With dark chocolate and chewy coconut in each delicious bite, this is absolutely the best homemade Mounds Bars recipe you’ll find. And they are so easy to make!
Copycat Mounds candy bars
Mounds bars used to be one of my all time favorite candy bars.
Today’s homemade version calls for just four ingredients and can hold its own against the classic, with the same beloved rich chocolate shell and sweet coconut filling.
Whip up a batch of these addictive coconut bars in under five minutes.
You will not regret it!
Readers also love this Coconut Ice Cream
Healthy vegan Mounds bar ingredients
Here’s everything you need to make the coconut chocolate bars at home.
Gather together shredded coconut and coconut oil, liquid sweetener, optional pure vanilla extract, and chocolate chips or broken up chocolate bars.
Unlike many other homemade Mounds bars recipes or Bounty bar recipes, this one calls for no corn syrup and no sweetened condensed milk.
Sweetener options that work well include pure maple syrup, honey, or raw agave. Or for sugar free Mounds bars, stevia will also work.
If you experiment with a granulated or powdered sweetener, be sure to report back.
The most important thing with these bars is to buy full fat, unsweetened shredded coconut or desiccated coconut. For best results and a better texture, do not use low fat coconut or sweetened coconut flakes.
Including the vanilla extract compliments the coconut flavor. It can easily be left out if you prefer, and the coconut bars will still be tasty.
I love the bold, rich flavor of the original dark chocolate Mounds bars. If you are a semi sweet or milk chocolate fan, feel free to use either of these (or even white chocolate) instead of the dark chocolate chips.
The easy coconut dessert recipe can be gluten free, dairy free, egg free, tree nut free, soy free, raw, paleo, and vegan.
Almond Joy bars recipe
Turning this into an Almond Joy bar recipe is incredibly easy.
Press a raw or roasted whole almond into the top of each coconut patty before coating them in the melted chocolate.
Alternatively, you can add the almonds to the top after covering in chocolate.
I sometimes also like to add a few drops of pure almond extract to heighten the almond flavor. Because the extract is highly concentrated, you only need a few drops.
Also make this Almond Flour Banana Bread
Homemade Mounds bars recipe video
Watch the step by step recipe video – above
How to make chocolate covered coconut bars
Three ingredient Mounds bars are coated in melted chocolate, for a fun and easy no bake homemade candy bar that all coconut lovers will enjoy.
To make the recipe, start by adding start by gathering all of your ingredients and lining a plate with parchment paper or wax paper.
Add the shredded coconut, sweetener, and softened coconut oil to a blender or food processor. If using vanilla extract, include this ingredient as well.
Blend or process the mixture fully. You will know it is done when the coconut dough is sticky and does not fall apart when pressed together.
Using your hands or a cookie scoop, smush the mixture into Mounds bar shapes. You can make traditional sized candies, mini Mounds bars, or even giant Mounds!
Place the raw coconut patties on the prepared plate, and chill in the refrigerator or freezer until hard and cold.
Carefully melt the chocolate chips or bars, either in the microwave or using the double boiler method.
(For more on how to melt chocolate, see this Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe.)
If you want a smoother chocolate sauce that more evenly coats the patties, stir the optional oil into the melted chocolate.
Dip cold coconut mounds in the chocolate coating. Place them back on the parchment lined plate, then chill in the refrigerator or freezer to set the chocolate shell.
So the unwrapped candies maintain their shape and texture, it is best to keep leftovers cold in the fridge or freezer.
Sugar free keto Mounds bars
To make a keto version, replace the liquid sweetener with two tablespoons of water.
Increase the coconut oil to four tablespoons, and add plain or vanilla stevia drops to taste. Look on the jar of your specific brand of drops for the amount of drops equal to three tablespoons of sugar.
Use chocolate chips with no sugar, or make your own Sugar Free Chocolate Chips.
Or you can make your own raw chocolate sauce by combining a fourth cup each of cacao powder (or cocoa powder), melted coconut oil, and raw agave or honey.
As for nutrition facts, each keto and low carb candy bar will have just 2.2 grams of carbohydrates and 1.2 grams of net carbs total.
