No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies (Vegan Gluten-Free)

These No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies are the best dessert, snack or sweet treat when the chocolate cravings hit. A rich no-bake brownie base topped with a sticky and gooey almond caramel topped with more chocolate and almond butter. Plus, they are vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free.

You can watch the recipe video here.

I am so excited to share my first no-bake recipe and my first chocolate recipe for 2022 with you all and these No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies are a true delight to make and even more so to eat. They are rich, fudgy, packed with wholefoods for those looking for a healthier dessert but equally as decadent and indulgent. They were inspired by the delicious Almond Chocolate with Crispy Quinoa from HU Kitchen which is now in the UK and makes me so happy, but you can use any chocolate.

How amazing are these No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies?

One bite and you will see why I am raving so much about these no-bake brownies. They are:

• Rich and indulgent
• Fudgy and gooey
• Packed with chocolate
• Rich with nutty almond flavour
• Easy to make in a few steps
• Require no baking and no prep time
• Delicious for snacking, desserts or anytime eating
• Naturally vegan and gluten-free and easily nut-free

If you are already hooked and want to make these brownies right now, skip ahead to the recipe card. Or, let’s discuss the ingredients and method in more detail.

What ingredients go into these brownies?

The layers of the brownies use a lot of the same ingredients, so while the recipe card may look fairly long, you only need a few basic ingredients (see the photo above).

For the brownie base, you need:

• Medjool dates: these are always my favourite to use in no-bake recipes as they are jammy and sticky which is great for making brownies and cookies. But, other dried dates will work and I always re-hydrate mine in boiling water anyway.
• Almond butter: smooth nut butter works best for the brownie base, but others will work (I love this one – Nourishing5 saves you 5% off anything on Koro). You can use any nut or seed butter, the flavour will change slightly depending on the nut or seed, but they will still be delicious.
• Coconut oil: this adds a firmer texture to the brownies while still leaving them slightly squidgy. I do not recommend swapping this.
• Cocoa powder: or cacao powder, for the rich chocolate flavour. I always use 100% unprocessed cocoa or cacao rather than drinking chocolate which has added sugars.
• Salt: to enhance the flavours.

Now onto the gooey almond caramel layer:

• Almond butter: as above, the smooth and runny kind is best for this recipe. If you are using a different nut butter or opting for a seed butter in the base, use the same one here.
• Maple syrup: for the sticky element of the caramel. You can use any sticky syrup here like agave, date syrup, vegan honey or date syrup.
• Coconut oil: this creates a wonderful texture, and I do not recommend swapping or skipping this. Without the oil, the caramel will not set and it is already gooey enough!
• Salt: to bring it all together. And who doesn’t love a salted caramel?

Now onto the even easier layer, the chocolate topping:

• Chocolate: as I mentioned, I used a delicious chocolate almond butter bar which was so perfect with the flavours, but any dark or dairy-free milk chocolate will work. I prefer one with min. 70% cocoa solids for the rich flavour, but use your favourite.
• Coconut oil: this softens the chocolate ever so slightly as it sets so that the bars do not crack as you slice into them. This part is not strictly necessary, but I do really recommend it.
• Almond butter: as above, this can be swapped out.

That’s it, only 7 ingredients are needed for these delicious No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies and they are so easy to make, too. Let’s see…

How do I make these brownies?

• Make the base: blend together all the ingredients to a sticky mix that holds together when pressed between your fingers. Now press the base mixture down into a small dish or tin to make a firm brownie layer.
• Make the caramel: stir the ingredients together until super smooth. Pour this over the brownie base. Pop the tin in the fridge for 10 minutes.
• Melt the chocolate: and pour over the caramel.
• Swirl in the almond butter: drop spoonfuls of the almond butter into the melted chocolate and use a toothpick or knife to swirl the almond butter through into patterns.
• Allow the brownies to set: in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
• Slice the bars carefully: see below!
• Store in the fridge: if they last long enough.

How can I make sure the brownies are neat?

Firstly, I like to pop the No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies into the freezer for 10 minutes so the layers are firmer to slice. Then, my top tip is to use a sharp hot knife to slice the brownies. Fill a mug with boiling water, dip a sharp knife into the hot water and allow it to warm through. Wipe off the water and place the knife into the chocolate but do not press down straight away, allow the heat of the knife to melt the chocolate and with gentle pressure, the knife will glide through the top chocolate layer and then you can slice through the caramel and brownie layers. Repeat to cut all the brownies, and note that this is the same method I use for all my chocolate topped recipes and bars.

Are these No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies gluten-free and nut-free?

These brownies are naturally gluten-free and to make them nut-free, swap the almond butter for a seed butter like tahini or sunflower seed butter. Also make sure your chocolate is nut-free, where needed.

How long will these no-bake desserts last?

As they are no-bake, they last well in the fridge and you won’t notice the difference a few days later. They keep well for 1 week in a sealed container in the fridge or for 1 month in the freezer. Allow them to thaw for 10 minutes or so before eating from the freezer.

I love no-bake desserts, what other recipes can I try?

I hope you will love these caramel brownies as much as we do, and if you are looking for more no-bake recipes, how about my:

•  Mini Chocolate Mousse Pecan Tarts
• Chocolate Truffle Bliss Balls
• Coconut and Raspberry Wagon Wheel Bites
• Salted Chocolate Almond Butter Fudge Cups
• Vegan Protein Rice Crispy Bars

I look forward to hearing what you think of these No Bake Almond Caramel Brownies so please let me know in the comments below. If you do make these brownies, I would love to see so please tag me in them, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

With no-bake caramel brownie love x

The orignal recipe was sponsored by HU Kitchen but this blog post is not sponsored – I just love them!