healthy snack or dessert.

Nah…. chocolate, coconut, cashew, figs –> AMAZIN’!

Speaking of AMAZIN’ and more NO BAKE chocolate and coconut… These No Bake Gluten Free Chocolate Coconut Oat Squares from Gluten Free Palate look unreal.

Healthy homemade bars to make on any occasion! YUM! Alright, ready to not bake and just blend?

Print

No Bake Fig Bars with Chocolate, Coconut, and Cashews

★★★★

3.9 from 58 reviews
  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 15 min
  • Yield: 8-11 bars 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Chocolate Coconut Cashew Fig Bars are a no-bake dessert made in 3 easy steps! This no-bake recipe is vegan, paleo, grain free, and gluten-free.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup dried unsulphured figs or about 5-6 ounces (stems cut off)
  • 1.5 cups raw cashews
  • 1 cup unsweetened Coconut Flakes (plus extra for topping)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • dash of sea salt (1/4 tsp)
  • 1/3 to 2/3 cup or more of dark chocolate or vegan dark chocolate chips to melt
  • optional Toppings – extra chocolate chip, coconut, sea salt, fig, etc.

Instructions

  1. Line a square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Next make sure your dried figs have all the stems cut off.
  3. Place cashew, coconut, salt, vanilla, and figs in food processor. (If you don’t have a high powered food processor or blender, then divide the ingredients in half and blend/grind in two batches).
  4. Blend until mixture is fine and able to stick together well. See pictures above.
  5. Pour mixture into baking dish and press down well.
  6. While the fig/cashew mix sets in pan, melt your dark chocolate.
  7. Place dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl or on stove top. Heat until melted. About 60-90 seconds in microwave mixing half way. See notes for stove top option.
  8. You can also use my homemade magic chocolate shell recipe if you want a thicker chocolate coat.
  9. Next pour the chocolate over the cashew coconut batter and spread it evenly in the dish to cover all. noted if you need more dark chocolate to cover, just melt an additional 1/4 cup.
  10. Optional topping – Sprinkle extra coconut, cashew, sliced fig, and dash of sea salt on top of chocolate (evenly).
  11. Place in freezer for 20 minutes or fridge for a few hrs.
  12. Once they are hardened, remove from fridge.
  13. Slice into bars and wrap each one in foil for a quick grab and go bar. Or store in an airtight container.
  14. Best kept in fridge for freshness. Feel free to freezer for up to 8-10 weeks. These really do keep well!

Notes

  • If your batter is not sticking to the pan after mixing, remove from pan and place in a bowl, mix in a tbsp of honey or maple syrup if needed. If the batter is too sticky, add in 1 tbsp of coconut flour.
  • Melting chocolate on stove top with makeshift double boiler – Add a small amount of water to a sauce pan and place a heat resistant bowl on top so it is resting on the edges of the pan. Don’t let it touch the water. Heat water on low. Place chocolate chips in the bowl, stir often, and watch it melt.
  • Category: snacks
  • Method: no-bake
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar
  • Calories: 238
  • Sugar: 7g
  • Sodium: 54 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: no bake bars, chocolate, protein bars, vegan, paleo, fig bars

And now it’s time for the extreme close up.

Ready.

Set.

Swooooooooon over the chocolate fig bars!

What’s your favorite bar recipe? 

LC

Related Posts

Photo of Lindsay Cotter of Cotter CrunchHi, I’m Lindsay!  Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of Nourishing Superfood Bowls, and meal plan guru! I’d love to know you more! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and drop a comment below.

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  7. Julia Mueller says

    My gaaaawsh these BARS! That fig-coconut-chocolate-cashew combo? Heeeeaven! These bars are seriously my idea of the perfect treat or snack. I’ve used dried figs to make chocolate truffles and loved the way they turned out, so I’m itching to make these beauties!

    Reply

  9. Laura says

    I love the chocolate coconut combo! I make some variation of nut/dried fruit balls or bars almost every week. My favorite easy treat! These look fantastic.

    Reply

  13. Kevin | Keviniscooking says

    This looks delish and I swear,I just made a no bake fig tart that’s right in sync with this. Albeit without that gorgeous thin chocolate layer. Just had to come visit. I’m no coconut fan, but would gladly have two of these. 🙂

    Reply

  19. Linda says

    Made these yesterday. So easy to make, and doubly delicious. I did have trouble getting the mixture to stick together, so added a tablespoon of maple syrup. Still not sticking! Added another tablespoon maple syrup. Better! Put in pan and smushed down. They were really hard to cut, but they completely fell apart. Any suggestions?

    Reply

      • Linda says

        Sorry it took so long to respond. I used unsweetened flaked coconut from Bob’s Red Mill and Smyrna Figs in a bag from Costco.

