Homemade Snickers Bars - How to make your own healthy Snickers bars, made with natural, real food ingredients!
October is my favorite month. Halloween, scary movies, costumes, pumpkins, ghosts, and witches galore!
Before my husband and I began dating, we worked together at a local health food store, and it was there that we connected on our love for all things 'gore' (our first date was to see Hostel!).
Each year, we look forward to the fun Halloween brings, and now that we have kids, we all have fun playing dress up when the 31st rolls around.
And because my husband's favorite candy is a Snickers bars, I knew I needed to make a healthy version for him (and me!).
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Why you'll love these Snickers bars
I tried my best with this recipe to create a believable facsimile of the real thing.
The chocolate base has a nice crisp bite, while the nougat center is soft and rich (you'd swear there was dairy in there!). The peanut butter caramel coating is a blended mixture of dates and peanut butter, and I think it's even better than the real thing.
I had originally intended to coat the entire bar in chocolate, but then the bars had more character with the layers showing. You could easily add a few peanuts on top as well.
I truly believe you will love these!
Ingredients needed
You'll be making three layers of deliciousness, each requiring their own ingredients and steps. Because these are no-bake, there is just the process of chilling the bars and letting them set to hold together.
Chocolate layer
I make my own chocolate by combining coconut oil, cocoa powder, maple syrup and sea salt. When coconut oil is cold, it hardens, which is what holds the chocolate together. Be aware that if these bars get warm, this layer will melt.
If you'd like to prevent this, use cocoa butter in place of the coconut oil.
Nougat layer
My nougat is very unique. In lieu of copious amounts of sugar and cream, I've employed a combination of coconut oil, maple syrup, milk (any kind will work), and....oat flour!
Yes, oat flour gives this layer substance and bite, but the specific amounts of each ingredient still allow this layer to have a soft bite, thus resembling the classic nougat.
Vanilla and salt are added for flavor.
Caramel layer
A simple blend of dates and peanut butter creates that familiar caramel layer. Dates are eerily similar to caramel when blended, and the addition of peanut butter truly screams Snickers!
A bit of water is added for blending purposes and vanilla helps to flavor the mix.
I use this small food processor to get this particular layer made.
Recipe tips
You can make your own oat flour by grinding oats in a coffee grinder or with the flat blade of a Nutribullet.
If you have trouble with the chocolate base separating from the nougat layer, add the nougat layer a bit before the chocolate hardens completely.
More healthy no-bake recipes
Chocolate Chip Snack Bites (Date-Free!)
Homemade Snickers Bars
Ingredients
CHOCOLATE BASE:
- 5 Tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
NOUGAT LAYER:
- 4 Tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 3 Tablespoons milk of your choice
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup +2 Tablespoons oat flour
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
CARAMEL:
- 8 soft dates
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter I use salted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoon water
Instructions
- Begin with room temperature ingredients. Cold ingredients can cause your coconut oil to clump.
- Mix together the ingredients for the chocolate base until well combined.
- Pour the mix into a small baking dish (I use a 7 x 5 inch Pyrex dish).
- Put the dish into the freezer until hard (about 10-15 minutes).
- Mix together the ingredients for the nougat layer until well combined.
- Pour the nougat layer onto the hardened chocolate base.
- Set in the freezer until the nougat layer is solid (about an hour).
- Process the ingredients for the caramel layer in a small food processor until well combined.
- Spread the caramel mix atop the hardened nougat layer (wet and use your hands for this, as it is very thick.
- Freeze again until set (30-60 minutes).
- Cut into 12 equal bars and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Shared with: Full Plate Thursday, What's For Dinner, Sundays on Silverado
Tammy
Ooh you had me at no-bake! These look sooo good and better than any snickers bar I could get. I love homemade treats like this and a little lightened up too!
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Suzanne
This looks so good! What a great way to enjoy a snack while sticking to the good stuff!
Marcia
These are amazing... I cannot stop going back for just another "small piece" and now 1/4 of the pan is almost gone!... They are nice and easy to make, with the longest part being waiting for them to freeze... these are a keeper! Thank you
Kurt
I love these little buggers! I can't stop putting them into my mouth. Thank you for this creative healthy take on my favorite candy bar.
Nadiah
Hello! I made these and it taste awesome! But i find that the chocolate layer melts quickly (because I live in south east asia and it's pretty hot here). How do I adjust the recipe to avoid the chocolate layer from melting?
