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Soo then there was that time I made chocolate bars in the crockpot…
I did, I did, and you know what, it’s a pretty awesome way to make an easy dessert.
Plus, who knew the crockpot could be used for sweet recipes too? I mean, here I am making short ribs ‘n’ things, when I could also be making chocolate. Yes, please!
Photo: candy bar mixture in crockpot before cooking has begun.
Photo: candy bar mixture in crockpot after cooking.
Photo: candy bar mixture pressed into pan.
Photo: candy bars hardened and cut into bars.
With Halloween less than a week away, and Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approaching, I really couldn’t think of a better dessert bar to share with you guys. These are not only great as a homemade candy bar for your Halloween festivities, but they would be perfect as holiday treats and homemade gifts as well!
Sorry for bringing up the holidays before Halloween…I can’t help it, I am extra excited this year!
Ok, back to these Addicting 5 Ingredient Crockpot Chocolate Bars, no getting off topic today because even though these bars are truly as easy as it gets, I’ve got a few things to say about them.
I went through a million and one ideas on my “desserts to make” list, only to keep returning to these bars. I mean, I knew I wanted to make them, but like, were they too simple to share?
I do this all the time, fear a recipe is too simple or not special enough to share, when in reality it’s just me over thinking everything. My over thinking/self-doubt is currently in full-force (I chatted a bit about this yesterday too). Since it’s fall, my favorite time to cook and bake, I’ve been over thinking all of the blog recipes and photos. Basically, over thinking is like my super power, sometimes it works in my favor and sometimes…not so much.
UGH.
Whatever, the point is that I’m trying to beat my brain at its own game. Instead of worrying about whether or not these bars are too simple to share, I’m going to be ecstatic that I have a FIVE ingredient, crazy easy, and insanely addicting dessert to share with you guys.
OKok, and after making and devouring these, I did realize that um, yes, these are definitely a MUST share. I’d be cruel if I didn’t!
Here’s the deal with these bars.
Grab some…
…pumpkin seeds (you could use peanuts or almonds too!)
…pretzels (because what pairs better with chocolate than salty pretzels!?)
…semi-sweet chocolate (yum, yum)
…butterscotch chips (because it’s fall and butterscotch chips just feel fallish and special)
…peanut butter (peanut butter + pretzels + chocolate = crunchy Reese hybrid)
Now, in order from top to bottom. Dump this all into your crockpot, set the crockpot to low, go watch a movie, play outside, drink some wine, or whatever makes you smile. Then come back to a kitchen that smells like a sweet shop, and…taste test. Obviously.
Spread the mixture into a pan, maybe do another taste test, you know for good measure, chill, slice and EAT.
Simple as that.
In all seriousness though, it legit does not get any better than these bars. You can really use any nuts/seeds you love, maybe replace the butterscotch chips with caramel bits or the peanut butter with Nutella. Anything goes here, you cannot mess these bars up.
Like you can’t.
Cooking the chocolate slowly in the crockpot prevents it from burning, and placing the pumpkin seeds directly on the bottom of the crockpot allows them to slowly roast without even turning on the oven or dirtying up a baking sheet. Cool, right!
Of course, if you don’t have a crockpot, you can simply melt the chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter together in the microwave and then stir in the pumpkin seeds and pretzels…but not going to lie, using the crockpot is way more fun!
Watch the How-To Video:
5 Ingredient Crockpot Chocolate Bars.
Servings: 24 Bars
Calories Per Serving: 318 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds or roasted pumpkin seeds
- 2 cups lightly crushed pretzels
- 5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds in the bottom of your crockpot. Add the pretzels, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips. Dollop the peanut butter over top. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, do not stir during coking.
- Line a jelly roll pan or 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- After 2 1/2-3 hours, stir everything together until there are no streaks. Don't worry if some of the butterscotch chips are not melting into the chocolate.
- Spoon the candy out into the prepared pan and spread in an even layer. Tap the pan against the counter a few time to release any air pockets. Chill in the fridge until firm, about 30 minutes. Cut into bars and keep stored in a cool place or in the fridge.
Notes
*inspired by [Food Network | http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/slow-cooker-chocolate-candy-recipe.html].
Wow, these look amazing! Is there anything to substitute for butterscotch chips? I would love to try them!
Hey Katie! Could you just use chocolate chips or peanut butter chips? If not, you can omit them from the recipe. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love these!
