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    Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars

    February 4, 2021 by Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs 10 Comments

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    Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars are an upgraded twist on a classic candy favorite! This simple recipe tastes even better than the original.

    Close-up shot of a pile of Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars

    Coconut has always been one of my very favorite flavors. From sweet to savory dishes, coconut lends that fun, tropical, unmistakable flavor to a variety of cuisines. When we're talking candy, Mounds bars are at the top of my list! It's near impossible to beat that sweet, chewy, coconutty filling all wrapped up in creamy chocolate. So simple yet SO incredibly delicious. These Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars are reminiscent of that childhood classic (arguably, way better) and made with ingredients you can feel good about indulging in. We think you'll agree, this homemade version takes the cake.

    Recipe Tips

    Coconut Types. We've found that unsweetened coconut flakes works best for this recipe. Pre-sweetened coconut tends to be too overpowering, especially once chocolate is added on. For a tasty twist, you can replace ⅓ of the coconut with toasted coconut flakes. Adds a little crunch and that toasty flavor.

    Chocolate. Classic Mounds bars use milk chocolate but we opted for dark. Truthfully, either works well so we say pick your favorite! For a fun, kid-friendly twist, you can use white chocolate and food coloring to really shake things up! The same goes for a chocolate drizzle versus the full dunk. We've made them countless times both ways and still can't pick a favorite.

    Overhead shot of Mounds Bars with fresh Chocolate Drizzle

    Coconut Oil. While this may seem like a ridiculous thing to say on a recipe featuring coconut, there are two primary types of coconut oil to choose between. Unrefined (virgin) coconut oil has that classic, bright, tropical coconut scent and aroma. It also has a light yellow or sometimes ivory shade. On the other hand, refined coconut oil is practically void of any distinguishable scent or flavor and tends to be clear or brighter white if solid. Either oil works perfectly well for this recipe, so it really comes down to personal preference. If you can't get enough coconut flavor, the unrefined oil is for you! If you desire "just enough" coconut, refined is the way to go.

    Time to Chill. When you've mixed your coconut filling together, we recommend chilling in the fridge, not the freezer. Over hardened filling can crack more easily than lightly chilled. If you are in a time crunch, we recommend popping your mixture into the freezer and allowing it a few minutes at room temperature before slicing, to decrease the chance of cracking.

    Close-up shot of a pile of Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars

    Healthy Homemade Mounds Bars are an upgraded twist on a classic candy favorite! This simple recipe tastes even better than the original.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Chill Time30 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10 bars
    Calories: 213kcal

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
    • 3 tbsp unrefined coconut oil
    • 3 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
    • ⅛ tsp salt
    • 1 cup chocolate chips for melting

    Instructions

    • To a food processor, add coconut flakes, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Process on low for 30-45 seconds, or until mixture is well combined and beginning to become slightly tacky. You want your mixture to be sticky enough to press and hold together.
    • Pour mixture into a lightly oiled or parchment-lined bread pan or baking dish*, pressing down firmly until evenly distributed. Place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, or until "set".
    • Using a firm spatula, gently remove coconut mixture from pan and slice into "bars" or mini bites.
    • Melt chocolate in a microwave safe dish, in 10-15 second intervals, until melted. Drizzle or dunk bars with chocolate and place back into the fridge until chocolate sets.

    Notes

    *we often double our batch and find this perfectly fills a 9x9 baking pan, yielding approximately 20 good sized bars.
    Halving/Doubling Recipe: You can easily halve or double your recipe with great success using the 1:1:1 ratio of 1 cup of coconut flakes to 1 tbsp oil to 1 tbsp maple syrup. Vanilla extract and salt cannot be doubled, and should be adjusted per preference. 
    Storage: these bars are best kept in the fridge. For a softer, chewier eating experience, remove from the fridge 5-10 minutes prior to enjoying. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 213kcal
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joyce K Bondra

      February 17, 2021 at 3:33 pm

      When Kevin heard about these he said "Homemade Mounds Bars sound GREAT!!" We both LOVE Mounds bars. Because the ingredients are natural, you don't have all the preservatives like the store bought candy does. And Kevin says "for that reason you won't get that acidy taste in your mouth when you eat them...." I cannot wait to try these, they look delicious!!

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        February 18, 2021 at 3:55 pm

        Joyce, we are so happy to hear you both were excited to see this! We hope it does not disappoint!

        Reply
    2. Judy Mische

      February 16, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve always loved Mounds and Almond Joy bars. These are just as good if not better - no they are better - because I can use healthier ingredients! Such a great idea for gift giving too.

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        February 17, 2021 at 11:27 am

        So glad to hear you enjoyed them! And love the idea of gifting them!

        Reply
    3. Garey

      February 16, 2021 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      Currently drooling

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        February 17, 2021 at 11:34 am

        Thank you so much!!!

        Reply
    4. Rosemary

      February 11, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      These are incredible!! I’ve been so into chocolate and coconut bars lately I’ll have to make some homemade !

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        February 15, 2021 at 9:01 pm

        Thank you so much! We hope you'll enjoy them!

        Reply
    5. Erica

      February 05, 2021 at 9:04 am

      These look absolutely beautiful! Must. Try. Immediately!

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        February 05, 2021 at 9:58 am

        Thank you so much Erica! We hope you love them!!!

        Reply

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    The Compstons

    We're Stephen and Elise Compston! Husband and wife registered dietitians, recipe revitalizers, and developers of upgraded everyday eats. We create simple, affordable, plant-focused recipes with fun, fresh, and creative spins on classic dishes and tasty new favorites.

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