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Sharing a healthier take on the classic Snickers Bar with my Easy Homemade Vegan Snickers. Layered with dark chocolate, creamy cashew butter “nougat”, salted peanuts, maple syrup-based “caramel”, additional dark chocolate, and finished with flaky sea salt. Every last bite of these Snickers is chewy, crunchy, sweet, nutty, hinted with caramel-like flavors, extra chocolatey, and so DELICIOUS. Absolutely nothing not to love about these homemade candy bars. Bonus? These Snickers bars are easy to make, require no baking, have no processed sugars, and are even gluten-free! Yes, and I promise you, they are GOOD!
Happy Friday guys, we made it to the weekend and I for one am very excited.
No emails, no work texts, just two chill nights, and a couple of days where we’re free to do whatever. I’m excited. And, I’m making this weekend even better with my healthier take on everyone’s favorite candy bar…the Snickers Bar! Over the years I’ve had fun recreating some of my favorite candies and/or childhood favorites. Ones that I wouldn’t necessarily eat today because I now know of all the junk they have inside.
Thus far, I’ve made homemade Twix Bars, Nutter Butters, and even Samoa cookies, but Snickers bars have long been on my list of candies to make. Well, today I am crossing them off my list. I’m very excited to share this shockingly simple and easy recipe with you guys!
Just in time for Friday night!
Growing up, hands down my favorite candy was Reese’s peanut butter cups, but, Snickers definitely would have been my second choice. My mom uses Snickers in her Death By Chocolate recipe that she reserves solely for Christmas Eve…and Christmas Eve only. So Snickers will always be somewhat of a special indulgence around here. We love the sweet, salty, and chewy bars.
But the homemade version is even better, and so much healthier.
the “nougat” layer
What is a Snickers Bar?
I think most of us probably know what is Snickers Bar is, but just to recap, it’s a chocolate-covered candy bar with a sweet and chewy layer of nougat, crunchy roasted peanuts, and sweet caramel. It’s a very, very sweet chocolate covered bar, and as we all know, it’s delicious.
There are a lot of recipes out there for homemade Snickers, but this is a little different. I wanted to create a bar that was easy to make and free of any overly processed ingredients or sugar. I wasn’t sure it was even doable. But after some serious rounds of testing, I feel like I came out with the perfect bar. I can’t say they taste identical to a Snickers, but these are pretty darn close, and regardless, they are DELICIOUS.
Making these Vegan Snickers is easy…
Start with the “nougat” layer. Nougat is a sweet filling very similar to marshmallows. It’s made with sugar or honey, roasted nuts, whipped egg whites, and sometimes chopped candied fruit. It’s very chewy and used in a lot of dessert recipes and bars.
For my “nougat”, I got a little creative. How I could easily replicate this layer without using eggs and sugar? Enter creamy cashew butter, coconut oil, and honey (maple if you’re vegan, but honey is best flavor-wise). Mixing these three ingredients together creates a creamy, sweet layer that tastes very similar to a classic nougat. Mix this layer up, then spread it out into a square baking dish. Add peanuts on top, then freeze until the layer sweetens up.
Absolutely nothing fancy. If you don’t often use cashew butter, you can use almost any butter or even tahini, but I like the flavor of cashew butter best. It’s neutral but creamy and buttery.
It is important to note that all nut butters are different, some are thick, some are oily. I typically use raw cashew butter, which gives the “nougat” a light coloring and the perfect flavor. If using a roasted cashew or almond butter, you might have darker colored “nougat”.
covering the snickers in chocolate
While the “nougat” layer sets up, make the caramel. This is not your average caramel, but it’s just as delicious. There are not one, but TWO caramel layers. The bottom layer is thicker and the top layer is much gooier.
For the first layer of caramel, I use maple for sweetness, coconut milk for creaminess, and peanut butter to thicken the caramel up enough to stay inside the bar, yet still leave you with a nice creamy and chewy caramel.
For the second layer of caramel, I simply use maple, coconut milk, and a splash of vanilla. This leaves you with a runnier, gooier caramel that’s a little messy, but so delicious.
Once the “nougat” layer is set, pour the first caramel layer over top, then freeze while you make the second layer. Pour that gooey caramel overtop, sprinkle with peanuts, then freeze until firm. You’ll only need to freeze them for thirty minutes or so. The freezing step is really just to help the bars set up quicker, to make them easier to cut through. It also makes them solid enough to dip into the chocolate, which is the final step. I like to use melted dark chocolate to cover each bar. Then I finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for that salty, sweet flavor combination.
