Irresistibly Creamy Vegan & Gluten-Free Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars with Granola Crust

Discover the secret to a perfectly tart and delightfully creamy vegan and gluten-free key lime pie experience, crafted into convenient bars with a wholesome granola crust and a rich avocado filling. These no-bake bars are the ultimate refreshing summer dessert or a healthy treat for any time of year!

Do you cherish a local spot that feels like a second home, a place where good things happen and good things are consumed? For me, that sanctuary is Greenheart Juice Shop.

It’s more than just a juice shop; it’s where I share laughter and stories with girlfriends over revitalizing green juices. It’s even the picturesque location where I taught my inaugural outdoor yoga class, surrounded by verdant lawns and familiar faces. Greenheart embodies a vibrant community spirit, a place where health and happiness intertwine with every visit. Their commitment to fresh, wholesome ingredients truly shines through in everything they offer.

Now that I’ve settled in Maryland, Greenheart remains one of Virginia’s compelling attractions, a must-visit whenever I’m back in town. And for all you dessert lovers and healthy eaters, here’s a delicious secret: Greenheart also boasts an incredible line of granolas!

Today, I’m thrilled to share a recipe that harnesses the wholesome goodness of their granola to create a dessert that’s not only bursting with flavor but also caters to various dietary needs. These Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars with Granola Crust are a testament to healthy indulgence: completely vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free, crafted with just seven simple ingredients. They are the perfect embodiment of a year-round delight, offering a taste of summer sunshine even on the chilliest days.

A Healthy Twist: Recipe Inspired by True Food Kitchen

While our journey began with Greenheart’s fantastic juices and granola, the inspiration for this particular dessert hails from a different culinary gem: True Food Kitchen. This summer, during a delightful lunch with friends, my eyes landed on an intriguing item on their menu: an Avocado Key Lime Pie. My girlfriends and I, always eager to explore innovative plant-based options, were beyond excited to order it.

And it did not disappoint! The pie was a vibrant lime green, incredibly creamy, and possessed that quintessential tartness that defines a perfect key lime pie. What made it truly stand out, however, was its thoughtful composition: entirely vegan, gluten-free, and ingeniously crafted with avocados to achieve its luxurious texture. From the very first spoonful, I knew I had found a dessert that deserved a permanent spot in my home recipe rotation. The challenge was set: to recreate this healthy, decadent treat!

My initial attempt to replicate this marvel took place at a dinner party with friends. Despite a slight serving mishap – I presented it mostly frozen, requiring enthusiastic guests to “excavate” their forkfuls like discovering a delicious, icy treasure – it was an undeniable hit! The unique flavor profile and refreshing texture captivated everyone. I even tried to send the leftovers home with my friends, but they politely declined, perhaps hoping I’d make another batch soon. So, my partner M and I happily savored the remaining squares throughout the week, delicately plating each piece and enjoying them alongside our favorite Scrubs reruns. It was a sweet reward for a successful recipe recreation.

Crafting the Perfect Granola Crust: Simple & Wholesome

So, how can you embark on the journey of creating your very own luscious Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars? The foundation of any great pie is its crust, and for this recipe, we’re building a wholesome, flavorful granola crust that’s both easy to make and incredibly satisfying.

For this effortlessly delicious crust, you’ll only need two key ingredients:

• Greenheart Juice Shop Nutty Granola: This is the star ingredient, providing a rich, textured, and naturally sweet base.
• Coconut oil, melted: Essential for binding the granola crumbs together and ensuring a firm, yet tender crust.

That’s truly it! The simplicity of these ingredients belies the incredible depth of flavor and texture they create when combined.

The Magic of Greenheart Granola in Your Vegan Dessert

Before you begin the crust, prepare your baking vessel. Line a standard bread pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides. This thoughtful step will be your best friend later when it’s time to effortlessly lift your magnificent key lime pie bars out of the pan. Set this aside, ready for action.

