Coconut Cream Snack Bars! Homemade whipped coconut cream with strawberries and bananas sandwiched in between Van’s Banana Bread Snack Bars! What could be better?! and they’re gluten free!
Last week, my kids and I visited the Allen Centennial Garden here in Madison. We went because I was on the hunt for these tacos and other food truck eats. It was the perfect summer day, the weather was nice, we threw our picnic blanket on the grass, ate tacos, a fabulous pork crostini from Underground Butcher and sipped on watermelon agua frescas.
It was the perfect afternoon.
I’m often running from one activity to the other in the summer. Usually running late and running out the door trying to make it somewhere on time. Picking up the kids from camp, taking my daughter to math tutoring, trucking the kids around to the library, park or play dates. We are always in the car going from one place to the next.
If you know me, you know I keep snacks in the car and in my purse. I like to snack on little things throughout the day and find that keeping them with me helps me not eat an outrageous amount of food at dinnertime. Plus, I don’t think it’s even possible for me not to eat something every few hours.
We’re talking almonds, energy bites, or my latest obsession, these bars.
Van’s Banana Bread Snack Bars!! These are my favorite! My kids love the chocolate chip snack bars. Van’s gluten-free, whole grain snack bars and sandwich bars pack a nutritious punch without packing in a lot of calories. These guilt-free treats have no high fructose corn syrup, artificial ingredients, hydrogenated oils or GMO oils, and offer 10 grams of whole grains.
All Van’s snack foods are certified gluten-free but still tasty enough for the whole family to enjoy regardless of dietary restrictions. We can’t even tell these are gluten-free. These are wholesome, delicious foods and are great for busy, active adults and kids alike.
Lately I’ve been making a lot of homemade coconut whipped cream. I always have a container in the fridge because I’ve been eating this with everything!
So, one day we decided to take these snacks bars up a notch! Don’t get me wrong, these are delicious on their own.
But with the homemade whipped coconut cream and the fruit? This is not only the most requested snack to have now, it can also serve as dessert!
We hope you give these snack bars a try and definitely try making these Coconut Cream Snack Bars! You won’t be disappointed!
Coconut Cream Snack Bars
Ingredients
For the coconut whipped cream:
- 1 14- ounce can full fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup powdered sugar + more if needed
For the snack bars:
- 8 Van’s Banana Bread or Chocolate Chip Snack Bars
- Fresh sliced strawberries
- Fresh sliced bananas
- Homemade coconut whipped cream
Instructions
For the coconut whipped cream:
- Chill your coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight, being sure not to shake or tip the can to encourage separation of the cream and liquid.
- Remove the coconut milk carefully from the fridge and remove the lid. Scrape out the top, thickened cream and leave the liquid behind (reserve for use in smoothies).
- Place the hardened cream into a cold mixing bowl. Beat for 30 seconds with a mixer until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and mix until creamy and smooth, for about 1 minute. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
- Use immediately or refrigerate - it will harden and set in the fridge the longer it's chilled. The coconut cream will keep for up to 1 to 2 weeks.
For the snack bars:
- To assemble: spread or dollop some homemade coconut whipped cream onto one of the banana bread snack bars and spread. Top with fresh sliced strawberries and bananas. Dollop some more homemade coconut whipped cream on top of the fruit if desired and top with another banana bread snack bar.
- Repeat until all of the snack bars have been made. Enjoy immediately!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Van’s Natural Foods. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting me in working with the brands and products that I use, love and trust.
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
What a great idea repurposing those snack bars! These look so creamy and dreamy and a lot more healthier than they look. I, too, always like to have a snack every few hours. Such a perfect treat 🙂 P.S. that taco place looks amazing!
Jennifer Farley says
What a fun, creative way to use these snack bars!
Samina - The Cupcake Confession says
This is easily the best way to eat snack bars, OMG! Coconut whipped cream has been on my to – make list for the longest time! This is such a healthy snacking treat! Plus all the strawberries and banana make it all the more wholesome! Love this!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
What a pretty snack bar, Alice! I love your creativity! I think this would make the most delicious afternoon treat!
mira says
These snack bars are perfect for busy people! Love the idea Alice! Pinned!
Mir says
I’ve been known to go places to hunt down taco food trucks. I stalked this place called TaKorean in DC last summer because I heard they made the best tofu tacos ever. And man, were they amazing!
The snacks in the purse are a must, so these are going to be in the rotation from now on. And I love the idea of making the bars into sandwiches!
hipfoodiemom says
I love it, Mir!!!! 🙂
Kelly says
I am such a sucker for food trucks especially with tacos too 🙂 Love these snack bars! They’re perfect for people on the go!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
these look great! and i have to try that coconut whipped cream too – sounds fab, and i never have made something like it before!
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
What dreamy bars, I love the coconut whipped cream!