Add the bars to the top of a Keto Cheesecake
Healthy candy bar serving suggestions
Any time is a great time to enjoy these homemade Mounds bars.
Serve them on a cookie tray for dessert at your next party. Or grab one as a snack from the fridge whenever a chocolate craving strikes.
They are equally welcome at Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Or Easter.
Cut the no bake chocolate coconut bars into pieces, and use them to decorate coconut cupcakes or Vegan Chocolate Cake or as a topping for ice cream.
The recipe was adapted from my 3 ingredient Coconut Balls.
Mounds Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey or agave (a keto option is included above)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)
- 3 oz chocolate chips (or see substitution above)
- optional 1 tsp oil
Instructions
- To make homemade Mounds bars, start by blending the first three ingredients and optional vanilla in a blender or food processor (not by hand, or they fall apart) until sticky and no longer crumbly. Smush into Mounds bar shapes. Place on a parchment or wax-lined plate, and chill in the refrigerator or freezer until hard. Carefully melt the chocolate, then stir in the optional oil if you want a smoother coating. Dip cold coconut mounds in chocolate. Chill to set, and store leftovers in the fridge or freezer so they maintain their shape.View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
More Copycat Dessert Recipes
I just had a failed attempt at making homemade coconut butter the other evening. It was almost there… then my not so expensive (ok, cheap!) food processor began to smoke! But I choose to look on the bright side – I now have several cups of delicious creamy finely ground coconut. I had a yummy pina colada smoothie this morning, and now I already have a head start on this recipe!
I live on the “Wisconsin Coast” just north of Chicago. We’ve had strong winds and huge waves, a little flooding, but nothing like the East Coast. I can put up with Wisconsin snow this winter without any complaints after seeing what others have gone through.
WHOA BABY!!! YUM!
These remind me of Bounty Bars, I’ve never heard of Mound Bars but these look great. I love Coconut with Chocolate. Now I’m craving a Bounty. 😀
These remind me of bounty bars in Aus!
Hi Katie,
Just made these yesterday and they are Awesome. I used the enjoy life chocolate chips for the chocolate coating. Thanks for all the great recipes!!
Lisa H.
How many does this make? Would love if you could consistently include that information in your recipes… there are quite a few recipes that I would like to make but have no idea how many I will get. Thanks!!
OHMYGOODNESS!!!! My sister and I were just talking about not being able to eat Almond Joy/Mounds bars. My mom makes delicious homemade ones, but they are chocked full of sugar (which, unfortunately, my body cannot tolerate). I will be making these asap!
I live in Northern Virginia., but we thankfully made it through just fine.
Happy Halloween!! 😉
Katie, these look phenomenal! Thank you!
I live in Florida and the weather has been great. My mom and sis live on Long Island. The basement of my mom’s neighbor’s house is full to the brim with water, and going into the kitchen and the rest of the house. So since it’s her nextdoor neighor, she’s likely getting the same. 90% of Long Island doesn’t have power. A tree is blocking the street. She hasn’t been home because of the evacuation, etc.
I live in ocean county nj…the worst of it..it is so bad here..im lucky i have my house..many of my friends dont. Its very sad.
I’m gonna make these and the butterfingers tonight to hop on the candy wagon for halloween 🙂 I will be using sweetened coconut bc I already have it.. maybe I’ll use less agave. Thanks for the recipe!
These look delic! I used to love Almond Joy’s and Mounds bars but haven’t had them in years… I recently bought a bag of unsweetened coconut and haven’t been able to stop sprinkling a little on everything and have developed a strong craving for a candy bar… Perfect timing so I don’t indulge on Halloween candy!
Just started into the world of vegetarianism and a friend of mine sent m your link to help me along the way. This is the first post I have read and am already excited about what I can learn through you. THANK YOU!
Every single recipe I see of yours (especially these copycat/healthier version ones) I just think that you’re a genius! Love it!
The only way I would change this is to plop an almond inside the coconut “dough” before I freeze it. I have friends on the east coast… still haven’t heard from them! 🙁
I am currently addicted to these bars which are called Coconut Seceret bars. They are made of coconut, and sweetened with coconut nectar. These look like they probably taste similar, which makes me excited because Coconut Seceret bars cost over two dollars each!