Healthy & Vegan Chocolate hazelnut bars (no-bake)

These chocolate hazelnut bars are healthy and vegan. Made by processing hazelnuts, cocoa butter, maple, and cocoa powder for the perfect Nutella-inspired base then topped with a thick layer of vegan chocolate ganache. Each bite will remind you of a spoonful of Nutella, just healthier!

As we’re going through this holiday season, I wanted to bring you a little something that’s both good for you and super tasty! You heard that right. These little bars or squares of heaven are gluten-free, vegan, processed sugar-free, dairy-free, and extremely easy to make.

This recipe actually came about by mistake. I was working on making a hazelnut chocolate spread but something went wrong and the mixture stiffed up on me. I blame it on the cocoa powder and the vanilla extract. But I am not mad at this situation at all, in the contrary! I am absolutely delighted because these vegan Nutella bites turned out absolutely amazing.

This vegan chocolate hazelnut bar recipe is the best snack ever!

I am not gonna lie, I must’ve had at least 7 pieces of these when I made and shot these. They are definitely addictive so make sure to practice self control… or not. Do whatever makes you happy to be honest. This world has too many rules and there shouldn’t be any more with food. As long as you are mindful, treat yourself! You deserve it.

Anyways, I made these by mistake and ended up loving them so much that I knew I had to share them with you as soon as possible. So here we are, with the best little nutty chocolatey snack.

What’s so special about these vegan chocolate bars?

I feel like the picture should show you how special they are, but if you want more, here is why I think these vegan chocolate squares are special!

• These bars are no bake vegan bars, meaning that you will have your treats extremely fast
• They are gluten-free
• They are packed with chocolate
• Each bite tastes like it is packed with Nutella but there is no Nutella in this recipe, yup, I call that magic.

Ingredients to make Vegan Nutella bites

To make these healthy and vegan chocolate hazelnut bars, you will need the following ingredients:

• Hazelnuts – You will need to use peeled and toasted hazelnuts for this recipe.
• Cocoa butter- This will give your vegan hazelnut bars a real chocolate flavor.
• Maple syrup– The maple syrup makes these bars lightly sweet. Maple syrup is vegan friendly.
• Dutch cocoa powder– you can find this at your local grocery store. It is pretty much cocoa powder that’s been alkalized to neutralize its acidity.
• Vanilla extract– A little vanilla extract to give this more depth of flavor.
• Sea salt– The sea salt helps balance out the sweetness of these vegan bites.
• Dairy free chocolate chips– You will need some dairy free chocolate chips to make the ganache topping.
• Coconut cream– Usually you would use heavy cream to make your chocolate ganache. But since this recipe is vegan we are going to use coconut cream instead.

What is cocoa butter?

Cocoa butter is pretty much the fatty part that’s extracted from the cocoa beans. It is a vegan friendly fat because it is derived from the cacao plant. It has a slight flavor and aroma of cocoa so it works perfectly in these vegan chocolate hazelnut bars!

How to toast hazelnuts? And how to peel them?

Here is the easiest way to toast hazelnuts:

• Spread the hazelnuts onto a baking sheet and roast at 350F for 12-15 minutes.
• Once they’re done baking, let the hazelnuts cool down completely on the baking sheet. They will continue to cook until they cool down completely.

How to peel hazelnuts?

To peel hazelnuts easily, place the roasted hazelnuts in a clean dish towel and gently rub them. This is the easiest and quickest way to peel your hazelnuts for this recipe.

How to make vegan healthy Nutella squares

• Start by lining a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• Now add the toasted and peeled hazelnut to a food processor and mix until the hazelnuts is smooth and creamy, this will take about 3-5 minutes. Add in the melted cocoa butter, maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and sea salt.
• Pour the hazelnut mixture into the prepared loaf pan, spread with a rubber spatula and smooth into a tighly packed layer. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
• In a small microwave safe bowl, add in the chocolate chips and the coconut cream and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each time.
• Pour the chocolate ganache over the hazelnut mixture and freeze again for 10 more minutes or until the chocolate is set. Slice and enjoy!

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More vegan recipes you will love!

• Healthy Chocolate chip Vegan Mug Cookie
• vegan chocolate mousse [aquafaba]
• Vegan Chocolate Orange Avocado Mousse (for two)
• Healthy vegan double chocolate brownies

How to store these healthy hazelnut chocolate bars?

You can store these vegan Nutella bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days or in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

I personally like to store them in the freezer so they last longer and whenever I have a craving for one, I pull it out and let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes (depending on the temperature of your house) then enjoy it!

Vegan Hazelnut chocolate bars

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