Lauren
Hi Nadiah,
You could use cocoa butter in place of the coconut oil, and it should stay solid longer. 🙂
ines1988
Hi, thank you for posting that. I'm so 100% going to make these. They have character that way...also: I really love that you post the nutritional values...I don't see them often. *thumpsup*
Ashley
Just made these today and they are so yummy and taste like the real snickers! Thanks for sharing such yummy healthy raw treats!
Lauren
Thanks for your comment Ashley, these are a fave around here too! 🙂
Erin
These are delicious! I had trouble with the chocolate base separating from the other layers but I see where you suggested a remedy for that based on someone else's comment so I'll try that next time. My 2 year old and 4 year old loved them, too.
Lauren
So glad you liked them Erin! 🙂
Marcella
hi,
I'm dutch and really want to trie this one. Can you tell me what the T. Means? Is it à tablespoon?
Thanx!!
Lauren
Tablespoon, yes! 🙂
Lisa
This was so good. I did have a little problem with the chocolate base didn't stick to the nougat layer. Any thoughts? I let the chocolate layer set for 1.5 hours and seemed good. I'm still enjoying thus very much!
Lisa
Sorry chocolate layer was 20, nougat layer was 1.5.
Lauren
That's great Lisa! To prevent the separation, I would add the nougat layer before the chocolate has set completely. 🙂
Magda
These were so yummy!! Even my 10 year old picky sugar addict loved them. For the chocolate layer I'll use butter or cacao butter next time (didn't care for the coconut flavor there). The nougat was so delicious... I used almond flour, cacao butter and plain milk. This was my first experience with 'caramel' made from dates and I have to say it was delish!! Thanks for much for this awesome recipe - I'm going to use it to come up with a peanut butter Snickers (chocolate covered, of course!).
Lauren
I'm happy you enjoyed them Magda!
Michelle
I made these today and they are DELICIOUS!! I didn't have the same size pan that you used so I had to use a little bigger. Since I used a larger dish, my chocolate layer was pretty thin and wanted to break easy, but we managed 🙂 It was so good, I could have sat down and ate the whole dish!
Lauren
That's awesome Michelle! They are a favorite around here too. 🙂
Peter van der Linde
Hi Lauren,
I'm from The Netherlands and i'm loving your recipes.
just wondering what the T and litle t stands for, or are they the same?
Lauren
Hi Peter,
I'm so happy you're enjoying the blog! T is for tablespoon and t is for teaspoon. 🙂
christa kroeze
Hi Lauren, just wondering what the T stands for Tablespoon or Teaspoon? Thanks Christa
Lauren
Hi Christa,
T is for tablespoon. 🙂
Gilly
Could you use honey instead of maple syrup...its very expensive in Ireland?
Lauren
Hi Gilly,
You can definitely do that, but you might need a bit of water as well, since honey is thicker than maple syrup. 🙂
Sam
I love this recipe! I use it all the time. I salute you and your awesomeness. (My hips won't though) 🙂
Lauren
Haha, thanks Sam! It's one of my favorites too. 🙂
Heather
I made these last night for my boyfriend and I to enjoy on Halloween. They are AMAZING! I can't wait for him to try. Snickers are his fave. I was surprised at how easy these were to put together. The hardest part is waiting for them to set. Thanks for this amazing idea and recipe.
Lauren
That's awesome Heather! My husband is also a fan, so I can relate. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!!
Julie
I think you just changed my life!
Jennifer
holy crap. these turned out AMAZING. I love them so much! So easy! One thing you may want to mention is that dates have pits! lol! I have never used a date or eaten one so I didn't know to take the pits out (I'm a total novice obviously!) ... so might be worth mentioning 🙂
One last question - do you store them at room temp? Or do they need to be refrigerated?
Thanks~
ps. I didn't have the right sized pan so I did them individually in a muffin tin. Worked fabulously and each layer froze very quickly.
Lauren
Hi Jennifer!
Sorry I didn't get back to you about the peanuts, but I'm glad they turned out for you! I store them in the freezer, but I think they'd keep in the fridge as well. Thanks for trying them and for your feedback! 😀
Jennifer
Lauren, I'm making these right now. I'm subbing the syrup for agave nectar because I didn't realize I was out of syrup :/ I hope the turn out ok!
Question: Would you recommend chopping the peanuts or using them whole or halved?
Thanks!
