Mango Bars Vegan
Mango Bars Vegan feature a nutty, tender crust made from a blend of all-purpose and almond flours, bound with a flaxseed egg and maple syrup, creating a soft yet firm base. The mango layer combines raw cashews with mango puree and a touch of salt and sugar for a creamy, lightly sweet topping. The bars freeze well, making them a convenient, fruity dessert option using canned or fresh mango puree.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour or use oat flour or a gf blend for gluten-free
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Flaxseed That is 1 tablespoon flax meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of warm water, used as egg substitute
- 3 to 4 tablespoons maple syrup
For the Mango Layer
- 1 cup cashew nuts not soaked, raw
- 2 cups of mango puree i use canned mango puree/mango pulp. See notes for using fresh mango.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar , optional
Instructions
Make the crust.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (176 °C).
- In a bowl, add the flour, almond flour, baking soda, and salt and press and mix well to break any of the almond flour lumps. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
- Add in the flax egg and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and mix until it starts to form somewhat of a dough. If the dough is too crumbly, add in more maple syrup.
- Line and 8x8- or 9x9-inch baking dish or a brownie pan with parchment, then press this crust into the pan and even it out with the spatula. Use a fork to make holes in the crust, and then bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden on the edges.
- Once the crust is done baking, remove it from the oven, and let it cool.
Make the mango layer while the crust bakes and cools.
- Add the cashews, mango puree, salt, and sugar to a blender, and then blend for a minute. Then leave the blender and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes for the blended cashews to rehydrate from the moisture in the mango puree. Then blend again for a minute and let it sit for another minute and blend again for half a minute. Repeat this until the mixture is super creamy. Taste to adjust sweetness and flavor. You can add a little bit of vanilla, if you like.
Make the mango bars
- Pour or scoop this mixture, depending on how thick it is, over the baked and cooled crust, and even out the top with a spatula. Then, put the baking dish in the freezer for an hour or two, until the bars are somewhat set, and then you can slice them and serve them.
Notes
- Freeze bars up to 2 months; soften on counter 5 to 10 minutes before serving for best texture.
- Substitute coconut cream for cashews if avoiding nuts in the mango layer.
- For fresh mango puree, blend ripe mango without added liquid; add a small amount of water if needed to aid blending.
- Add vanilla, cardamom, or saffron to mango layer for different flavor profiles.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 165
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 165kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 239mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 169mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 460IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 16mg | 18% |
| Calcium | 27mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.