Mango bars are a decadent, oil-free treat with a simple crust and a refreshing layer of creamy mango cream on top. They’re a dairy-free treat that you can easily make gluten-free, too!
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Move over lemon bars! Make these decadent Mango bars instead! Just like my lemon bars, these have a simple flour and almond flour crust, which doesn’t need any oil. And then they’re topped with this creamy, mango-cashew mixture. You pour it over the crust, and then chill it in the freezer, so it is just about frozen to get amazing slices!
Mango squares are super creamy, super mangoey, and super delicious. They’re perfect for the summer mango crop!
You get amazing mangoes in India, and I always miss them. But you do get some great mangoes in stores in the US, as well. Look for yellow Mexican mangoes or Ataulfo mangos, or other mangos which are really sweet and not as stringy. They’re more smooth mangoes.
Or use canned puree/pulp, which is what I use in this recipe. You can find mango puree easily in Indian grocery stores. In Indian stores, I use the Kesar Mango Pulp, as it’s sweet with a very concentrated mango flavor. And I love the Kesar mango flavor.
Why You’ll Love Mango Bars
- creamy, refreshing summer dessert packed with mango goodness!
- easy and fun to make – no need to soak your cashews!
- oil-free
- gluten-free option
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Mango Bars Vegan
Ingredients
For the Crust
- ¾ cup (93 g) all purpose flour or use oat flour or a gf blend for gluten-free
- ½ cup (55 g) almond flour
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- 1 flax egg , That is 1 tablespoon flax meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of warm water.
- 3 to 4 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) maple syrup
For the Mango Layer
- 1 cup (129 g) raw cashews not soaked
- 2 cups (473.18 ml) of mango puree i use canned mango puree/mango pulp. See notes for using fresh mango.
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar , optional
Equipment
- 8×8-inch baking pan or 9×9-inch
Instructions
Make the crust.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (176 °C).
- In a bowl, add the flour, almond flour, baking soda, and salt and press and mix well to break any of the almond flour lumps. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
- Add in the flax egg and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and mix until it starts to form somewhat of a dough. If the dough is too crumbly, add in more maple syrup.
- Line and 8×8- or 9×9-inch baking dish or a brownie pan with parchment, then press this crust into the pan and even it out with the spatula. Use a fork to make holes in the crust, and then bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden on the edges.
- Once the crust is done baking, remove it from the oven, and let it cool.
Make the mango layer while the crust bakes and cools.
- Add the cashews, mango puree, salt, and sugar to a blender, and then blend for a minute. Then leave the blender and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes for the blended cashews to rehydrate from the moisture in the mango puree. Then blend again for a minute and let it sit for another minute and blend again for half a minute. Repeat this until the mixture is super creamy. Taste to adjust sweetness and flavor. You can add a little bit of vanilla, if you like.
Make the mango bars
- Pour or scoop this mixture, depending on how thick it is, over the baked and cooled crust, and even out the top with a spatula. Then, put the baking dish in the freezer for an hour or two, until the bars are somewhat set, and then you can slice them and serve them.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and Substitutions
- flour – Use all-purpose or use oat flour for a gluten-free option.
- almond flour – Adds a bit of texture and flavor to the crust.
- baking soda and salt – Conditions the dough for a lighter crust.
- flax egg – This is the binder for the crust, and it’s simply a tablespoon of flax meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of warm water.
- raw cashews – No need to soak your cashews for these mango bars! For a cashew-free option, you can use a cup of coconut cream in place of the cashews.
- mango puree – You can use canned mango puree/pulp or make your own. I like Kesar Mango Puree, which you can find at Indian grocery stores. To make your own, peel, pit, and puree really ripe mangos. You can add a little splash of water, if needed, but ideally you puree just the mango flesh.
- sugar – Sweetens the mango custard for the bars.
Tips
- Make sure that when you mix in the almond flour, you break up any lumps. Almond flour loves to clump together.
- You want a pretty cohesive dough for this recipe. Add a little more maple syrup, if needed, to help the dough come together.
- Letting the blended cashews sit in the blender allows them to take on moisture and blend down smoothly without soaking!
How to Make Mango Squares
Preheat the oven to 350° F (176 °C), and make your crust.
In a bowl, add the flour, almond flour, baking soda, and salt and press and mix to break any of the almond flour lumps. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
Then, add in the flax egg and three tablespoons of maple syrup and mix until it starts to form somewhat of a dough. If the dough is too crumbly, add in more maple syrup.
Line and 8×8- or 9×9-inch baking dish or a brownie pan with parchment, then press this crust into the pan and even it out with the spatula.
Use a fork to make holes in the crust.
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden on the edges.
Once the crust is done baking, remove it from the oven, and let it cool.
Make the mango layer while the crust bakes and cools.
Add the cashews, mango puree, salt, and sugar to a blender, and then blend for a minute. Then leave the blender and let it sit for five to 10 minutes for the blended cashews to rehydrate from the moisture in the mango puree. Then blend again for a minute and let it sit for another minute and blend again for half a minute. Repeat this until the mixture is super creamy.
Taste to adjust sweetness and flavor. You can add a little bit of vanilla, if you like.
Pour or scoop this mixture, depending on how thick it is, over the baked and cooled crust, and even out the top with a spatula.
Then, put the baking dish in the freezer for an hour or two, until the bars are somewhat set, and then you can slice them and serve them.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make fresh mango pulp, use really ripe mangoes. Scoop mango into your blender. Do not add any water or liquid and then blend it into somewhat of a pulp or a thick puree mixture.
If you have trouble blending the mixture, then you can add in a tablespoon or so of water to help move the mixture along.
The bars will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just take them out and let them sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes to soften a little bit, and then serve.
To make this cashew-free, use one cup of coconut cream instead of cashews for the mango layer .
Randi
I used spelt flour in place of all purpose flour and the bars turned out amazing! Will definitely make again. 3 ripe mangoes worked perfect as well. Also didn’t have raw cashews so used a roasted low sodium variety and just skipped the salt. I’m sure it altered the taste of the topping a bit. Thank you for such a great summer recipe!!
Vegan Richa Support
🙂 thank you for making it!
Kristen
Hi Richa,
Would using frozen mango chunks change the outcome much? Too much water content?
Thank you 😊
Vegan Richa Support
you may want to let them thaw a bit
Cynthy
This looks like a yummy recipe and I look forward to making it (mango is my favorite fruit!), but a word of caution: Raw cashews contain urushiol, a resin that is toxic if ingested and can cause rashes or burns if it contacts the skin. To remove this substance, cashews must go through a rigorous roasting or steaming process to ensure they are safe to eat. So I would AVOID using raw cashews if they are even available where you live!
Richa
I think most raw cashews are treated. They aren’t totally raw but labelled so to differentiate between the golden roasted and white cashew
Jennifer Read
I will use fresh mango, how many mangoes will be needed for this recipe?
Vegan Richa Support
about 3 medium mango, depending on the size of the mangoes around you! just enough for 2 cups of puree.
Sur
I plan to make this after I buy more mangoes. I know my family will love it! Thanks Richa.
Vegan Richa Support
can’t wait for you to try it – don’t forget to come back and rate when you do! 🙂
Marie
These look wonderful. Do you use the canned sweetened mango puree or the mango pulp? Thank you!
Richa
Pulp. Depending on the brand they call it pulp or puree. It’s thickened puree
Mandy
Do you think using thawed frozen mango would work here?
These look great would love to try
Richa
There’ll be too much moisture in them. Cook the mixture down a bit and use