Golden Tahini Caramel Bars (Vegan Gluten-Free)

These 8-ingredient triple-layered Golden Tahini Caramel Bars are gooey, delicious and chocolatey. With a cookie dough base, a golden milk tahini caramel and a thick dark chocolate top, they are no-bake and easy to make.

If you love all things caramel bars and want to take them to the next level with a health-boosting golden mix, then these are perfect. They are based on my favourite type of no-bake bar, featuring a cookie-dough like biscuit base, a nut or seed butter no-boil caramel and a dark chocolate top. This time, they are boosted with a delicious golden milk powder blend (more info on the one I love below) to really make you glow this holiday season (or all year long).

Why will I love these bars?

These golden bars are the dream, they are:

• Chocolatey, smooth and rich
• Vibrant, glowing and warming
• Packed with a gooey sticky caramel
• With a chocolate chip cookie dough base
• No-bake and easy to make
• Made with just 8 ingredients
• Made with wholefood ingredients
• Naturally vegan and gluten-free and easily nut-free
• Great to make ahead of time
• A delicious dessert, snack or edible gift

If you already love the sound of these Golden Tahini Caramel Bars then skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first let’s discuss the recipe in more detail.

What ingredients do I need?

The ingredients for these golden bars are quite simple and most ingredients are used more than once throughout the three layers:

• Oats: these are great for the base of the bars as they are fibre-rich and really good for you. Make sure the oats are gluten-free where needed.
• Cashew nuts: these add bulk to the base of the bars and are deliciously creamy and naturally “sweet”. You can also use other nuts like pecans, walnuts, almonds or to make them nut-free use sunflower seeds.
• Tahini: this is the most delicious ingredient to use for caramel bars both in the base and for the caramel layer. Make sure the tahini is runny and smooth for the best quality bars. My favourites are from Belazu, or in the world food aisles in supermarkets, like the Achva brand in Sainsburys.
• Maple syrup: for sticky sweetness both for the base and the caramel. You can use agave or rice syrup too.
• Coconut oil: this is in all three layers and works to bind together the base, smooth out the caramel so it sets just perfectly and it makes the chocolate top less likely to crack.
• Dark chocolate: use chopped up chocolate or chips for the cookie dough base and then a bar of chocolate (or more chips) to melt for the top layer.
• Golden milk powder: this is the amazing ingredient that turns the caramel golden. I have popped more info on the blend I use below and it makes these caramel bars taste like a turmeric latte.
• Salt: to enhance the flavours and I love flaky salt sprinkled on top.

What golden milk blend should I use?

There are a few golden milk or turmeric latte mixes out there, or you may have your own favourite, but I love the golden milk blend from Garden of Life. it is made with only wholesome ingredients with no fillers or additives. This blend is organic and made from turmeric, coconut water powder, tapioca fibre, cinnamon bark, ashwagandha, ginger, cardamom and black pepper. You can take a look here and my code “nourishingamy” will save you 35% off the entire online shop.

If you don’t have a latte mix, then you can use 1 tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ginger and a pinch of cardamom.

How do I make the caramel bars?

These bars are easy to make in a few steps:

• Blend together the oats and cashews: to a fine powder.
• Stir together all the base ingredients to a sticky dough: and fold in the chocolate chips.
• Press the cookie dough into a lined tin: and smooth over. Chill in the fridge while you make the caramel.
• Whisk together all the caramel ingredients: till smooth.
• Pour the caramel over the base: and allow to set in the fridge for 1 hour or so.
• Melt the chocolate and coconut oil: and pour over the caramel.
• Swirl on the tahini: and leave to set in the fridge for 1 hour.
• Remove from the tin and slice into bars: or squares.

Are they gluten-free and nut-free?

Yes these golden bites are naturally gluten-free but please make sure your oats are certified gluten-free, where needed. To make these nut-free, swap the cashew nuts in the base for sunflower seeds or more oats.

How long will they last?

You can keep these bars in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Allow to defrost at room temperature.

What else can I make?

I hope you are going love these Golden Tahini Caramel Bars and for more ideas, how about my:

• Pecan Chocolate Fudge Cookie Dough Bars
• Chocolate Cinnamon Cereal Bars
• Chocolate Raspberry Crunch Bars
• Double Chocolate Tahini Fudge Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Oat Bars

I look forward to hearing what you think of these Golden Tahini Caramel Bars so please let me know in the comments below and leave a star review above. If you do make these, I’d love to see so please tag me, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

With golden love x

p.s. this recipe was first made with Garden of Life, but this blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.