The family’s verdict? Not exactly a Snickers Bar, yet close enough. But most importantly…beyond good!
A few tips for success…
Tip one, use full-fat coconut milk and only use the cream, discard or save the coconut water for another use. You’ll want to use just the cream to ensure your caramel sets-up nicely and is still creamy, and not runny.
Tip two, make sure the bars are thoroughly chilled before dipping them into the chocolate. This is probably my biggest tip. If the bars are frozen, the chocolate will quickly set-up and be easier to work with. Trust me, freeze the bars, then dip them through the melted chocolate.
Tip three, if you want a thick chocolate-coated candy bar, dip your bars once, re-freeze until set (which will only take a matter of minutes), then dip into the chocolate again. This is not NEEDED, but it sure is a good idea. Double the chocolate is always best.
Tip four, keep these Snickers bars in the fridge. When left at room temperature, they get a little soft and then become messy while eating.
What do these Vegan Snickers really taste like?
A Snickers bar, but 2.0.
These are definitely not an exact replication, but they have the same flavor profiles. The biggest difference is that these bars are made minus any processed sugars, unhealthy fats, and instead of a sugar-induced headache, these will leave you feeling your best. Like you were able to indulge a bit, but without all the sugar and processed ingredients.
I love keeping these in the fridge for an afternoon snack or late night dessert. They’re that perfect salty, sweet, chewy, and crunchy candy bar that satisfies all your cravings.
OK ok, and lastly, I have to ask, what’s your favorite candy? Is it a Snickers? Or is it something else that I need to try and recreate?
Looking for more homemade versions of your favorite desserts? Here are a few to try:
Healthier Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies
Healthy…ish Homemade Samoas Cookies
Homemade Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts
Homemade Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts
Lastly, if you make these easy Homemade Vegan Snickers, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Homemade Vegan Snickers
Servings: 16 Snickers
Calories Per Serving: 379 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cashew butter or almond butter (I use raw cashew butter)
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (I like to use honey)
- 4-6 tablespoons coconut flour or almond flour
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for topping
- 1 1/2 cups real maple syrup
- 3/4 cup canned full fat coconut milk, use only the coconut cream, no water
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup roasted peanuts
- 12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- 1. Line an 8x8 inch square pan with parchment paper. 2. To make the "nougat" layer. In a bowl, melt together the cashew butter, 1/4 cup coconut oil, and 1/4 cup honey/maple in the microwave until combined, about 30 second to 1 minute. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, 4 tablespoons coconut flour, and salt until combined. The mix should be creamy and drizzly, but if it feels too runny, add 1 tablespoon flour. Spread the mix into the prepared pan. Sprinkle 2/3 cup peanuts overtop. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.3. In a medium pot, combine the 1 cup maple syrup and 1/2 cup coconut cream and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 8-12 minutes or until thickened to a caramel like sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and the 1 teaspoon vanilla. Let the mix cool slightly, then pour over the "nougat" layer. The caramel should begin to stiffen. Freeze while you make the gooey caramel layer. 4. Working with the same pot, combine 1/2 cup maple and 1/4 cup coconut cream. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 7-11 minutes or until thickened to a caramel like sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour the sauce over the first caramel layer, then sprinkle 1/3 cup peanuts over the caramel. Freeze 1-2 hours, until the caramel is firm. 5. Cut into 16 bars. Freeze 15 minutes. 6. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave until melted and smooth. Let cool 5 minutes. Cover/dip each bar in chocolate, return to the freezer to let the chocolate set up, about 10 minutes. Keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
This recipe didn’t work out for me ? They were super tasty but the nougat never set. I followed all instructions and freezing times, but my nougat remained a soupy mess that squirted out from under the bars when I cut them. I even added the additional tbsp of flour recommended at the beginning if the nougat was too runny. It just made the whole thing a huge mess. Really good flavor though.
Hey Charity,
So sorry these didn’t; workout for you, let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Made these today! I am need to plant based dieting and was looking for recipes to help me with my sweet tooth, my daughter sent me this recipe link. They are SO GOOD!! All the components and flavor is similar enough to my favorite candy bar – snickers! Thank you for creating ❤️
Hey Michele,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great week! xTieghan
I made these today! My husband was a little skeptical at first when I told him I was making vegan snickers, but they were a hit and everyone loved them. My second layer of caramel hardened up when I spread it over the first layer of caramel, so my peanuts didn’t stick very well on top. Not sure if I didn’t cook the caramel long enough or too long, any advice there?
