No Bake Healthy Snickers Bars–sugar-free, vegan, with peanut-free option
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These Healthy Snickers Bars are a dream come true for every Snickers lover who’s trying to eat healthier. These dreamy chocolate coated bars with creamy nougat, crunchy nuts and caramel will satisfy your sweet tooth without the downfall of all that sugar.
This homemade version is keto, low-carb, naturally gluten-free, easier than most of the Homemade Snickers recipes out there, and they’re even peanut free so they’re truly allergy-friendly too!
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What is a Snickers Bar?
Most people of course know, but for those who don’t, Snickers are wildly popular chocolate bars.with a milk chocolate outside and chewy sweet nougat layer with roasted peanuts and caramel inside. The mix of the 4 layers is so delicious, it’s one of the top selling candy bars around.
Snickers Bars are a tad healthier than most candy bars out there due to the peanuts and the 4 grams of protein, but they’re still loaded with 27 grams of sugar and corn syrup. Since they’re a childhood favorite (and adulthood too!) I wanted to make a healthier version so our family and yours could enjoy a delicious remake of the classic snickers bar without wreaking havoc on your diet and blood sugar.
Healthy Allergy-free Peanut-free Snickers Bar
There are other Homemade Snickers recipes out there, but I wanted a Healthy Snickers Bar without all the heavily processed ingredients. Since our oldest had life threatening allergies to dairy and peanuts, I wanted to make a Vegan Snickers Bar that’s also a Peanut-free Snickers Bar.
(Note–I say “had” because as of this year, he’s officially ditched the dairy allergy. It’s so crazy to see him eating cheese. More on that miracle story later….)
How Do These Bars Taste?
While these bars don’t taste exactly the same as the real thing, they are really tasty–and pretty good for you, I might add. You might even find you like them better than classic Snickers if you’ve been avoiding sugar for awhile.
Are Snickers Vegan?
Store-bought Snickers aren’t vegan since they contain dairy. This Homemade Snickers Bar is made with dairy-free chocolate so the whole bar is dairy-free and vegan.
Easy Snickers Bars With Loads of Chocolate
While the fully coated in chocolate version of this healthy snickers recipe is great, you can go for super easy and just coat the top of the bars with chocolate while they’re in the pan, and cut them.
Putting all of the chocolate that was meant to be the chocolate coating on top in one thick chocolate layer gives you extra chocolate on top so the bars are just as yummy–and better than other “Easy Snickers Bars” recipes online that only put half of the chocolate mixture on top.
You can never have too much chocolate–am I right?
Recipe Notes and Special Diet Options
- Coconut Flour Alternative: If you’re avoiding coconut or don’t want to eat low-carb, you can substitute oat flour for the coconut flour. You could also try half the amount of almond flour. I haven’t tried it but it should work. Try twice as much oat flour and increase as needed. You might try adding some fat to the nougat part if using oat flour as well since coconut flour has a lot of fat content.
- Tempering Chocolate: Tempering the chocolate before coating will help the chocolate stay solid longer without melting. To temper, heat about 2/3 of the chocolate, stirring often, until to 115°F. Gradually add the remaining chocolate stirring vigorously and constantly until the temperature drops to 84°. Reheat the chocolate briefly over the double boiler for 5 to 10 seconds at a time, stirring, until it reaches 89°F.
- Dipping Tip: Use a mini or regular spatula rather than a fork to hold the bar when coating with chocolate.
- Nut Options: I chose cashews and almonds for this recipe since the combo tastes really good, however you can use any nuts of choice if you’d like. Pecans would taste especially nice as well. Macadamia Snickers–yes, please!
- Nut-Free: You could use sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds for the nuts. It will be a different bar of course, but still delicious.
- For AIP, use carbs instead of chocolate and an approved sweetener like coconut sugar. Many people on AIP can have nuts if they are properly prepared.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make this recipe. For measurements and more details, see the Printable Recipe Card below.
Nougat Layer
- unsalted cashews (or other nut. Almonds and hemp should work as well for a lower-carb option.)
- low-carb maple syrup
- coconut flour
- coconut milk
- low carb sweetener
- vanilla extract
- coconut oil
- pinch of salt
Caramel Layer
- almond butter
- low-carb maple syrup
- arrowroot
- cashews and almonds
- coconut milk
- low-carb sweetener
- vanilla extract
Coating
- sugar-free dark chocolate (or sugar-free chocolate chips)
- coconut oil
- additional nuts (optional)
Instructions
For nougat layer, add cashews and other remaining ingredients to food processor or high-powered blender and blend. (Photo 1)
Pour into the prepared pan and spread. Chill. (Photo 2)
For caramel layer, add all the ingredients except nuts to saucepan and boil. Add cornstarch and water. (Photo 3)
Stir and simmer 10 minutes. (Photo 4)
Remove from stove when thick consistency and let cool. (Photos 5 & 6)
Add nuts and pour over nougat. (Photo 7)
Melt chocolate and coconut oil. Photo 9 shows bars in a pan with chocolate layer on top for the super easy “non dipped” version.
Photo 10 shows (see Photo 7), cut bars to be dipped in chocolate.
Top with drizzled chocolate and crushed cashews, if desired.
Fun Ways to Serve These Healthy Candy Bars
Of course you can eat these Homemade Healthy Keto Vegan Snickers Bars as is or frozen, there are oh so many ways to enjoy them. How about chopping and…
- Topping ice cream like on this Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream
- Blending into ice cream
- Topping salad
- Layering in or topping a trifle
- Layered in or topping a parfait with yogurt and Coconut Whipped Cream
- Baking into cookies like these Healthy Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Topping puddings like this Chocolate Chia Pudding
- Adding into or topping pancakes like these Eggnog Pancakes
- Blending into or topping milkshakes
- Adding to trail mix
- Adding to hot cereal like this Cream of Rice
More Healthier Treats to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these as well…
Sugar-free Mounds Bars – coconutty and chocolatey goodness
No Bake Almond Joy Bars – one of our all time favorites
Almond Butter Cups – better than Reese’s
Sugar-free Twix Bars – with a no bake option, you can indulge in these in no time!
Sugar-free Marshmallows – so much fun to make and eat
Sugar-free Gummies – from bears to flowers–the sky’s the limit
No Bake Healthy Snickers Bars
Ingredients
For the Nougat Layer
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews or other nut – almonds should work well
- 1/3 cup sugar-free maple syrup or regular maple syrup as desired
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 3 tablespoons coconut milk or other plant-based milk
- 1/2 tablespoon low carb sweetener
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- pinch of salt
For the Caramel Layer
- 1/3 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup sugar-free maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot or cornstarch (use 1/3 teaspoon xanthan gum for keto)
- 1/2 cup cashews or other nuts
- 1/2 cup almonds or other nuts
- 1/3 cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon low carb sweetener
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Coating
- 2 cups sugar-free chocolate chips (or 70% cocoa dark chocolate or these Homemade Chocolate Chips)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Instructions
- Line a parchment paper on an 8×8 or 7 x 21 pan.
- For the nougat layer, add cashews and other remaining ingredients to a food processor or a high-powered blender and blend to a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread out evenly. Place in the fridge to chill for 20-30 minutes.
- For the caramel layer, add all the ingredients except cashews and almond to a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add a small amount of water to the arrowroot to make a slurry, then add the mixture to the caramel.
- Stir with a whisk and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the stove when thick and let cool.
- After cooled, mix the cashews and almonds into the caramel, then pour onto the nougat.
- Place in fridge or a freezer and let it chill.
- For the dipped version, cut the bars into desired size, then after melting the chocolate and coconut oil, coat each bar with the chocolate and let cool. Drizzle with more melted chocolate and top with some crushed cashews
- For the non-dipped version, after melting the chocolate and coconut oil, spread the chocolate over the caramel layer, chill, drizzle with more melted chocolate and top with some crushed cashews, then cut into desired size.
- Coat each bar with chocolate and then cool it. You can top with drizzled chocolate and some crushed cashews.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Cutting Tip: Make sure to chill the bars thoroughly for ease of cutting.
- Coconut Flour Alternative: If you’re avoiding coconut or don’t want to eat low-carb, you can substitute oat flour for the coconut flour. You could also try half the amount of almond flour. I haven’t tried it but it should work. Try twice as much oat flour and increase as needed. You might try adding some fat to the nougat part if using oat flour as well since coconut flour has a lot of fat content.
- Tempering Chocolate: Tempering the chocolate before coating will help the chocolate stay solid longer without melting. To temper, heat about 2/3 of the chocolate, stirring often, until to 115°F. Gradually add the remaining chocolate stirring vigorously and constantly until the temperature drops to 84°. Reheat the chocolate briefly over the double boiler for 5 to 10 seconds at a time, stirring, until it reaches 89°F.
- Dipping Tip: Use a mini or regular spatula rather than a fork to hold the bar when coating with chocolate.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Hope you like these bars as much as we do!