These delicious healthy vegan Coconut Avocado Key Lime dessert bars are gluten, and dairy-free. They have no refine sugar added, and are naturally sweetened with coconut and maple syrup. A perfect light dessert anytime of the week.
The crust consists of walnuts with a hint of sweetness from the shredded coconut, honey/maple syrup and coconut sugar. The filling is a creamy refreshing tangy flavour that is made with avocados, coconut milk, honey and lime. This recipe is a perfect summer dessert that is not overly sweet or simply enjoy it as an afternoon snack with a tea.
Every now and then we just want something a little different and step away from a filling dessert, or we have a sensitivity to dairy and need an alternative and then this dessert is for you! Most if not all of the ingredients you may already have in your pantry, and it’s so easy to make and the food processor does all the work for you.
Ingredients and Helpful hints:
- Walnuts: when blending walnuts in the food processor or electric blender, you will notice the longer you blend the ingredients to make this wonderful crust, the healthy oils from walnuts will begin to release, creating a binding consistency. This allows the crust to come together and the ability to easily press the crust into the baking pan.
- Shredded Coconut: I used unsweetened, and then add coconut sugar; however, if you use sweetened then you may not need to add sugar
- Honey/maple syrup: I prefer to use natural sweeteners, to my desserts rather then refine sugar and both are high in antioxidants, as well, if you choose to use maple syrup, just to note, you will have a bit of a maple flavour to your dessert. Either way, whether you use honey or maple syrup in this dessert, neither will overpower it’s natural lime flavour
- Coconut oil: you could always use a vegetable oil as a substitution
- Coconut sugar: I added coconut sugar in the crust for just an extra coconut flavour and sweetness to the base. It is an option, if you prefer not to add it.
- Salt: brings out the flavours
- Honey: I chose to use honey in this recipe. I am a fan of using a natural sweetener to recipes.
- Avocados: make sure your avocados are ripe, yet firm and if they have turned brown once you cut them, they are overripe and should not be used
- Lime juice and zest: is that true citrus flavour in any key lime desserts
Vegan Coconut Avocado Key Lime Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups walnuts
- 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tbsp honey/maple syrup
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar (optional)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Filling:
- 2 ripe avocados
- 3/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1/4 cup honey/maple syrup
- 4 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1 lime, zest
Instructions
- Line a 9 inch x 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.
- In a food processor, add walnuts, shredded coconut, honey or (maple syrup), coconut oil, coconut sugar if using and salt. Blend ingredients for crust until it's crumbly and sticks together easily, about 2 minutes.
- Pour the crust into the baking pan. Using your hands, press crust firmly into the pan, making sure it is even throughout. Place in the freeze for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Wash out the food processor, and add avocados, coconut milk, honey or (maple syrup), coconut oil, lime juice and lime zest. Blend ingredients until the consistency is smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the filling on top of the crust. Smooth the filling into an even layer. Place in the freezer for 1 hour. Long enough for the filling to set and become solid.
- When ready to serve, remove from the freezer about 15 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with shredded coconut, lime slice/zest or vegan coconut whipping cream.
Nutrition
How to make this delicious dessert:
Prepare your ingredients and simply add all of them to the food processor. If you don’t have a food processor, a blender will work too. Blend until you get a smooth creamy consistency, and there are no lumps remaining.
When you remove the bars from the freezer, allow it to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before you cut them into 9 bar servings. With the help of the parchment paper to lift the entire bars out of the baking pan/dish and place on a flat surface to get a even straight cut. Once it starts to thaw, the filling has a creamy and smooth consistency that will soften the longer it sits at room temperature.
This vegan Key Lime Bars definitely resembles the Key Lime Pie. It has the same flavours without the added gluten or dairy. Garnish this delicious refreshing dessert with unsweetened shredded coconut, lime wedges and/or lime zest. Enjoy! 🙂