Hey Jenn,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Sorry about the caramel, I think it was slightly overcooked. Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Delicious. I would love to have the temperature the carmel should reach included. I don’t think I cooked mine long enough so they didn’t set and it was a huge gooey mess but they still taste great.
Hey Nicole,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
I followed the directions exactly but struggled to make the caramel. My can of coconut milk did not really have any “cream” so i think that is why the caramel never set, no matter how long I cooked it. I spoke to a vegan friend who uses coconut milk/cream products often. She said that the recipe should have instructed the reader to refrigerate the can of coconut milk overnight, or, for a much more sure bet, use a can of coconut cream instead because coconut milk can be hit or miss with the cream content. As someone who does not cook with coconut products, I had no way of knowing this. I even scoured the recipe looking for instructions to refrigerate before making it but there were none. That is why I rated this 3 stars. It felt to me like the recipe wasn’t tested by other people to check for these sorts of variations. Once it became clear the caramel would not set, I hoped pouring it over top of the nougat and freezing for 12 hours would help, but it did not. The nougat turned out perfectly and I didn’t want to throw it away (along with expensive ingredients). I did not make the second layer of caramel at this point, since the first never set fully. So this recipe was a bit of a disaster and ended up being something I scooped into a bowl due to the drippy caramel but it was delicious! I’m just disappointed I couldn’t make them into actual bars.
Hey Katherine,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, while I understand where you are coming from, the recipe does state to use only the cream and no water. Let me know how I can help for next time! xTieghan
These were a big hit for a vegan birthday celebration on the beach. Mine were pretty ugly though so I’ll have to work on my chocolate on covering technique. Any suggestions for someone without a microwave? I think made the chocolate harder to work with on the stove.
Hey Anne,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! I would melt over low on the stove, stir, and remove once the chocolate is just melted. Have a great week:) xTieghan
A little time consuming but that doesn’t take away from how amazing these really are and not a stomach pain inducing sweet. Such a great treat and so delicious. I will make again and again.
Hey Allison,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Ok these were soooo delicious. I didn’t have dark chocolate so used milk chocolate. I imagine with dark they would be even better. A lot of steps but WORTH IT. Planning on the homemade Twix next. I love all your recipes!! Keep em coming!
Hey Gretchen,
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks a lot for giving it a try and happy Sunday! xTieghan
My nougat didn’t set. Not sure what i did wrong
Hey Susan,
So sorry you are having issues with the nougat, was there anything you may have adjusted in the recipe? Please let me know how I can help! xTieghan
My daughter and I made these. They taste only a little like a snickers and I only say that because they are so much better that the store bought candy bar. They are absolutely delicious, caramel, nuts and chocolate. Give the sugar to beat the craving but not the nasty sugar crash afterwords. I’m sure we will make these again and again. Thank you!
Hey Jenny,
I am so so glad that you liked the recipe, thanks a lot for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
These are insanely good— so, so much better than a Snickers could ever dream to be! Thank you so very much for sharing your genius with us!
Hey Caroline,
I am so thrilled that you have enjoyed this recipe! Thanks so much for making it:) xTieghan
Hi! I just wanna say I’m a super amateur baker and have never made anything other than cookies and brownies. So this recipe was my first time making a candy and making something vegan because I just couldn’t resist since I LOVE snickers and I had most of the ingredients (underestimated how much maple syrup I had lol and replaced most of it with agave in the caramel instead). It was truly a success and is SOOO GOOOOOD. It’s such a rich flavor and I’m so happy it worked so well! Thank you so much for your incredible recipes and also your insta stories because watching you make it really helped! ❤️
Hey Grace,
Thanks for making the recipe, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This is so amazing
beckandbulow
Thanks!
I tried these today and the caramel freezer into a toffee/ brittle texture wondering what I did wrong or methods to correct followed the recipe pretty exactly.
Hey Rachel,
So sorry about this. If the caramel becomes too hard, that means it was overcooked, next time just cook for less time. I hope this helps! xTieghan
For the Coconut milk….does that mean you just open the can without shaking it to mix it up?
Thank you very much! I look forward to making these soon!
Hey Laurie,
Yes, that is correct, you will just want to use the cream that is on the top. I hope you love this recipe! Let me know how it turns out! xTieghan