Made these for a party last night and everyone went crazy!! …including me!
Looks like you drizzled some dark dark chocolate over some of them, didn’t you?! Like yes!!! I will definitely be doing that next time…
Hey Alice!! SO happy the bars where a hit!! yeah!
I did drizzle some dark chocolate one few, it adds a nice texture! 🙂 Thank you!
I made these for the bake sale at my daughter’s school and it about killed us not to be able to eat them- they smelled so good and it was so super easy to make them. Ok, who am I kidding…we may have tried out a few first. 😉
Thanks for a great recipe!
Haha well I am so happy you tried a few first and loved them! Thank you so much!
Here’s a question, Tieghan.
I’ve read this a few times, and am trying to figure out if you can go ahead and line the crockpot with the parchment paper first so you can lift it all out all at once.
Parchment paper is good up to, what, 350 degrees in the oven, so in theory, it *could* be used in the bottom of the crockpot so you could lift the whole thing out instead of having to spoon it into a pan lined with paper – at least that’s my thinking. I know there’s a risk of the paper scorching, but if you use the crockpot on low, perhaps not.
This isn’t the normal use for parchment paper, so that’s why I’m mulling this one over. You could melt the ingredients, turn off the crockpot and let everything cool, and that way, it’s seriously a one-step process.
What do you think? Anyone have thoughts?
Hey Dani!! I think lining the crockpot with parchment paper sounds like a great idea and I really do not see why it would not work. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love these! 🙂
I made them… what a freaking mess…they don’t look anything like this!!!!
Hey Eileen, can I ask what happened? I am really sorry for any trouble.
Amazing! Could you freeze these if you don’t eat all of them being that they make a lot and if so for how long?
Hey Nadia! I am not sure, I have never frozen them, but I think it would probably work fine. Just be sure to cover them well. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love these, thanks! 🙂
These look great but we have a peanut allergy in our house. Any suggestions on a good substitute for the peanut butter?
Hey ann!! Can you use sunflower or almond butter? If not, just omit it from the recipe. Let me know if you have questions. Thank you!
Hi Tieghan!! I absolutely love you blog. I have made countless recipes you have posted and they are all sooooo good. I am just wondering if this could be made without the peanut butter? Or do you have any suggestions for a substitute? My youngest has several allergies (peanuts, tree nuts, sunflower and sesame). I appreciate your help.
Hi! THANK YOU! You can either omit the peanut butter or use sunflower or almond butter. Does that help? Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks again! 🙂
Any ideas to replace the pretzels with something gluten free? Would rice crispies get too mushy? Thanks! These look awesome.
The brand Glutino makes gluten free pretzels. You can find them at most grocery stores in the “gluten free” section or online at Amazon. : )
Thank you!
HI! You could use rice krispies, but I would stir them in at the end of cooking. Or you could use gluten free pretzels or an equal amount of nuts. Let me know if you have questions. Thank you! 🙂
Wow! Chocolate bars made in the crockpot?? Seriously Tieghan, you did it again! You ALWAYS amaze me with your creativity and imagination. Just keep on overthinking because I think that’s one of your assets. I know it’s helping me push myself more into being creative. I wonder if you can also add dried cranberries in this? I definitely will be making this probably tomorrow or so because I want to take these bars for our trip! This will be our dessert bars because I will be making a regular bar as well. Awesome for a very long road trip! 😉
Yes so perfect!! So very nice to hear that my recipes inspire you to be more creative, even though I am sure you are great!! Thank you so much Sheila, have fun on your road trip!
They look super delicious!
Thank you so much Lori!
Oohh! This looks yummy! And I love that it’s a crockpot recipe. Who knew you could make chocolate bars in a crockpot?! You are brilliant girlfriend!
Right?! Haha thank you so much, so happy you are loving this one!
Oh wow, yum! I wonder if it would be possible to add mini marshmallows to this? Or do you think they’d just make a sticky burnt mess? I’ve got some mini Dandies in the pantry…
Hey Jenna! I actually think that would work really well and thought about it myself. I have not tired it though, so I cannot say for sure. Let me know how it goes. Thank you! 🙂
Halloween candy time! Cannot wait to try these
Hope you love them Sara!
OMG….forget chili……..I’m making these in my crockpot from here on in.
AHH! Yay! SO happy your gonna try them!