Jen
Maria
I cannot wait to make these. we are a vegan family and Halloween is always hard on the kids.....I'll have something to replace what they can't eat! That, plus I REALLY miss Snickers.....
Lauren
Hah, I hope you and your family enjoy them Maria! 😀
Karen@NourishWithKaren
These looks amazing! Can't wait to try them. Thanks for sharing!
Jenny
I'm just curious about the nutritional information . . . you have 4.1 g trans fats listed. What is the source of the trans fats? I thought coconut oil was trans-fat free.
Jenny
Never mind, I see now that I was reading it in reverse! Looks like something I should make for myself.
The Peace Patch
Snickers were definitely one of my trade-for candies when we trick-or-treated as kids...my sister didn't like them so I'd give her my Good & Plenty and Milk Duds for her Snickers. Seems to me I got the better end of the deal but she was happy and we both ran on sugar highs for the next two weeks.
Your Snickers Bars are superyumful...I want to cut them long and skinny and plop them on a lollipop stick like a Slo-Poke just for the screaming fun of it. 🙂
Amanda @Natural Living Mamma
OMG these look AMAZING. Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday!
Emma
Oh my word! These look to die for! Snickers were a favourite when I was little 🙂
Great idea on the nougat filling.
(Via Oh My Veggies)
Natassia
These look absolutely amazing! Will definitely help with my sweet tooth in a healthy way!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies
I just made this and I am totally shocked at how much these taste like Snickers--you weren't kidding! Sooooo tasty! 😀 Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Lauren
Thanks girl! I'm so so happy you like them. 😀
Heather @Gluten-Free Cat
Are you kidding me? A healthy snickers makeover AND they're practically raw? You are amazing! Please come share at Raw Foods Thursdays!!!!
Kelly
These look so lovely! I do love snickers but Halloween is about the only time I ever get them. And I have been wanting to try out a date based caramel. I am putting these on my to try list. 🙂
Marly
Thank you so much, Lauren. I can't wait to devour several of these lol
Marly
WOW! Love it! BUT . . . I'm wondering how many calories are in each piece. Can anyone figure it?
Lauren
If you cut the bars into 12 pieces, each bar has 174 calories. The nutritional information is always directly below the recipe instructions. 🙂
Miachel (Spiced Curiosity)
Tinkerbell sounds amazing! 🙂 Good luck with the costumes.
Also, these treats look (and sound) stunning. Thanks for a healthy Halloween alternative!
Ari @ Ari's Menu
Whoa! These look better than a Snickers bar in my opinion! Love how they use real, whole ingredients that I recognize and have laying around the house already! They need to happen. Then they need to be chopped up and put in a cookie!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
Looks awesome! I'm a huge Snickers fan but I think this version might be a little more reasonable to chow down on on a daily basis. 🙂 Also, big & little Tinkerbells is a cute idea!
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen
Love those layers! Looks like a great recipe.
Heather Pace
Lauren these look SO freaking good!!!
Lauren
Lol, thanks Heather! 😀
Amber
HI Lauren,
These look great. I've never had a Snickers Bar. I'm allergic to peanuts, so I would sadly lose half my trick or treating bounty. But that's okay. I would usually trade for something. I hear Snickers are totally awesome. My husband remembers them being very yummy.
This looks like such a healthy alternative! You're awesome Lauren. 🙂
And PS...Halloween is my favorite time of year too. I dress up every year! Always! last year I was Jane Goodall. I haven't found my costume yet this year, although I was thinking about Amelia Earhart. I might just default to a cowgirl, as my son wants to be a cowboy (again) so you just never know. There are usually multiple costumes changes for different Halloween events. 🙂
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Me, my brother, and my dad all love Snickers! I will have to try these, we would all flip for a healthy version of it. You are incredible, Lauren! Oh, and Tinkerbell would be an awesome costume choice:) Pinning this!
Amanda
These look SO good, Lauren! I can't wait to make them! I have always loved Snickers and I remember sorting through my Halloween candy when I was little and always eating them first. Also, my dad is a Snickers fanatic, so I had to get to them before he did! haha
Lauren
Thanks Amanda! I think my husband would be the same way with our daughters' candy, so I'll be making a couple of batches of these to stave him off. 😀
Honey
Wow, those look fantastic! I love snickers as well. I craved them when I was pregnant and I indulged, but now I'm off dairy so haven't had one in a year. Definitely making these, the nougat layer looks awesome!!
Lauren
Thank you Honey! I hope you enjoy them! 😀