Frosted Kale Chewy Bars (Printable Version)

Chewy bars combining kale, oats, nuts, and creamy vanilla frosting, ideal for a wholesome on-the-go treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 2 cups kale leaves, stems removed, finely chopped
02 - 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
03 - 1 cup almond flour
04 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
05 - 2/3 cup light brown sugar
06 - 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
07 - 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Frosting

13 - 3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - 1 to 2 teaspoons milk as needed for consistency

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, applesauce, melted coconut oil, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until well blended.
03 - Stir in chopped kale, rolled oats, almond flour, walnuts, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
04 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, pressing down lightly to form a uniform layer.
05 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until edges are golden brown and the center is set. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.
06 - In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until creamy. Add milk as needed to adjust consistency.
07 - Once bars have fully cooled, spread frosting evenly over the top and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
08 - Lift bars from the pan using the parchment overhang and cut into 12 equal pieces. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like dessert but actually contain kale, so you can feel good about eating three in a row.
  • The vanilla frosting is creamy enough to convince everyone these are pure indulgence, not a health bar in disguise.
  • They come together in under an hour and keep for days, making them perfect for when you need a snack that doesn't require baking every single day.
02 -
  • Do not frost the bars while they're still warm or the frosting will melt into a sad, slippery mess no matter how hard you try.
  • Chopping the kale really fine is the difference between bars that taste like a hidden treasure and bars that announce kale in every bite, so take your time there.
  • If your frosting looks grainy, your cream cheese wasn't soft enough or you have lumps of powdered sugar; sift it first and ensure everything is room temperature.
03 -
  • Cut the bars with a hot, dry knife, wiping between cuts, for clean edges that look bakery-worthy instead of ragged.
  • The parchment overhang is genuinely life-changing for getting the whole slab out cleanly, so don't skip it even if it feels like an extra step.

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