Nougat used to be one of my favorite chocolate fillings and up until a while ago I couldn’t find anything in the plantbased world that would feed my hunger for that creamy nougat flavor and chewy soft texture. Who would have imagined that the secret to a good vegan nougat would be pumpkin? Yes, you did hear right. The pumpkin somehow adds a nutty, sweet taste. People, put veggies into your chocolate bars, it’s a game changer.
Now that my imagination floats away, I am thinking a carrot cake chocolate bar would be heaven. Does this happen to you as well? You are utterly uninspired when it comes to one million things but when it comes to cakes and sweets, my brain is overflowing from amazing ideas and inspirations on how to tweak recipes, or create new ones. I am seriously a freak sometimes, and well aware of it. But coming back to these Vegan Nougat Caramel Bars! They are entirely sugarfree depending on what kind of chocolate you use to coat them but otherwise as always vegan, glutenfree and crazy delicious.
Vegan Nougat Caramel Bars
Base
- 2 cups oats
- 15 medjool dates (pitted)
- good pinch of salt
- 10 drops of vanilla essential oil
- 1 tbsp almond butter
Nougat Layer
- 3/4 cup cooked pumpkin
- 10 drops of vanilla essential oil
- good pinch of salt
- 4 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp almond butter
Chocolate Layer
- 100g of vegan chocolate
For the base add all ingredients to your blender/food processor and process until your dough becomes soft and all ingredients are combined well. Remove from the blender and press evenly into a lined brownie tin. Likewise, add all Nougat Layer ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth. Pour on top of the Base Layer and transfer to the freezer for at least an hour. Release from the tin and cut into chocolate bar size pieces using a sharp knife. Melt your fav vegan chocolate and dip your nougat bars into the chocolate. let harden and enjoy. They are best kept in the fridge and eaten with a couple of days.
If you enjoyed my Vegan Nougat Caramel Bars, check out my Vegan TimTam’s, Peanut butter Fluff Bars, and Raw Sugarfree Brownie with Caramel Frosting for more healthy chocolate bar inspiration!