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Home Baking Recipes

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars

By:Nagi
Published:11 Sep '15Updated:18 Oct '20
77 Comments
Recipe v

I’m not kidding! This really is made without a single bowl. From scratch. Find out how!

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars - made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl!

I am one of those people who always overcommits. Especially when it comes to anything food related. Then 7 out of 10 times, I find myself in a flurry at the last minute because I promised to bring something sweet for lunch with the girls, or to make something for my friends’ son’s school bake sale because she works full time and doesn’t have the time to bake something.

So it’s super handy to have a few really fast sweet recipes up your sleeve and this is one of mine. The other two standbys I have are my No Bake 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars and my friend Helen from Scrummy Lane’s 6 Ingredient Swedish Chocolate Cake (which doubles as a super fast brownie too!).

I know you’re probably wondering how on earth these bars are made without using a bowl at all so I’ll cut straight to the chase!

A picture says a thousand words – well, 12 pictures in this case – so here’s the recipe. You don’t need me to write there recipe out for you, do you? 😉

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars - made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl!

Basically, this bar is made by creating a biscuit base using melted butter (which I melt in the pan while the oven is heating) then pressing in crushed biscuits. Then it’s topped with desiccated coconut, nuts (your choice!), chocolate chips, then finally topped with condensed milk which is what brings the whole bar together. I reserve some nuts and choc chips to garnish the top with because I think it looks prettier, but that’s optional. 🙂

The end result? These bars are fabulous. The base is like a cheesecake crumb base. The inside is lovely and chewy from the condensed milk and coconut which meld together to almost become like a caramel. Then there’s the soft crunch of nuts and of course, the chocolate. Chocolate makes everything better!

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars - made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl!

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars - made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl!

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars - made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl!

This is one of those recipes that is not a “hack”, but rather an incidental side benefit is that it can be made without dirtying a single bowl. I would make these even if I had to use a bowl to make them!

So keep this one tucked away for one of those days when you’re in a rush and you’ve promised to make a sweet treat for your family or friends!!  – Nagi x

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars - made from scratch without dirtying a single bowl!

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No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Sweet
5 from 9 votes
Servings16
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Not a single bowl is required to make these bars! Everything is put together right in the cake pan. Made from scratch!

Ingredients

  • 3.5 oz / 100g unsalted butter , cut into a few pieces
  • 1 cup crushed Graham crackers or other plain sweet biscuits (Note 1)
  • 1 cup desiccated coconut (unsweetened)
  • 1 cup chopped nuts of choice (I used pecans, peanuts, almonds and pistachios)
  • 1 1/2 cups (8 oz / 250g) chocolate chips (US - semi sweet will work great)
  • 14 oz / 395g can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
  • Grease and line a 23cm / 9" square cake pan. (Note 2)
  • Place the butter in the pan. Pop it in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes until just melted, then remove. Don't let it brown!
  • Swirl the butter so it is evenly coating the base. Then scatter over the crushed sweet biscuits and press down into the butter.
  • Scatter over the coconut, followed by most of the nuts (reserve some for the top), most of the chocolate chips, then drizzle over the condensed milk. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the surface and press down to compress the mixture.
  • Top with remaining nuts and chocolate chips.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until the edge of the surface is dark golden brown.
  • Allow to cool in the pan for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. Carefully remove using the overhang of the parchment paper, remove the paper then cut into 16 squares. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

1. 1 cup of crushed biscuits = around 11 Graham Crackers (US) or 11 Anne Marie Biscuits (Australia). You can use any plain biscuits you want. I place them in a large ziplock bag, remove excess air then bash it with a rolling pin. It's very therapeutic!
2. Refer to the photo for my shortcut way of doing this. I tear a piece of parchment/baking paper that is the width of the pan then line the pan. Then I grease the base (i.e. the parchment paper), tear another piece which is again the width of the pan, then lay that cross wise on top. No need for scissors!
3. Nutrition per slice.
No Bowl Choc Nut Slice Nutrition

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 64gCalories: 294cal (15%)Carbohydrates: 32.9g (11%)Protein: 5.1g (10%)Fat: 16.5g (25%)Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)Cholesterol: 22mg (7%)Sodium: 137mg (6%)Potassium: 159mg (5%)Fiber: 2.3g (10%)Sugar: 26.2g (29%)Vitamin A: 200IU (4%)Vitamin C: 0.8mg (1%)Calcium: 90mg (9%)Iron: 2.2mg (12%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars

 

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77 Comments

  1. Nic says

    March 1, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Storage ???? Fridge or bench in airtight container,? Thank you

    Reply
  2. Jess says

    November 16, 2020 at 11:46 am

    Does this freeze well or hold up in transport? I’d like to make some for some relatives but I’d hate to make something that’ll fall apart or turn to mush.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 16, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      Hi Jess, this holds up well, but if you prefer you can definitely freeze for transport! N x

      Reply
      • Jess says

        November 17, 2020 at 1:39 pm

        I put it in the fridge after it cooled and it seemed pretty solid. It fit perfectly in the bottom of a medium flat rate box. I skipped the coconut. I also made your peanut butter cookies (which I had to make into a giant bar bc I think I overmixed it so scooping didn’t work, lol), Mary Berry’s banana bread, and some chocolate MnM bark for a care package for my sister in law’s family who had an uncle pass away recently due to covid. I love your website and how detailed the recipes are. Keep up the great work!

        Reply
  3. Nala says

    October 9, 2019 at 5:28 am

    I’ve probably made this five times by now for potlucks and other social gatherings and it’s always a crowd favourite. People keep requesting it and I keep making it because it’s so darn easy! Love it, thank you Nagi!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 9, 2019 at 10:47 am

      That’s great to hear Nala, I’m all about easy recipes!

