Healthy Almond Joy Bars

If you love chocolate and coconut, you’ll love these Healthy Almond Joy Bars! Indulge in these nostalgic chocolate bars made with only 7 organic ingredients! Ditch the bad stuff and enjoy these nostalgic candy bars instead!

If you want more homemade candy recipes, be sure to check out some of my other favorites like Strawberry Cream Drops, Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Cashew Clusters, Homemade Caramel Sauce with Bone Broth, Puppy Chow Candy Clusters, or Vegan Dark Chocolate Mini Peanut Butter Cups.

healthy almond joy bar cut in half sitting on top of another almond joy bar.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Healthy Almond Joy Bars
Ready In: 2 hours 20 minutes
Makes: 14 candy bars
Main Ingredients: dark chocolate, coconut, almonds
Flavor Profile: tropical sweetness with rich dark chocolate and crunchy almond
Dietary Info: gluten free, eggless, no seed oils, vegan swap available
Difficulty: Easy!
Why You’ll Love It: better than store bought Almond Joy Bars

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Nostalgic AF: These Healthy Almond Joy Bars are nostalgic AF! If you loved this candy as a child, you will love these homemade Almond Joy Bars.
Better Than Store Bought: These are so much better than store bought! Not only do they taste better, but this homemade Halloween candy are healthy desserts you'll want to indulge in. Traditional Almond Joys contain artificial flavors, seed oils, and corn syrup. These do not!
Healthier Option: This is a healthier option because it’s made with only 7 organic ingredients. Indulge without guilt in this delicious dessert when your sweet tooth hits.
Naturally Gluten Free: This homemade Halloween candy is naturally gluten free!
Vegan Friendly: While I use real butter, you can easily make these vegan by using vegan butter in its place along with vegan chocolate chips.

Jump to:

A Quick Look At The Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Baker’s Tips
How to Make Healthy Almond Joy Bars
Healthy Almond Joy Bars FAQ’s
More Chocolate Coconut Recipes
Healthy Almond Joy Bars
The Bake Shop

After testing these homemade Almond Joy Bars multiple times, I put them to the ultimate test—my dad! He is the epitome of a baby boomer as far as his food choices go. He doesn't believe in organic and he's a creature of habit, buying the same brands he has bought his whole life, no matter how much I try to sway him.

While he's a huge fan of my cookies, as I've been baking them for him since middle school, he's perfectly happy to go out and buy an Almond Joy Bar when his craving strikes (where, I am not!). So, when I told him I brought these Healthy Almond Joy Bars instead of traditional cookies on our last trip, he just frowned at me.

But after trying them, he was stopping by the AirBNB before and after golf just to open our fridge and steal a bar. He was truly obsessed, telling me how delicious the coconut filling was! Now, when I ask him what he wants me to bring when I visit, these are always on the list. So, if you loved the originals, trust me when I say these are even better! And they are even better for you—and Dad approved!

If you're looking for more nostalgic candies made better, try some of my other favorites! Instead of Raisinettes, try Chocolate Covered Raisin Clusters for a 2 ingredient treat that's even better! Plus, try other twists on nostalgic candy like Vegan Snickers Bars, Homemade Twix Bars, Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Homemade Chewy Chocolate Caramel Candy and Caramel Lollipops!

Ingredients

Butter: I use Organic Valley Salted Butter. You can also use vegan butter if you want to make these vegan.
Coconut Oil: I use a mix of organic coconut oil and butter for the fat. This mix gives the best texture and flavor!
Coconut: Organic unsweetened fine shredded coconut is the coconut base of this candy bar! You don't need sweetened coconut for the coconut mixture.
Coconut Milk: I use organic coconut milk for more coconut flavor and to ensure the filling sticks together. You can use regular cow's milk if you prefer, but I like coconut for added coconut flavor!
Chocolate: I use organic mini dark chocolate chips for ease as these are my favorite for melting as they are free of stabilizers. But you can also use a chocolate bar and chop it up too. If you want to use milk chocolate, you could also do that as well. If using other chocolate chips, just ensure thehas no stabilizers (such as soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin as these will hinder melting).
Almonds: I use organic whole roasted and salted almonds for added flavor. This is a much better choice than raw almonds as they add flavor.