        Reply

        • Cotter Crunch says

          That’s strange, those should work. Hmmm… the only other tip I think that might help is to blend the figs a little more with the cashew/coconut. Then place them in a bowl and mix all together before placing in the pan. Add maple syrup if needed in the bowl. Email me anytime if you want to make it again with these adjustments.

          Reply

          • Linda says

            I will definitely make them again because the family loved them even though we ate them with a spoon! Just a thought, I didn’t soak the cashews. I think next time I’m going to add one extra fig cause they are sooooo good.

  23. Lin Wilhelm says

    Did I miss something? Making these now, and do they smell gooooood!! However, pouring into an 8×8 seems to be too small.. did you use a 9×13?

    Reply

    • Lin Wilhelm says

      The 9×13 must be the key, they look perfect. I also added to make a 1/2 c of the melted dark chocolate (enjoy life) chips to get that thin layer allll the way to the edges. I added your suggestions of protein powder and chia seeds. OMG, they look and smell sooooo good, I can’ hardly wait for them to chill, so I’ll go chill ~ Thank you for this delicious (healthy) snack recipe.

      Reply

  24. Saleha says

    Hi, thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!
    One question though: Should the cashews be soaked prior to processing them?
    🙂

    Reply

  26. Maria says

    I just made your loaded oatmeal cookie energy bites and I gotta say there is nothing worse than having a batch going and it sSTICKS to your hands!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrr this is my new pet peeve !!! You need the honey so they stick together then it’s such a mess sticking to your hands!!! Would clear and concise measurements so this does not happen . very frustrating !!!!

    Reply

  27. Joanna says

    Found today- made today ?
    I was worried my mixture wasn’t sticky enough so added 2 tbsp of cashew butter and it was great.
    Top sprinkled with chopped walnuts as used up all cashews and coconut for the bars …
    Looking forward to trying these tomorrow and taking them away for a hiking weekend.
    Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply

  28. Aimee says

    HI there,
    How long do these bars last in the fridge? I’m sure they’d be eaten fast but can’t have too much of a good thing 🙂

    Reply

      • Aimee says

        Just got everything together and realised, I don;t own a food processor 🙁 Everythign is just in really small pieces and not stuck together at all!

        Reply

        • Aimee says

          OK, phew! Turns out it is not the food processor that the issue, it;s the stickyness. Not sticky at all so I have added some honey – hopefully now it is not too sweet. Should the figs be soaked maybe first?

          Reply

          • Aimee says

            I used the container base of a hand held blender. (that has it’s own blade for chopping.) the nuts came out all small which was the perfect size. But then the fig also just came out in small bits.. I’m not sure of the kind of figs there is only 1 kind at the fruit store I go to. I’ll try to find out.
            the whole batch was eaten!! Even my fussy daughter had a few pieces!!

          • Aimee says

            Hi
            Yep it worked but quite crumbly. Can only find 1 type of dried fig in my area and they are not sure where it is from. They seem to be split open and squashed.
            Will post my batch on Twitter now and try another batch soon!

  29. Debbie says

    These look amazing! Could you substitute dates for the figs? Would it be the same amount?
    Really looking forward to trying these!

    Reply

  31. Kelli H says

    Holy cow!! These were amazing! Such a great snack or even a little after dinner treat. My husband and I loved them. I’ll be making them on repeat.

    Reply

  34. Lauren Kelly says

    I feel like you made these just for ME! These are incredible, thank you for this recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  37. wilhelmina says

    These bars are so dang delicious! I have to keep reminding myself that they are healthy too!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  39. Sam says

    This was truly delicious. The best no bake chocolate bars I have ever made. Thanks for such a great recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  44. Samantha says

    Vegan, paleo and no Bake and chocolate. Just what I need when I am feeling so low with all the pandemic creating havoc in our daily lives. Chocolate Cashew Fig Bars will hopefully lift my spirits. Thanks for the recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Lindsay Cotter says

      You’re welcome, Samantha! Glad to help…we’re all in this together. Let me know if you need any other recipe ideas to help lift your spirits. I hope you enjoyed these bars! <3

      Reply

  46. Aleta says

    we were out of cashews, and due to COVID-19 we weren’t able to buy any…so I used walnuts. my mixture was pretty dry so i added peanut butter and WOW!!! it was like a healthy peanut butter cup. Super yummy! Thanks for the recipe idea. I will be making these again… with peanut butter! 🙂

    ★★★★

    Reply

  47. Kitchen Guidance says

    Hi..Cotter…
    it such an amazing meal plan…and i will really follow this plan and also shared in my friends circle…Thanks for sharing…keep shared your new fabulous plans….!

    Reply

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