No Bake Healthy Snickers Bars--sugar-free, vegan, keto, with peanut-free option
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!
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?
Many Fun Ways to Serve
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....
- Chopped up on top of ice cream like on this Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream
- Blend in to ice cream
- On top of salad
- In a trifle
- In a healthy parfait with yogurt and Coconut Whipped Cream
- Bake into cookies like in these Healthy Kitchen Sink Cookies
- On top of puddings like this Chocolate Chia Pudding
- Baked into pancakes like these Eggnog Pancakes
- Blended into a milkshake
- Chopped up in a trail mix
- Added to hot cereal like this Cream of Rice
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
Nougat Layer
- unsalted cashews
- 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
- coconut oil
- additional nuts (optional)
Instructions
For nougat layer, add cashews and other remaining ingredients to a food processor or a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. consistency. (Photo 1)
Pour into the prepared pan and spread. Chill in fridge. (Photo 2)
For caramel layer, add all the ingredients except nuts to saucepan and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch and water. (Photo 3)
Stir and simmer 10 minutes. (Photo 4)
Take it from the stove when it gets a thick consistency and let it cool down. (Photos 5 & 6)
After cooled, add nuts and pour over nougat layer. (Photo 7)
Melt chocolate and coconut oil. Photo 9 shows bars in a pan with the chocolate layer on top for the super easy "non dipped" version of the bars.
Photo 10 shows bars that are not topped with chocolate (see Photo 7), but are cut and then dipped completely in chocolate.
Top with drizzled chocolate and crushed cashews, if desired.
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
Recipe
No Bake Healthy Snickers Bars
Ingredients
For the Nougat Layer
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 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 tablespoons 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 8x8 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!
