🍯 No-Bake Honey Pistachio Ricotta Bars
Creamy, nutty, lightly sweet, and satisfying – perfect for a summer treat!
✅ Ingredients
Crust:
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1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (or digestive biscuits)
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¼ cup pistachios, finely chopped
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¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
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2 tbsp honey
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Pinch of salt
Ricotta Filling:
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1 ½ cups ricotta cheese (drained if very wet)
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½ cup Greek yogurt (plain, full fat)
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⅓ cup honey (adjust to taste)
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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Zest of 1 lemon (optional, but adds freshness)
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½ tsp ground cardamom or cinnamon (optional)
Topping:
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¼–⅓ cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
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1–2 tbsp honey (for drizzling)
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Optional: dried rose petals, crushed pistachio dust, or sea salt flakes
🥣 Instructions
1. Make the crust:
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Combine graham cracker crumbs, chopped pistachios, melted butter, honey, and salt in a bowl.
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Press mixture firmly into the bottom of a parchment-lined 8×8-inch pan.
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Refrigerate while you prepare the filling (10–15 minutes).
2. Make the filling:
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In a food processor or mixing bowl, blend ricotta, Greek yogurt, honey, vanilla, lemon zest, and spices until smooth.
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Spread filling evenly over the chilled crust.
3. Add topping:
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Sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
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Drizzle with honey.
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Add any extra garnishes if desired.
4. Chill:
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Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight for best texture.
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Slice into bars and serve chilled.
❓Q&A Section
❓Can I use only ricotta without yogurt?
Yes, but the bars may be denser and grainier. Blending the ricotta until smooth helps. Yogurt adds creaminess and slight tang.
❓Can I make it vegan?
Yes! Substitute:
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Vegan graham crackers
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Coconut oil for butter
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Maple syrup or agave for honey
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Vegan yogurt and vegan ricotta (store-bought or homemade from nuts/tofu)
❓How long do they last?
Up to 5 days in the fridge, tightly covered. You can also freeze them (wrap individually, thaw in fridge before eating).
❓Can I make it nut-free?
Yes! Skip pistachios and use sunflower seeds or just plain graham cracker crust. Toppings can be seeds or coconut flakes.
❓Do I need to drain ricotta?
If your ricotta is watery, yes. Wrap in cheesecloth or paper towels and let it drain in a strainer for 30–60 minutes.
❓Can I add fruit?
Absolutely! Fresh berries on top or a thin layer of fruit preserves under the filling work well. Don’t add juicy fruits directly into the filling.
