Healthy Snickers Bars

I’ve made these healthy Snickers bars more times than I can count. At first, I made them with a date caramel layer, but then I realized I could make them a whole lot faster (and in one bowl) if I just used maple syrup as the sweetener instead. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and totally delicious.

I’m all about making things as easy as possible these days, and luckily, the maple-sweetened caramel layer tastes just as delicious… if not better than the original date version I tried.

As a result, you can whip up these Snickers-inspired bars in just 20 minutes or less of hands-on effort. You’ll need to be patient while they firm up in the freezer, but gosh, are they worth the wait! There’s no baking required, so these are the perfect dessert to make when you don’t want to turn on your oven.

Healthy Snickers Recipe Ingredients

• Almond Flour. I use blanched almond flour to create the nougat layer in this healthy dessert. It has a light color, mild flavor, and is naturally gluten-free. (Plus, you don’t have to heat it as you would regular flour, since this is a no-bake dessert.)
• Maple Syrup. This natural sweetener pairs really well with peanuts and chocolate. Don’t confuse this for processed pancake syrup– the only ingredient on the label should be pure maple syrup.
• Cacao Powder. I always keep raw cacao powder in the pantry, but regular cocoa powder should work, too.
• Coconut Oil. This helps bind the bars together when chilled, but if you don’t want any coconut flavor (like me), be sure to buy expeller-pressed or refined coconut oil. This is not the time to use virgin coconut oil, unless you want the added coconut flavor.
• Peanuts. I use roasted and salted peanuts for the best flavor. If you want to use another salted nut, like cashews or almonds, that will work, too.

How to Make Healthy Snickers Bars

Step 1:

Prepare a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan by lightly spraying it with cooking spray. Then press a piece of parchment paper into the bottom of the pan. The parchment will make it super-easy to remove the bars later.

In a large bowl, combine 1.25 cups of blanched almond flour, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Stir the mixture with a spatula until it is thick and slightly sticky. It might look crumbly and dry at first, so be patient and keep stirring. Then transfer the dough to the prepared pan, and press it evenly into the bottom. Place the pan on a flat shelf in your freezer to firm up. 

Note: This recipe is easiest to mix when your maple syrup hasn’t been refrigerated. If a cold ingredient touches melted coconut oil, it will start to thicken before you want it to! So keep the ingredients at room temperature if possible.

Step 2:

Use a towel to wipe the mixing bowl so you can use it again, or just grab another bowl if you don’t mind cleaning an extra dish. Add 1/3 cup of all-natural peanut butter and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup.

Stir until the mixture thickens and looks smooth. It will not be pourable, but it should be spreadable with a spatula.

Remove the pan from the freezer and spread the peanut butter mixture over the nougat layer. Then, sprinkle 1/3 cup of roasted peanuts over that, and use your hands to gently press them into the caramel. 

Return the pan to the freezer so the caramel can start to firm up. 

Step 3:

Clean out the bowl again, then add 1/4 cup each of cacao powder, maple syrup, and melted coconut oil. Again, this will be much easier to stir if the ingredients are at room temperature and not chilled from the fridge.

Stir well until a smooth & runny chocolate sauce is created.

Remove the pan from the freezer, then spread the chocolate over the top. Sprinkle flaky salt over the top, if you like. Return the pan to the freezer so the Snickers bars can set, for at least 1 hour. 

Serving & Storage Tips

Once the vegan Snickers bars are firm, use the parchment paper to help remove them from the pan. Slice them into 18 small “fun size” bars. These are very rich, so you won’t need a huge piece!

Although I’ll admit… I usually eat two at a time. They are very hard to resist! I like to enjoy them from the fridge for a not-too-firm texture, but they are even crispier if you serve them from the freezer.

Storage Tip: Store these homemade Snickers bars in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. They will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (with a softer texture) or in the freezer for up to 3 months (with a harder texture).

Healthy Snickers Bars (Better than Store-Bought!)

4.97 from 55 votes

I have to warn you: once you try these healthy Snickers bars, you will always want to keep a stash in your fridge. They taste 100% better than the store-bought version, and you can assemble them in 20 minutes or less (without turning on your oven). There's NO refined sugar required… not even chocolate chips! Yet they taste totally irresistible.

prep25 mins cook0 mins Chill Time:1 hr total1 hr 25 mins

Servings:18

PrintSaveSavedRate

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Nougat Layer:

• 1 ¼ cup blanched almond flour
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil , melted
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Vegan Caramel:

• ¼ cup all-natural creamy peanut butter (use ⅓ cup for thicker layer)
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

Peanuts:

• ⅓ cup roasted & salted peanut halves

Chocolate Coating:

• ¼ cup cacao powder
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup , at room temperature

Instructions

• Lightly spray a 9×5-inch pan with oil, then line it with parchment paper. (The oil helps the paper stay in place while you work, but it won't touch the bars.)
• To prepare the nougat layer, add the almond flour, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt to a large bowl. Mix well, then transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it evenly into the bottom. Place the pan in the freezer to chill while you make the next layer.
• To make the caramel layer, stir together the peanut butter and maple syrup, until very smooth. Pour the caramel over the nougat layer, and use a spatula to spread it out.
• Sprinkle the peanut halves over the top of the caramel, making sure they are distributed evenly throughout the pan. Use your hands to lightly press them into the caramel. Set the pan in the freezer while you make the final layer.
• To prepare the chocolate coating, mix together the cacao powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup. This works best if the maple syrup isn't cold from the fridge, so the mixture will stay pourable. Remove the pan from the freezer and pour the chocolate topping over the top. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over the entire top of the peanut layer, and sprinkle the top with flaky salt, if you like.
• Place the pan in the freezer to set until the bars are totally firm, at least 1 hour. Slice into 8 rows, then cut each bar in half to create 16 "fun size" candy bars. For a smaller, bite-size treat, cut the 16 pieces in half again to make 32 small squares. These bars are very rich, so you don't need much!
• Homemade Snickers Bars need to be stored in the fridge or freezer to remain solid. They will soften at room temperature and, as a result, will be messier to eat. Keep in mind that the caramel layer will not totally firm up, so it might spill out the sides as you bite into these bars. You can store these in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer, if you don't eat them all before then.

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 18 small bars. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee. 

If you would rather make this recipe with almonds and almond butter, feel free! It should be just as delicious, but I would add an extra pinch of salt to the caramel layer, since most store-bought almond butter is unsalted.

You can melt 1/2 cup of mini vegan chocolate chips (about 3.5 ounces) instead of the chocolate coating layer, if you’d rather use that as the topping.

Update Note: This recipe was updated in March 2023 to make the nougat layer easier, in just 1 bowl. If you prefer the original date version, you can find the original recipe here.

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: vegan

Keyword: healthy snickers bars, vegan snickers

Get FREE weekly meal plans!

Sign up for my email newsletter to receive healthy meal plans every weekend! Plus, you’ll get new and updated recipes in your inbox every week. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Subscribe

More Candy Recipes to Try

• Homemade Crunch Bars
• Almond Butter Cups
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
• Protein Peanut Butter Cups

If you try these Vegan Snickers Bars, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them.

SaveSave