Healthy Samoas Cookie Bars (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Healthy Samoas Cookie Bars are made with an almond flour cookie crust, date caramel, and shredded coconut. An easy and healthier way to enjoy the flavors of a favorite Girl Scout cookie! Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan.

If there were one Girl Scout cookie that I would magically turn gluten-free, it would be the Samoa cookie. Or as I grew up knowing it, the Caramel deLite. 

It wasn’t until I lived in different parts of the country that I realized more people knew that shortbread cookie topped with caramel, coconut, and chocolate as a Samoa cookie. 

I thought everyone had lost their minds.

Healthy Samoas Cookie Bars Ingredients

In reality, there are two names for this cookie (and some slight differences). But the flavors remain the same. 

Swapping out dairy-based caramel for date caramel and a simple almond flour cookie layer, a healthier Samoas bar recipe is possible. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Medjool dates
• coconut or almond milk
• maple syrup
• unsweetened shredded coconut
• almond flour
• coconut oil or vegan butter
• dairy-free chocolate chips

If you haven’t had date caramel yet, get ready. I’d say it has ruined regular caramel for me (which is totally okay). 

While your cookie crust is baking, prepare your date caramel in a high powered blender. I suggest soaking your dates in hot water for at least 5 minutes prior to blending. This ensures a smoother caramel. 

When the date caramel is ready, stir in your unsweetened shredded coconut and spread atop your cookie crust.

Once set, drizzle your dairy-free chocolate and you’ve got yourself vegan gluten-free Samoas cookie bars. The longer you allow these easy cookie bars to chill in the fridge, the more set they will become. 

A little sprinkle of sea salt on top doesn’t hurt either!

If you are on the hunt for more healthy-ish brownie and bar recipes, check out Laura’s black bean brownies. So sneaky!

More Cookie Bar Recipes

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Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

5 from 2 votes

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Healthy Samoas Cookie Bars

Course Dessert

Keyword healthy samoas cookie bars

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Chilling Time 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours

Servings 16

Author Tessa Fisher

Ingredients

• 1 cup Medjool dates pitted and halved
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup coconut or unsweetened almond milk
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips melted

Crust

• 1 1/2 cups (174g) almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil or vegan butter melted and slightly cooled
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8x8 pan and line with parchment paper.
   

2. In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour and salt. Add coconut oil or vegan butter and maple syrup. Stir to combine until dough forms and all dry bits are incorporated. Transfer dough to prepared pan. Press dough into an even layer. Use an extra piece of parchment paper to help smooth it out. 

3. Bake for 12-14 minutes, crust should start to brown on edges and lightly on top. Remove from oven and set aside.

4. While crust is baking, pit and slice your dates and cover them in a small bowl with hot water. Allow to soak for at least 5 minutes. Once soaked, drain and transfer dates to a high powered blender. Add salt, coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Blend on high until smooth. 

5. Transfer date caramel to a medium bowl. Add shredded coconut. Stir to combine. Spread date caramel mixture in an even layer on top of baked crust. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set. 

6. In a small microwavable bowl, add chocolate chips and heat for two 30-second intervals in the microwave to melt. Remove bars from fridge and drizzle melted chocolate on top. (I put melted chocolate in a baggie, cut the tip, and drizzle.)

   Refrigerate for another 30 minutes before removing from pan and slicing into bars. 

7. Store Samoas cookie bars in the refrigerator up to 4 days.