VEGAN VANILLA PECAN BARS
If vanilla cake and pecan pie had a baby, these would be the product. Imagine a moist, gooey bar that tastes like a vanilla buttery cake, but the texture of a gooey pecan pie and is all topped off with a creamy cashew icing. These are your way to break into Spring.
My daughter repeatedly kept saying “Mommy, these are sooo delicious!” over and over. I knew they were a winner. These bars are raw, gooey, moist, dense and just 8 ingredients. They are full of vanilla flavor, hints of caramel from coconut sugar and a butteriness from pecans. The cashews make them taste super creamy. I also add an odd ingredient, apple juice. It helps to balance out the flavors with a little acidity and aid in the vanilla cake-ish flavor.
They are more firm than they appear in the photos, as these sat out awhile and they soften some at room temperature. Keep them in the freezer for a perfect, firm right-out-of-the-freezer bite full of all your gooey vanilla dreams.
Coconut sugar. How I love you. It is my favorite sweetener that I use. It tastes just like caramel and is not heavily processed like regular sugar and is much lower on the glycemic index than cane sugar and even maple syrup. I love maple syrup and use it a lot in my baking, but I’ve actually started using coconut sugar more. It just makes everything taste better. Obviously, it is still sugar, so I would never call a sugar healthy, unless it is fruit, but it is one of the better ones to use out there.
There is coconut sugar in the bars and then some sprinkled on top of the icing and it’s truly delicious.
VEGAN VANILLA PROTEIN POWDER
I created these bars to feature Sprout Living‘s “Vanilla Lucuma” Epic protein powder. They recently asked me to review some of their new and improved flavors and I couldn’t resist trying them. I have used their products in the past and know them to be top notch among other plant-based proteins/products out there.
Most people think of smoothies when it comes to protein powders, but I wanted to share something a bit more exciting, so these vegan Raw Vanilla Pecan Dream Bars were born.
All of their products are some of the cleanest you can find, which is why I support them. Not to mention, they are the best tasting plant protein powder I have ever tried in my life. The “Vanilla Lucuma” is my absolute favorite and it tastes and smells delicious straight out of the bag, seriously. I’ve mentioned this a few times before on the blog. This is the same flavor I used for my Snickerdoodle Cookie Protein Bites.
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!
Vegan Vanilla Pecan Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (100g) certified gluten-free rolled oats, not instant
- 1/2 cup (56g) pecan pieces
- 1/4 cup (40g) coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons Sprout Living "Vanilla Lucuma" Epic protein powder (SEE NOTE below to sub)
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 cup (64g) super smooth cashew butter, slightly warmed to a soft liquid if it is hard or from the fridge
- 2 tablespoons (40g) pure maple syrup or agave
- 2 tablespoons (30g) unsweetened apple juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cashew Icing
- 3 tablespoons (48g) raw cashew butter (without added oil or sugar)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (30g) pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon (15g) unsweetened apple juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
NOTE
- I know some of my readers do not use protein powders, so if you still want to make the recipe, you can leave it out and just add 2-3 more tablespoons of oats and an extra tablespoon of coconut sugar (since the protein powder provides sweetness). The flavor will change slightly and be less vanilla-ish, but still delicious.
Instructions
- Add the oats to a food processor and process until a fine flour forms. Add the pecans and coconut sugar and process again until it is finely ground.
- Add the protein powder and salt and process once more until just blended.
- Add the cashew butter, syrup, apple juice and vanilla extract to a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients into the food processor. Process until it all comes together in one large bowl and is chunky. As soon as it does this, stop so it doesn't turn into a butter.
- Line a 9x5 loaf pan with plastic wrap (or use a smaller one for thicker bars) and press the mixture out evenly to the corners. Flatten with a spatula.
- Combine the cashew icing ingredients and spread out over the bars. Place in the freezer until firm and set. Cut into 8 bars. Keep them stored in the freezer or fridge. The icing will be softer in the fridge and I prefer the texture from the freezer. If you leave them out for an extended period of time at room temperature, they will soften more.
Notes
Nutrition
I love vanilla flavored protein powders!
These bars definitely do sound like a dream.. I love challenging myself to make healthy raw desserts and will be making these.
Thank you Thalia! Please let me know if you try them!
These are just stunning Brandi! I’m so excited to hear about this protein powder. It looks and sounds amazing!