Baker's Tips

If you are vegan or dairy free, you can just replace the butter with your favorite vegan butter. I recommend Miyoko's.
If your bars break, you can just coat them and have minis!
You can make minis instead of the larger bars, if you prefer. You could just cut each bar in half. Make sure to adjust for the almonds if you make smaller or different sized bars.
Make sure to store these in the fridge. I keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator as they go quick! But, you can also freeze them in an airtight container.

How to Make Healthy Almond Joy Bars

ingredients for almond joy filling in a glass bowl of a stand mixer on a white marble counter.

Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, coconut oil, powdered sugar, coconut, and coconut milk.

almond joy filling mixed together in a glass mixing bowl on a white marble counter.

Mix on low until combined.

square baking pan with coconut filling pressed into it on a marble counter with tiny pumpkins and a bowl of almonds.

Transfer to an 8×8-inch baking pan and spread evenly.

square baking pan with coconut filling and almonds inside on a marble counter with tiny pumpkins.

Add whole almonds to the top of the pan, wherever or however you want to cut these. You could do 7 rows of 6 almonds, like I did for traditional size bars with 3 almonds each. (See video). Or you can even do almonds everywhere and make cute bite sized squares. Place the tray in the freezer and let it set until the bars are cold, at least 2 hours. This will ensure nice clean cuts.

almond joy bars cut into bars on a baking sheet with parchment paper on a marble counter.

Remove the filling from the pan and cut into bars. I cut mine in half and then each side into 7 bars, for 14 bars total. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and put back in the freezer while you melt the chocolate.

glass mixing bowl with melted chocolate and a spatula on a marble counter with small pumpkins.

In a heatproof bowl, add the mini dark chocolate chips and coconut oil. You can melt in a double boiler or you can melt in the microwave, in 30 second intervals, stirring between each one, to prevent burning.

healthy almond joy bars coated in chocolate on a baking sheet on a white marble counter.

Once the chocolate is melted, remove the bars from the freezer. Dip each one into the melted chocolate to coat completely. Place back on the baking sheet. Drizzle the remaining chocolate on top of each bar.

Store in the fridge or the freezer.

Healthy Almond Joy Bars FAQ’s

Are homemade Almond Joy bars healthier than store-bought Almond Joy candy?

These Healthy Almond Joys Bars have only 7 organic ingredients. While they are still candy, they are much better for you than the store bought version!

Can I use sweetened shredded coconut instead of unsweetened coconut?

No, don't use sweetened coconut as we are already adding sugar here, so there's no need to use sweetened coconut as the filling will be too sweet.

Why is my coconut filling falling apart?

If the filling gets too warm, it can break. We want the filling to be soft, because when you eat them, we want them to be soft and melt in your mouth. But, that's why chilling the filling first is essential before cutting and dipping in chocolate. If a couple break, you'll just end up with a few mini bars instead!

Can I use milk chocolate?

Yes, feel feee to use milk chocolate in place of dark chocolate if you prefer.

Can I make these Almond Joy bars without almonds?

Yes, if you want to skip the almonds, you'll have homemade Mounds Bars instead!

Can I make these in a silicone candy mold instead of cutting them into bars?

Yes, you can press the filling into any silicone candy mold you have instead of doing a large baking pan and cutting into bars. Either works! So, you can use egg molds, pumpkin molds or Christmas tree molds if you want to make these festive for the holidays!

Do I need to temper the chocolate?

No, I don't temper the chocolate here because these need to be stored in the fridge anyways because they have coconut milk in the filling. So there's no need for this extra step in my opinion.

Are almond joy bars gluten free?

These Healthy Almond Joy Bars are naturally gluten free.

How should I store homemade almond joy bars?

These are best stored in the fridge because of the coconut milk. You can also freeze them! I think they’re best eaten right out of the fridge, but you could let them sit for a few minutes before to come to room temperature too, if you prefer.

Can I freeze homemade Almond Joy bars?

Yes! Just store in a freezer safe container and you can freeze for up to 3 months if you want to make these ahead of a party. I freeze these all the time when I make them to bring to my dad's house as it makes them travel better.

More Chocolate Coconut Recipes

Chocolate Coconut Water

Coconut Hot Chocolate

Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

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