Next, it’s time to truly appreciate the main component of our crust. Open a bag of Greenheart Juice Shop Nutty Granola. Take a moment to inhale the sweet, fragrant aroma of honey and perfectly roasted nuts. Seriously, you might feel your mood instantly lift by a good 10%! This isn’t just any granola; it’s a meticulously crafted blend of high-quality ingredients. It boasts gluten-free oats, rich macadamia nuts, crunchy almonds, delicate coconut chips, nutritious pumpkin seeds, and a hint of warming cinnamon. This particular granola, sweetened lightly with unfiltered honey, is a fantastic option for my “bee-gans” and anyone looking for a naturally delicious, wholesome base.

If you’re fortunate enough to be local to Virginia, I highly recommend exploring Greenheart’s granola selection, alongside their exciting new line of grab-and-go food items. Imagine fresh salads, comforting soups, and an array of healthy snacks and sweets, all available in Greenheart stores. These additions launched on Friday, September 24, 2021, and are perfect for convenient, nourishing meals and treats.

Simple Steps to a Perfect Granola Crust

Now, let’s transform that wonderful granola into a sturdy, flavorful crust. Carefully add the Greenheart granola to your blender. Drizzle in the melted coconut oil, ensuring it coats the granola evenly. Blend the mixture until it transforms into a fine, cohesive crumble. You’ll know it’s ready when it starts to stick together and to the sides of the blender, indicating that the coconut oil has effectively bound the granola particles.

Once blended, transfer the granola mixture into your prepared bread pan. Using your hands or the back of a spoon, press the mixture firmly and evenly across the bottom of the pan to form a thin, compact layer. If the mixture feels a bit sticky, a handy trick is to place a piece of parchment paper between the crust and your hands. This creates a barrier that helps distribute the pressure more effectively, ensuring a perfectly smooth and uniform crust.

Finally, transfer the pan with its freshly pressed granola crust into the freezer. Allowing it to firm up while you prepare the vibrant key lime pie filling is a crucial step. This chilling time helps the crust set beautifully, preventing it from crumbling when sliced and creating a delightful textural contrast with the creamy filling.

Unveiling the Creamy Heart: Avocado Key Lime Pie Filling

The star of these vegan key lime pie bars is undoubtedly the incredibly creamy, zesty filling. Thanks to the magic of avocados and soaked cashews, we achieve a dairy-free texture that rivals traditional key lime pie, all while packing in healthy fats and nutrients. This no-bake filling is surprisingly simple, yet yields a sophisticated flavor profile that will impress any palate.

Here’s what you need to create this dreamy, vibrant avocado key lime pie filling:

• Cashews: Raw cashews, pre-soaked, are indispensable for achieving that signature silky-smooth, rich consistency without any dairy. They provide the perfect creamy base.
• Light coconut milk: This adds to the lusciousness of the filling, ensuring it’s both smooth and subtly sweet, enhancing the overall tropical flavor.
• Avocado: The secret ingredient for unparalleled creaminess and that beautiful, natural green hue. Ripe avocados are key here.
• Limes: Freshly squeezed lime juice is non-negotiable for the authentic, bright, and tart flavor of key lime pie. Use several large limes for ample juice.
• Lime zest: Don’t skip this! The zest holds the concentrated aromatic oils of the lime, intensifying the citrus flavor and adding an extra layer of brightness.
• Pure maple syrup: Our natural, refined-sugar-free sweetener of choice, providing the perfect balance to the tart lime.

Just these few fresh, plant-based ingredients come together to form a truly remarkable and guilt-free indulgence.

Effortless Blending: How to Make Avocado Key Lime Pie Filling

Rest assured, I wouldn’t make you clean your blender between steps! One of the beauties of this no-bake recipe is its streamlined process. After you’ve pressed your granola crust and placed it in the freezer, simply rinse out your blender to prepare for the filling.

To create the luxurious filling, gather your ingredients: the pre-soaked cashews (make sure they’ve had their full 4-6 hours to soften), light coconut milk, ripe avocado, freshly squeezed lime juice, and pure maple syrup. Add all of these into your high-speed blender or food processor. The power of a good blender is crucial here to achieve that ultra-smooth, velvety consistency.

Begin blending, starting on a low speed and gradually increasing to high. Allow the mixture to process for several minutes until it becomes completely smooth and creamy, with no visible cashew pieces. You’ll need to periodically stop the blender and use a spatula to scrape down the sides, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. This helps to achieve an even texture. If the blades seem to be struggling or the mixture is too thick to blend properly, add another splash of coconut milk, a tablespoon at a time, until it moves freely. The final consistency should be wonderfully thick, almost pourable, and vibrant green. It’s a truly satisfying sight!

