Low-Carb Almond JOYful Bars

This blog post contains affiliate links.

 

    Because I have a huge sweet tooth...but need to stay away from sugar and carbs, I'm often searching for new ways to make old favorites.  Here's a delightful recipe I've adapted from an original posted at Healthy Indulgences.net.  Because these contain superfood coconut oil, they will actually speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight, unlike that traditional favorite candy bar, Almond Joy.

                            Low-Carb Almond JOYful Bars!
  
    These are as wonderful as they look and sound!  My family was thrilled with this new recipe.  The delicious combination of coconut, almonds, and chocolate is phenomenal!  For those of you who have been following the Trim Healthy Mama diet and have had a hard time getting chocolatey treats to taste right - or you don't like desserts made with cream cheese in them (like my friend, Susan!), this is a great recipe for you.


Low-Carb Almond JOYful Bars
Makes 20 servings; I doubled the recipe and refrigerated leftovers

• 1-1/2 cups unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
• 6 Tbsp. raw extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/3 cup heavy, full-fat coconut milk
• 1/3 cup non-GMO erythritol (I use the NOW brand)
  
• 1/16th tsp. of NuNaturals NuStevia Pure Extract Powder (or more; sweeten to taste)
• 20 plain almonds
• 7 oz. Lindt 70% chocolate bars
• pinch of sea salt

    Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray (I love Spectrum Coconut Oil Spray) so that parchment paper won't slide around.  Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.  (You may use waxed paper, but these bars will stick to the waxed paper and be more difficult to remove.) 

    In a medium bowl, stir together coconut oil, coconut milk, unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut, salt, and stevia.  Melt erythritol over medium heat in a small saucepan until liquified, stirring constantly.  Pour hot erythritol over coconut mixture; combine well until coconut oil has melted.  Add additional pure stevia extract powder, if desired, and stir well. 

    Place small spoonfuls of the coconut mixture onto the parchment paper; use your fingers to shape each spoonful into 20 flat "logs".  Top each "log" with an almond, pressing the nuts down gently into the coconut filling. 
   

    Freeze coconut "logs" for 5 minutes or until filling is firm and cold.  Microwave chopped chocolate for 30 seconds on high, or use your microwave's "melt chocolate" setting; you may also melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.  Stir chocolate until smooth.  Add 1/16 tsp. of NuNaturals NuStevia Pure Stevia Extract Powder to the chocolate and taste; add additional stevia extract powder if desired. 

    Dip coconut "logs" into melted chocolate, or drizzle each coconut log with melted chocolate.  Return logs to parchment paper; wait for several minutes for chocolate coating to harden. 

Now, try to limit yourself to only one of these per day.  Yeah, like that's possible!

0.57 grams of net carbs per candy bar without the chocolate coating
35 grams of net carbs per 1-3.5 oz. Lindt chocolate bar
4 grams of net carbs per bar made with 70% Lindt chocolate bar coating


Note:  If you absolutely cannot have any carbs or sugars in your diet, you may use unsweetened baking chocolate to melt and drizzle onto these bars.  Be sure to sweeten the unsweetened baking chocolate with your favorite alternative sweetener, to taste.


    Feel free to take a look at my Trim Healthy VISUAL SHOPPING LIST to get a better idea of some of the quicker food options available in your stores!

   In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a small affiliate commission, although your cost stays at the regular price. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.

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