I haven’t always been a fan of coconut.
There’s a trick I play with my mind. I’ve always told myself that I didn’t like ingredients that are bad for me. Well, there are exceptions to that rule…you know, chocolate, sugar, etc. But, ingredients that I could live without because they’re not the best for me, I trick myself into thinking that I don’t like them. Genius, right? 😉
When I was taking an aerobics class in college, our instructor told us that coconut was awful for you. I went with it and decided that I didn’t like coconut or even almond joy candy bars anymore.
Crazy!?!
With the recent boom of coconut oil and milk in the health world, I’ve taken a liking to coconut again. As you can see from this article, coconut has been going back and forth from the good and bad-for-lists for a while. Health experts can’t even decide.
So, I say everything in moderation.
These bars are a great way way get your moderation of coconut…and a few other goodies. 😉
Don’t you love all of the gooey-ness and beautiful layers in these walnut joy bars???
They couldn’t be any easier to whip up either. Nothing like a quick dessert!
I hope you enjoy this spin on the classic almond joy candy bar, deconstructed into a bar!
Feel free to use another nut in place of walnuts, too. I love walnuts for their anti-inflammatory nature, high omega-3 fats, and light crunch. But, I bet pecans, sliced almonds, or even peanuts would be delicious! 😀
Happy Monday!
Walnut Joy Bars
adapted from Eat, Live, Run
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1 package of low fat graham crackers (8 graham cracker sheets total), crushed
- 1 cup chopped unsalted walnuts
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 (14 ounce) can fat free sweetened condensed milk
How-To
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Line a 8″ x 8″ pan with non-stick foil.
- Pour the melted butter in the pan.
- Sprinkle the crushed graham crackers over the butter.
- Sprinkle the walnuts, then the chocolate chips, then the coconut on top.
- Evenly pour the condensed milk on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Allow the bars to cool for at least 2 hours before serving.
These look so good…and I LOVE how easy the recipe is!!
I’m not sure if I am happy or sad that I have everything I need to make these! They look divine! I went for years thinking I did not like coconut, but, like you, with the boom of coconut oil I decided to give it another shot. And now…I love it! I really hope “they” decide it really is good for you!
I hated coconut for a really long time, but a few years ago I did a total 180 and decided I loved it. Weird, but kind of awesome too 🙂 These bars look delicious!
These look uuhhmazing!!!
Love these! They look really beautiful! Everything seems to be bad for you these days. You cant seem to get away from it at all, so I like your motto. Everything in moderation. Sounds perfect to me 🙂