The Waiting Game: Freezing Your Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars

Once your creamy avocado key lime pie filling is perfectly blended, retrieve the pan with your firm granola crust from the freezer. Now comes the satisfying step of uniting the two layers. Carefully pour or spoon the vibrant green filling directly onto the chilled granola crust. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, gently spread the filling into an even, smooth layer across the entire surface of the crust. Take your time to ensure it’s uniformly distributed for beautiful bars.

After smoothing the top, I like to gently tap the dish several times on the counter. This simple action helps to release any trapped air bubbles, ensuring an even denser and more appealing texture for your finished bars. Once you’re satisfied with the surface, cover the dish – either with plastic wrap or aluminum foil – and transfer it back to the freezer. This crucial freezing period allows the bars to set completely, transforming the luscious filling into a firm, sliceable treat. Aim for at least 3-4 hours of freezing time.

For optimal results and to ensure your bars are perfectly set for serving, I highly recommend planning ahead. If you intend to serve these delightful bars in the evening, making them in the morning provides ample freezing time. For ultimate peace of mind and the firmest consistency, freezing them overnight is always a safe and reliable bet. The patience required for this step is well worth it for the incredible outcome!

Serving Suggestions & Meal Prep Notes

When it’s time to enjoy your Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars, the first step is to gently lift the entire block out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place it on a cutting board. Then, using a sharp knife, slice the large rectangle into individual bars of your desired size. Smaller squares are perfect for a delicate treat, while larger bars make for a more substantial dessert.

For the absolute best consistency and flavor, allow the key lime pie bars to sit out at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes before serving. This brief thawing period is essential. You’re looking for the filling to soften just slightly, yielding a creamy, almost meringue-like texture when pressed gently with your finger. If the bars are still rock solid, simply leave them out for an additional 10-15 minutes until they reach that ideal, delightful creaminess. This slight thaw enhances the vibrant lime flavor and the smooth, rich texture of the avocado filling, making each bite an exquisite experience.

How to Serve and Store Your Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars

These Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars with Granola Crust are a truly exceptional dessert, perfect for refreshing any palate. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, hosting a summer gathering, or simply craving a wholesome, delightful treat, these bars are an excellent choice. Their vibrant color and fresh, tangy flavor make them a visual and culinary standout.

What makes them even more incredible is their universally appealing nature: they are entirely vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free, making them a fantastic, inclusive option for guests with various dietary preferences and restrictions. Everyone can enjoy a taste of this creamy, zesty indulgence!

If you don’t own a traditional loaf pan, don’t worry! These versatile bars can be made in any freezer-safe container of a similar size. Just ensure the container allows for easy removal of the parchment-lined block once frozen. This flexibility makes them even more accessible to home bakers.

For future enjoyment, leftovers of these Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars store beautifully in the freezer for several weeks. This makes them an ideal dessert for meal prepping – simply make a batch and pull out individual squares whenever a craving strikes. They are the perfect portion-controlled healthy sweet treat to have on hand, offering a burst of flavor and satisfaction without any guilt. Enjoy the simplicity, the creaminess, and the sheer deliciousness!

More Delicious Vegan Bar Recipes to Explore

If you loved these Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars, you’re in for a treat! Discover more delightful and healthy plant-based bar recipes that are perfect for any occasion:

• Decadent Vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars

• Classic Vegan Pecan Pie Bars

We’d Love to Hear From You!

If you give this Avocado Key Lime Pie Bars with Granola Crust recipe a try, please share your experience! Your feedback is invaluable and helps me create even more delightful recipes for you.

Be sure to leave a comment, a rating, and a review below to let me know how it turned out and what you thought. Your insights are truly appreciated!

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For more inspiration and to discover other healthy, plant-based recipes like this one, explore my Pinterest page. It’s a treasure trove of ideas to pin and make later.

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XO Lauren

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This post is created in kind with Greenheart Juice Shop, our trusted partner for quality ingredients!