Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars - Paleo, GAPS, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Option Recipe
Craving candy without the guilt? These healthy homemade Mounds bars are rich, chocolatey, and naturally sweetened—made with wholesome ingredients and a dairy-free option! Perfect for the GAPS Diet, Paleo, and sugar-free lifestyles, this easy treat delivers indulgent flavor with none of the junk.
Equipment
- 9x13 pan
Ingredients
Coconut Layer
- 2 cups coconut flakes
- 2 cups coconut cream
Caramel Layer
- 1 cup butter or heavy whipping cream (or dairy free substitute)
- 3/4 cup raw honey (regular honey is also fine)
- 1/4 tspn sea salt (optional)
- 1 tspn real vanilla extract (optional)
Chocolate Layer
- 1 cup grass-fed butter (or coconut oil, or preferred neutral tasting fat)
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
Instructions
Coconut Layer
- First, make the coconut layer by mixing 2 cups coconut flakes and 2 cups coconut cream. Put the 9×13 pan with the coconut layer in the freezer while making the caramel layer to quickly harden the coconut.
Caramel Layer
- Second, make the caramel layer. Use this homemade caramel candy recipe for detailed recipe notes, if needed. If the coconut layer is already frozen, the caramel will quickly harden as you pour it over the coconut layer.
- In a small saucepan over medium- high heat whisk together the butter or cream and honey. Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to bubble for 3 minutes before lowering the heat to medium-low.
- Allow the sauce to simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir to avoid burning.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
- Pour caramel sauce over the coconut layer. The caramel will thicken as it cools.
- Sprinkle sea salt over the caramel (optional) for a sweet/salty flavor.
- Place in the freezer to cool and harden more quickly (5 minutes).
Chocolate Layer
- Third, make the chocolate layer, using this 3 ingredient chocolate fudge recipe. Freeze one more time for about 5 minutes to quickly harden the chocolate.
- In a saucepan on medium heat, melt butter and honey together.
- Stir in cacao powder.
- Pour chocolate over caramel layer.
- Place pan in freezer to cool and harden chocolate more quickly (5 minutes).
Notes
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- I find the quickest and easiest way to make these healthy homemade mounds bars is to make three layers in a 9x13 pan, freezing in between making layers. You could stir them all together or make in different shapes or layers.
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- For a dairy-free option, coconut oil, lard, or other animal fats work well in place of the butter in the caramel and chocolate recipes.
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- If you want your bars to be gooey, serve at room temperature or store in the fridge, rather than the freezer.
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- Strict GAPS note: cacao is not strict GAPS; however, many find they can tolerate it. If you are unable to eat cacao or are on GAPS intro, just skip the chocolate layer.