Confession. All last week (like EVERY DAY) I was dreaming of a Tropical vacation. One where I laid on the beach without a worry in the world and to do list that officially DONE. Then I realized something, I need a Junk Free June to reboot. Sure, these Tropical no bake snack bars are junk free, but that’s not what I’m talking about.
You see, I’m declaring a JUNK FREE JUNE ya’ll! Ya, I know I don’t really post junk food recipes anyway. Hmmm… although maybe I should so I could get a little more junk in the trunk. LOL! Whoa, way off topic. Okay, but really, like I mentioned above, the junk free food focus is not really what I’m implying. You see, junk free June means less about the food and more about nourishing the mind.
Min Junk. It needs to go ya’ll! I feel like ever since we chatted about embracing life where we are, the mind has started to fight back. Meaning, we get caught up in the “schtuff” of life and zone in on the negative. And when I say we I mean me. Haha! But I am sure you can relate.
One of the ways that helps me shift that focus, from MIND JUNK thinking to MINDFUL thinking is creating recipes without ANY outside pressure or focus. Recipes that just come to MIND and make me eager to share. Ya, of course most of these recipes are junk free, healthy, and of all those things. But also, they come from the heart. Cheesy as it sounds, these types of spur of the moment recipes lift my spirits and clear my head. Ya know? And it doesn’t hurt that these Aloha Style (aka Tropical) No Bake Snack Bars remind me of our days living in Hawaii… oh good times good times! Sigh…
Anyway, as I mentioned last week (in the Cowboy Cookies Energy Bites post), my husband is riding 100 miles this weekend. And… he hasn’t even trained. Whoops. I was a little worried. I mean, that’s a long way to ride without being on your bike since last year. EEK! But then I decided to clear my mind (mind junk be gone) and focus on how I can help to FUEL and NOURISH him for this race.
Yes yes, the energy bites were one factor, but so are these Tropical Bars, or what I like to call, little slices of heaven!. Zesty, peppy, light dessert flavors all wrapped up into one easy No bake snack bars recipe! I’m hoping these snack bars will be handy fuel and refuel for that car ride up and back from the race. Like a little “zest” of energy so he can put the (bike) pedal to the metal for that 100 mile bike race! I remain hopeful. Junk Free thinking! LOL!
Either way, these are some serious healthified treats that can be used as dessert or snacking. And you know what? They just make you happy when you eat them. I mean, who doesn’t love feeling like your on a tropical island every time you take a bite? (*Raising both hands here*). Your mind can rest as you enjoy your favorite flavors combined to make one heck of a JUNK-FREE NO BAKE SNACK Bar! Excuse my run on sentences, but I get overly excited about these types of “made with love” recipes.
You ready to find out what’s in these kinda sorta dessert-ish tropical bars? Besides the fact they are paleo bars that are also vegan, refined sugar free, and all that junk free jazz!!!
Well then…. ALOHA! Let’s take a look.
Cashews for one. And Coconut for the Coconut Cream Maple frosting/topping.
But then there is magic! Magical waves of JUNK FREE ingredients. Lordy I need to stop with my nerdy explanation.
Back to the bars.
The base –> Dried Pineapple, Cashew, Coconut, Pumpkin Seed, Sunflower Nut Butter, splash of lime, and vanilla. See.. total TROPICAL ALOHA swoon factor.
Tropical Cashew No Bake Snack Bars {Paleo}
Tropical Cashew No Bake Snack Bars is a vegan, paleo, healthy snack bars recipe, inspired by my love for Hawaiian flavors! With dried pineapple, cashew, coconut, lime, and a coconut glaze, this easy dessert style snack bars recipe has an explosion of tropical flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup dried pineapple
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter or other creamy no stir nut butter of choice.
- 1 tsp vanilla
- parchment paper for 8x8 pan.
- Ingredients for the Frosting/Coconut Icing/ Top Coat
- 1/2 cup coconut butter/oil
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Lime juice
- Lime Slices
Instructions
First Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a blender or food processor, blend together 1 1/4 cup dried pineapple, 1 cup cashews, 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, 1/2 cup of your coconut. You might have to scrape down sides a few times.
Next Add in your 1/4 cup sunflower seed nut butter (or other smooth nut butter of choice), vanilla, and blend again until batter is combined and starting to stick together.
Press batter into 8x8 pan.
Finally, make the frosting/icing for the top.
1/2 cup coconut butter/oil
1 tbsp maple
Lime juice
Blend 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 - 2 tbsp maple syrup, and softened coconut oil or butter until smooth. Spread over bars. Place in fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
Remove from fridge and slice into squares.
Drizzle a little maple syrup on top. Then a sprinkle of shredded unsweetened coconut. Add a slice of lime on top of each bar.
Keep bars in fridge. They will be fine at room temperature for 1 hour or so before the icing starts to melt.
Super easy to freeze as well!
Recipe Notes
Super easy to freeze as well!
If you don't have sunflower seed butter, try smooth no stir almond butter.
Nutrition per bar with icing: (estimated) 250 calories, 17 grams of fat, 20g carbohydrates, 10 grams of sugar, 4 grams of protein
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Estimated Nutrition Per Snack Bar with Icing
The Topping –> Coconut oil or butter, lime juice, maple syrup, and a slice of lime on top.
Are you feeling refreshed and zesty? Yes, these bars will do that.
Favorite ALOHA inspired dessert or bar?
Cheers!
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Lime is probably my favorite citrus. It is so fantastic in bars and such becuase it is so unexpected!
Also, you are starting off Junk Free June… and I am inhaling donuts. Hmmmmm
Lol ya but my junk free June means junk free thinking. Not food. So if your brain is clear and your are thinking positive eating those donuts, then you’re good to go! 😍💪🏻💪🏻 no lie. Junk free June – Mind junk negativity free.
Funny… I decided to keep my June junk-free, but I meant for food. Maybe I should do both! Lord knows I need it. I’m trying to get right before they slice my knee. Every time I think of it, I want to cry.
These bars look perfect on both counts. Healthy, nutrition, and my mind can be in a tropical non-US island while enjoying them. 😉
WOW!! I will take those to a tropical island & not some back!!! 🙂 YUM!!!!
YES, I know about that mind attack…
Do you for June 7 beyond!!!!!
I’d like to join you on your junk free June pledge, and since my CSA starts this week (squeal) it should be doable.
Have a kid…you’ll learn to let go of the small stuff and live in the moment and by learn I mean you’ll be forced. 🙂
I’ll squeal with you! YYYYYYEEEEAAA!
I LOVE pineapple upside down cake as a ‘tropical-ish’ dessert, but I bet these would be even better fuel. I love the smooth buttery texture of no bake bars.
I like your Junk free June, Linds… I’ll take it (it’s SO needed right now). These bars are totally mouthwatering and DO remind me of the tropics! They looks SO creamy with a bit of crunch – no junk in there! Delicious work! 😀
oh friend. I adore you! Let’s celebrate Junk Free June and tropical vacation. 😉
You had me at sunflower seed butter. These bars scream tropical crunch! They look amazing!
You’d love these friend!
I need to make these ASAP!!!
Hey, amazing recipe! I ought to try it asap, it just looks to good. Thanks for providing me this tasty stuff, like you always do!