      Reply
  4. Svetlana Nikolic says

    September 24, 2019 at 2:35 pm

    Hi Nagi, I am wondering if this calls for dark chocolate chips or milk choc? thank you

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 24, 2019 at 5:51 pm

      Hi Svetlana, I use dark, but you could use either – N x

      Reply
  5. Angela Garlick says

    August 2, 2019 at 9:53 am

    Hi Nagi,
    Will this freeze ok?

    Reply
  6. MaryAnn says

    May 12, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi, I found your blog a couple of months ago and have since made a couple of the recipes. The No Bowl Chocolate Nut Bars and the Peanut Butter Chocolate are my absolutely faves. My son has Coeliac Disease so its fantastic to come across a truly delicious treat I can cook for him. I substitute the biscuits for a plain Gluten Free biscuit and it works brilliantly. He just loves them!
    I’m on morning tea at work tomorrow so I’m definitely going to make them both to bring in.

    Again, Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 13, 2016 at 2:15 pm

      That’s so wonderful MaryAnn! Thank you for letting me know! My friend has a wonderful food blog focussed on recipes for Coeliacs – http://www.noshtastic.com it’s fabulous!

      Reply
      • MaryAnn says

        May 13, 2016 at 2:18 pm

        I’ll check it out. BTW the slices were a big hit at work!!! I doubt I’ll have any to bring home!!

        Reply
  7. Chelsey says

    February 13, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    I can it orally relate with over committing to recipes! Haha
    These look great!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      February 14, 2016 at 7:16 pm

      BA HA HA!!! I know, right?? I just did it again this weekend!!!

      Reply
  8. GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says

    October 16, 2015 at 9:38 am

    Sitting here wishing I could have condensed milk, but I’m lactose intolerant 🙁
    These look sooo amazing though!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      October 16, 2015 at 4:44 pm

      Awww, thanks Giselle! I wish a knew a suitable sub but I don’t! 🙁

      Reply
    • Bernadette Dowling says

      October 24, 2017 at 2:22 pm

      Sweetened condensed coconut milk is available at Woolies.

      Reply
  9. Cathy Lavoie says

    October 5, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    Miam… Decadent!
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      October 6, 2015 at 6:58 am

      I’m so glad you loved it! Thanks Cathy!!

      Reply
  10. Howard says

    September 19, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    Nagi, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found your blog. So far I’ve made carnitas, baked chicken wings, fish piccata, chicken & vegetable orzo, and now these bars. I’m neither a baker nor a cook. And when I started this recipe, my seven-month old was playing quietly by himself. A few minutes in, however, once I’d reached a point of no return (the butter was melting in the oven), my son decided it was time to have a meltdown of his own. So I completed the bulk of the recipe while simultaneously trying to comfort a crying baby and keep him from grabbing the bottom of the hot oven door. I basically had to just dump everything in. And yet, it turned out amazing. My wife and I absolutely loved them. Your blog has made me a better cook than I ever even aspired to be!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 22, 2015 at 5:46 am

      Hi Howard! I’m so flattered that you have tried so many of my recipes!! I absolutely adore that these worked out even though you threw this together with a crying baby. 🙂 Brilliant multi tasking! So glad you loved them! N x

      Reply
  11. Tania @My Kitchen Stories says

    September 18, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    Thats one hell of a good idea Nagi. they look perfect.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 19, 2015 at 5:00 am

      Thanks so much Tania! Quite a compliment coming from you! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Joy Witte says

    September 14, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    I’m writing from Michigan. What is the American equivalent of “biscuits”? In America, a biscuit is a dinner roll, i.e. white bread! Can you give me another word for this ingredient? The recipe looks amazing otherwise!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 15, 2015 at 9:32 pm

      Hi Joy! Gosh, I do know that, I should have written the ingredients better! Graham crackers are perfect for these 🙂 I’ve updated the recipe to make that clear!

      Reply
      • Joy Witte says

        September 16, 2015 at 11:39 am

        Graham Crackers would be just awesome in this recipe. Thanks for the interpretation, Nagi!!

        Reply
  13. Sneh | Cook Republic says

    September 14, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    Oh goodness! These are amazing. Love that you baked them all in one pan. x

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 15, 2015 at 9:31 pm

      Hi Sneh! Lovely to see you here, thanks for visiting! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Olivia @ Olivia's Cuisine says

    September 14, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    5 stars
    This is genius! I am such a messy cook, and the kitchen usually looks like a post-hurricane site after I finish making something. My husband – and helper! lol – would love if I made more stuff like this! hahaha

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 15, 2015 at 9:21 pm

      So have you got the system down pat where you cook and he cleans? 😉

      Reply
  15. Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

    September 14, 2015 at 10:05 am

    These bars look incredibly yummy! And can I say that I’m even more impressed with the fact that I don’t have to dirty a gazillion dishes to make this. Love it!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 15, 2015 at 9:29 pm

      These bars ARE yum, swear! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Jenn says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:12 am

    Nagi, these look amazing and they remind me of something that my mom used to make as part of her Christmas baking routine. I guarantee you though she didn’t do it without a bowl! I really like how you showed the steps in the 12 pictures – very cool. I’m definitely going to make these once I get through my post-vacation detox ( I use that word detox lightly but always put a few extra lbs on when I’m not the one cooking the food) as I doubt I’d be able to stop at just one piece.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      September 14, 2015 at 7:41 am

      I love that it reminds you of your mother’s baking! 🙂 Detox? I’m constantly telling myself I should be detoxing. Sigh!

      Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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