Thank you so much Laura, that is so kind of you!!
My favorite flavor of protein is actually the Sprout Living Epic Green Kingdom, but I love all of their protein powders :)!
love to win.
I’m in DIRE need of a vegan protein powder that isn’t either super gritty or overwhelmed with stevia-aftertaste. I’ve literally tried them all, but have never seen EPIC around. Time to see if it’s the miracle protein powder! I usually go for vanilla for protein powder as I HATE berry-flavored things, and the chocolate always seems to taste too fake. Then again, I like my chocolate BITTER!
I guarantee Eva you would like this protein powder. Just like you I have literally hated every single one out there and also because the ingredient lists are so bad, but this one not only has great ingredients, the taste are phenomenal!! The Vanilla Lucuma is to die for….has a bit of vanilla and cinnamon in it, my 2 favorite flavors! Good luck on winning!
This dessert looks drool-worthy and fabulous like all the other ones in the blog! I have not used any protein powders so far, having read mixed reviews. Maybe this is something I should try!
I’m a huge chocolate junkie, so I almost always go for chocolate when I use protein powder. The vanilla lucuma sounds absolutely dreamy, though!
A vanilla cake and pecan pie baby? — yes please! I love the flavor of lucuma. That protein powder sounds really nice. Great specs 🙂
These bars look amazing, I’ve still not got around to making the cinnamon cheesecake, so I’m going to set aside some time at Easter to make both!
Wish I was in the US so I could enter the giveaway. Good luck everyone x
These look lovely! I usually just stick to vanilla protein powder…it seems to mesh the best with all of the smoothies that I have it in:)
My favorite plant-based protein powder is Sunwarrior vanilla. I find it to be a great compromise between price, taste, and nutrition!
I like chocolate protein powder, but I’d love to find one with a neutral, unsweetened flavor.
They have a plain, unsweetened brown rice protein powder 🙂
I don’t usually use protein powders–I usually use hemp powder for protein. But when I do use protein powders, chocolate is my favorite!
Sorry my phone got ahead of me and published my comment before I was done! Anyway, thank you for coming up with so many good recipes that aren’t chocolate! I love it but my husband doesn’t (?????!!!!!) so I’m always needing alternatives! You’re the best!
Thank you so much Diana! My hubby isn’t a huge chocolate fan either, so I understand!! I love cinnamon and vanilla actually more than chocolate, so there is always something for everybody on my blog! 🙂
Vanilla flavor is my favorite one! 🙂
OH MY GOSH BRANDI!! I am drooling in class and want to run home and make these RIGHT NOW! They look absolutely DELICIOUS! <3 The photo of them all stacked on top of each other is absolutely heavenly! Adding to the list of desserts to try from your blog (that keeps on growing, lol!). YUM!
Haha! Sorry to make you suffer through class Ceara! Thank you so much for your sweet compliments! So glad you love that photo…because it wasn’t my favorite at all!!
These look so yummy Brandi! Looking forward to making these soon! Thank you for coming up with so many gi
I am a huge fan of the EPIC protein powders. I use them for tons of recipes and can’t recommend them enough. The flavor is unprecedented!
I so agree! So glad to see another fan! I’ve truly never tasted another better one!
Looks great! I always enjoy your posts, recipes, and photography! 🙂
That is so sweet, thank you!
Brandi, these look amazing! I’ve been toying with a similar idea since I haven’t made any raw bars yet, but I think you may have put the bar too high for me! 😉 I’ll try them for sure
Awww thank you so much Andie! So glad you like them!
Hi Brandi! Thanks for another great recipe! My favorite protein powder flavor has been vanilla.
I never use protein powders, but this recipe has me rethinking that. It looks amazing!
Yum this recipe looks amazing! I keep hearing about lucuma powder and how yummy it is but I keep forgetting to pick some up! Now since my favorite flavor of protein powder is definitely vanilla, the Vanilla Lucuma protein powder is probably a great bet!
My favourite protein flavour is Vega Vanilla or Chai Vanilla. I Haven’t really tried a lot of others because I am so happy with that one, but this kind in today’s recipe looks awesome. As does this dessert! I am always inspired by your vegan creations! Thanks for sharing:)
Those bars look dreamy and totally delicious. I love the cashew icing!!