Healthy Homemade Snickers Bars

Who doesn’t love a delicious Snickers bar? The combination of chocolate, peanuts, and caramel is simply irresistible. But did you know that you can make your own healthy version of the classic treat at home? This homemade Snickers recipe is gluten-free, made with almond flour and salted peanut crust, a creamy sweet filling made from coconut sugar, and topped off with some sea salt for an extra kick. It’s the perfect small and light dessert bite.

Healthy homemade Snickers with sweet caramel peanut filling

I have a HUGE sweet tooth. Everything from chocolate chip cookies to cherry pie to cake pops!

But I’m always trying to find healthier options for my sweet cravings.

So when I’m craving something sweet, but want to avoid a sugar crash, this homemade Snickers recipe is the perfect dessert. Not only does it taste amazing, but it’s also gluten-free and made with wholesome ingredients. Plus, you can easily customize it with your favorite add-ins!

Really, you won’t be missing out on anything with this homemade version. The almond flour and salted peanut crust create the perfect crunchy base for the creamy sweet filling and chocolate coating. And to take it up a notch, don’t forget to sprinkle some sea salt on top!

Ready to dig in? Here’s how you can make your own delicious Snickers bars at home.

Ingredients needed

Making a healthy Snickers doesn’t have to be hard! Luckily, all of the ingredients were easy to find (some I even had on hand!).

Here’s a bit more about what I used:

Crust

• Almond Flour: For this gluten-free crust, I used almond flour. This has a wonderful flavor and provides the perfect crunch to contrast with the creamy filling. You need 2 cups of super fine, blanched almond flour for this candy recipe.
• Maple Syrup: To sweeten the crust and give it a bit of stickiness, I used maple syrup in place of white sugar. You need 1/4 cup.
• Coconut Oil: This makes the crust extra crunchy and helps hold it together. Make sure to use virgin coconut oil, not refined. You need 1/4 cup melted. I used 1/3 cup of melted coconut oil.
• Peanuts: To add a bit of salty-sweetness to the crust, I added a handful of salted peanuts.
• Vanilla: A bit of vanilla extract adds a touch of flavor to the crust.
• Salt: Just a pinch is all you need!

Filling

• Coconut Sugar: For the sweet and creamy center of this Snickers bar, I used coconut sugar. This is a wonderful natural sweetener that provides a subtle caramel flavor. You need 1 cup of coconut sugar for this recipe.

You’ll also need coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt!

Chocolate coating

• Chocolate Chips: This recipe calls for 1 cup of your favorite chocolate chips. I like to use dark chocolate chips, but you can also use semi-sweet.
• Coconut Oil: To help the chocolate chips melt and a bit of shine to the bars, I added 1 teaspoon of melted coconut oil.
• Sea Salt: For that extra salty-sweet kick, top these homemade Snickers with some sea salt!

Kitchen tools required

Here’s a bit more information about what I used to make these gluten-free Snickers bars.

• 8×8 pan
• Parchment paper
• Large bowl
• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Small bowl

For measuring, you will need 1 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, and 1 teaspoon.

How to make homemade Snickers

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together all of the crust ingredients to form a dough. Flatten the crust dough into the prepped pan and bake for 18 minutes. After it’s done baking, let it cool.

Now it’s time to make the filling! In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add coconut sugar, coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt. Whisk everything together and bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to medium.

To thicken the sauce, boil it for 3 minutes or until it thickens, and remember that it will thicken further as it cools.

After pouring the caramel over the crust, sprinkle the salted peanuts on top and press them down into the caramel. Turn off the heat and freeze for 1 hour.

Next, remove from the freezer and cut into 12 bars, then freeze for an additional 30 minutes.

To make chocolate bars, microwave chocolate, and oil in 30-second increments until melted. Then, dunk each bar fully in the melted chocolate and place it on parchment paper or greased cookie cooling rack.

While the bars are still warm, sprinkle them with flaky sea salt. After that, chill the bars in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before eating and store them in the fridge.

Below are some common homemade Snickers questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

Can I use different types of chocolate chips?

Yes, you can experiment with different types of chocolate chips for this recipe. Try semi-sweet chips, dark chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips.

Can I use different types of nuts?

Yup. If you don’t have salted peanuts on hand, feel free to substitute them with other types of nuts like walnuts or pecans.

Is there a substitution for coconut sugar?

Yes, if you don’t have coconut sugar on hand, feel free to substitute it with brown sugar or granulated sugar.

These homemade Snickers bars will last up to 7 days in the refrigerator, making them a great make-ahead treat. You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Here are some of my favorite dessert recipes you should make next. Enjoy!

• Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups
• Healthy Reese’s
• Kitchen Sink Chocolate Bar
• Homemade Chocolate Fudge Recipe
• Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Bites

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa