No Bake Blueberry Coconut Bars

They check all the boxes: easy/no-bake, gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free/not too sweet, fun to put together, and so so delicious. This is a lighter dessert that won’t weigh you down. They would be the perfect, easy yet impressive dessert to bring to a gathering. And they’ll keep well in the refrigerator.  Serves: 16 square bars

INGREDIENTS
for the blueberry chia jam
  • 3 cups frozen blueberries – thawed (do not use fresh, non-frozen blueberries for this recipe)
  • juice of 1 small lemon
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 3 tablespoons chia meal (ground chia seeds)
for the shortbread
  • ¾ cup GF rolled oats
  • 12 Medjool dates – pitted and soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
  • ¾ cup coconut flour
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • pinch of sea salt

    for the coconut creme
    1 can full fat Thai coconut milk – refrigerated overnight to separate fat from water

  • ½ cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • splash of vanilla extract
    to make the blueberry chia jam
    1. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight, until the chia seeds have bloomed and the mixture resembles a jam-like consistency. Mash the berries partially with a potato masher, leaving plenty of them whole.
    to make the shortbread
    1. Put the oats in a food processor and grind them into a flour. Drain the dates and add them to the food processor, along with the rest of the ingredients. Process until you have a well-combined dough that sticks together when pressed between your fingers.
    2. Prepare an 8″ x 8″ baking dish by lining it with parchment paper, extending the paper up the sides of the dish. Press the shortbread into the bottom of the dish in an even layer. Set aside.
    to make the coconut creme
    1. Scoop the separated coconut fat from the top of the can of coconut milk into a food processor (use the leftover coconut water in smoothies, soups, porridges or lattes). Add the shredded coconut, maple syrup and vanilla extract to the food processor and process until well combined. Be careful not to over-process, as the coconut fat can separate and ‘curdle’.
    to assemble the bars
    1. Spread the coconut creme over the shortbread in a thin, even layer.
    2. Take the blueberry jam our of the refrigerator and spread it on top of the coconut creme in another even layer. Place the dish into the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, for the shortbread and coconut layer to set.
    3. Once the shortbread and the coconut layer have set, lift out the bar from the dish onto a cutting board, using the extended edges of the parchment paper. Cut into 16 squares or any size/shape of choice. Keep refrigerated.

 

 

SCHOOL LUNCH BOX COCONUT ROUGH SLICE

Coconut Rough

  • 3 cups desiccated coconut
  • 1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder
  • 12 medjool dates, seeds removed
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon coconut cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

icing (optional)

  • 3 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, liquid
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
  1. Line a square 18cm tin with baking paper overhanging the sides for easy removal.
  2. Place the Coconut Rough ingredients into your processor and blend at high speed* until the mixture resembles a fine, sticky crumb. Press the mixture firmly into the base of your prepared tin. If making the icing place the cacao or cocoa, coconut oil and maple syrup into a small bowl and mix to combine. Spread the icing over your slice (it will be a thin layer) and sprinkle over the desiccated coconut.
  3. Place the slice in the fridge or freezer to set and to store.

notes – when making this for the lunch box I either omit the icing or use 50 grams of melted dark chocolate.

* If dates goes to the side, scrape it back to the centre and reduce the speed

If you are wanting more quick and easy allergy friendly Lunch Box recipes be sure to check out the Back to School eBook and the Pop it in the Lunch Box eBook, you can view both of them here.