Healthy Vegan Coconut Bounty Candy Bars Recipe
Today we are making a Healthy Vegan Coconut Bounty Candy Bars Recipe! The Bounty bar, adored by many, is a globally popular candy known for its rich, creamy coconut filling encased in a smooth chocolate coating. It’s the perfect blend of tropical sweetness and indulgence, making it a go-to snack for coconut lovers everywhere.
Traditionally, Bounty bars are made with ingredients like sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and milk chocolate, which give them their signature taste and texture. However, these ingredients also make the original version quite high in sugar and dairy, which might not align with everyone’s dietary preferences or health goals. That’s where this recipe steps in!
In our healthy vegan version, we’re swapping out the dairy and refined sugars for plant-based, wholesome alternatives that still deliver on flavor. You’ll get the same luscious coconut center and decadent chocolate coating, but with ingredients that are kinder to your body and the planet. Let’s get started on crafting these guilt-free, coconutty delights!
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Coconut Bounty Candy Bars
Healthy Without Sacrificing Flavor: One of the most compelling reasons to fall in love with this recipe is the fact that it allows you to indulge without the guilt. We all know that traditional candy bars, while delicious, often come with a hefty dose of refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients. But with this recipe, you’re getting the best of both worlds: a sweet, satisfying treat that’s made with wholesome, plant-based ingredients. The natural sweetness of coconut, paired with the rich taste of dark chocolate, offers a luxurious flavor experience that feels just as indulgent as the original. You can enjoy these bars knowing that they’re free from dairy, refined sugar, and artificial additives—so you can savor every bite while sticking to your health goals.
Easy and Fun to Make at Home: Another reason you’ll love this recipe is how simple and enjoyable it is to make. There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating your own version of a popular candy bar at home, especially when it’s a healthier alternative. This recipe is straightforward, with just a handful of ingredients and steps that are easy to follow, making it perfect for both seasoned cooks and kitchen beginners. Plus, it’s a fun project to do with kids, friends, or on your own when you want to treat yourself to a little DIY kitchen magic. The process of mixing the coconut filling, shaping the bars, and coating them in chocolate is not only therapeutic but also leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. And when you take that first bite of your homemade, healthier Bounty bar, you’ll know that all the effort was more than worth it!
Substitutions
Shredded Coconut: Make sure to use short-grain, shredded coconut in this recipe. If you use long-grain flakes, you can pulse them in a spice grinder a few times to break them up before using in this recipe.
I used unsweetened coconut, and adjusted the sweetness according to this. You can also use sweetened coconut, but you would have to adjust the sweetness. In this case, if you reduce the maple syrup, it may cause an issue with the mixture not binding properly. I recommend to stick to the unsweetened version to maintain the recipe proportions.
Coconut Oil: Choose refined coconut oil – this should not smell like coconuts. This oil has no aftertaste, which most other oils do. Virgin or extra-virgin coconut oil will smell and taste like coconuts, so make sure not to choose this one!
Chocolate: Choose vegan, semisweet chocolate chips. You can also use dark chocolate, but the recipe will not be as sweet. Whether you use a chopped semisweet chocolate bar, chocolate chips or chunks – it doesn’t make a difference, as they will be melted anyways.
Pure Maple Syrup: There should only be one ingredient on the label – pure maple syrup! Swap this out with agave nectar instead.
Coconut Bounty Candy Bars Recipe Notes
- Get creative with add ins! You can mix in chopped nuts like almonds or hazelnuts, or press a dried cherry or dried cranberry into the top of the bar before coating it in chocolate, for an added crunch and flavor!
More Recipes You’ll Love
Sweet Potato Chocolate Pudding
If you make this vegan Coconut Bounty Candy Bars recipe, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Healthy Vegan Coconut Bounty Candy Bars Recipe
Equipment
- Stovetop Pot
- Heatproof bowl
- Spatula
- Toothpicks
Ingredients
For the Filling
- ½ cup shredded short-grain coconut unsweetened
- 1⅓ tbsp pure maple syrup
- ⅛ tsp vanilla extract
- pinch pink salt
- 1 tbsp refined coconut oil
For the Coating
- ¼ cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
For the Filling
- In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients for the filling.
- Refrigerate the mixture for 2 hours to firm up.
- Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper.
- Once the mixture is firm, shape it into 4 oval shapes, similar to how a mini bounty candy bar looks like. Place these bars on the parchment paper.
For the Chocolate Coating
- Bring a pot of water to boil on the stovetop.
- Once boiling, remove from the stove. Place a heatproof bowl that is larger than the pot, over top of it.
- Add the chocolate into this bowl and keep stirring it with a spatula, until fully melted.
For Forming the Bars
- With a toothpick on either end of the candy bars, dip them carefully into the chocolate mixture to fully coat.
- Place each bar back onto the parchment paper.
- Let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- After this time, remove from the fridge and eat it chilled, or let it come to room temperature first. Enjoy!
