This Gluten-Free Vegan No-Bake Black Forest Bars recipe is a healthy recipe to make using clean, real food ingredients in only 3 easy steps. It's a 3-layer decadent dessert that everyone will love!{ Plant-Based | Raw | Vegan | Gluten-Free | Dairy-Free | Egg-Free | Soy-Free | No-Bake | Lectin-Free | Paleo-Friendly | No Refined Sugar }
Add all ingredients for the brownie base to a food processor and process until it is well combined and a wet, crumbly mixture.
Transfer the mixture to an 8 x 5 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Using the back of a spoon or your hands, press the mixture down firmly and evenly in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
Prepare the cherry filling:
Prepare the cherries: de-stem and de-seed the cherries by pulling off the stem and cutting the cherry in half to remove the pit. Place the cherries in a small bowl to measure enough to make the recipe.
Add all the ingredients for the cherry filling to a food processor and pulse it 10-12 long times, just long enough to break down the dates and cherries into chunks, taking care not to over process.
Transfer the cherry filling to the baking pan and spread it evenly on top of the brownie base.
Using the back of a spoon or your hands, press the mixture down firmly and evenly. Set aside.
Prepare the chocolate topping:
Add all the ingredients for the chocolate topping to a small bowl and whisk it together until it is creamy and smooth and no pieces of avocado remain.
Transfer the chocolate topping to the baking pan and spread it evenly on top of the cherry filling.
Assembly:
Place the pan in the freezer for approximately 3-4 hours, or until it hardens.
When you are ready to serve, remove it from the freezer and let it sit out on the counter top for just a few minutes so it will be easier to slice.
Store in the freezer in an air-tight BPA-free container until ready to serve because it will get soft if left out at room temperature.
Notes
*Lectin-Free: substitute organic maple syrup with organic date nectar.Walnuts. Any nut can be substituted here. For example, raw almond or raw pecans both work well.Cacao Powder. This can be substituted with regular cocoa powder in the same amount.Coconut Oil. If you don't like the taste or flavor of coconut oil, use organic refined coconut oil which has zero coconut taste or flavor.Cherries. I used organic fresh cherries. However, I haven't tested the recipe using frozen cherries but don't see why they wouldn't work.Avocado. Don't be worried about using avocado in a dessert recipe. It gives the frosting a thick, creamy texture and you can't taste the avocado.Maple Syrup. If you need the recipe to be 100% lectin-free, substitute the maple syrup with organic date nectar.Almond Butter. Another neutral nut butter can be substituted here. For example, raw cashew butter or raw sunflower butter.