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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.
Tieghan,
These are amazing! I make them for my clients as their postpartum gift and while I have absolutely no complaints about the recipe, I was hoping to swap the cream for a more cost-effective ingredient. Could I substitute the coconut cream for grass-fed organic heavy whipping cream? Thanks so much for making a bunch of moms’ day brighter ❤️
Hey Katie,
Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Yes, regular whipping cream would also work for you as long as you don’t need these to be vegan! Have a great weekend:) xx
To add to the other comments, honey isn’t vegan and the recipe shouldn’t be advertised or labelled as “vegan” if non-vegan ingredients are suggested or listed
Hi Amy,
The recipe very clearly calls for honey or maple syrup and those who specifically need this recipe to be vegan know to use maple syrup:) Happy Monday!! xx
I’ve made these twice now and they are AMAZING. The first time I accidentally burned the first caramel layer a bit (I wasn’t keeping an eye on it) and it actually became like a toffee layer and was heavenly. This time I paid close attention and it tastes more like real snickers…which is also heavenly. I used peanut butter for the nougat layer because that’s all I had (plus PB is my fave nut butter) and they tasted great. Thank you for such a delicious recipe! I am dairy and gluten free and it’s hard to find a treat that actually tastes as good as a candy bar! This is a MUST try.
Hi Nicole,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have the best weekend:) xT
From the words of my husband that loves snickers, these are “incredible”. Extra bonus is I get to enjoy because they are dairy & gluten free. Don’t try to shorten the freeze time, big delicious mess!
Hey Ashley,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed!! ?xTieghan
Chocolate isn’t exactly vegan, either. When harvested it is put in the field on tarps to rot or ferment. While there, rodents and insects build their nests in the rotting chocolate beans. There is only a certain amount of Insect parts, Rodent parts and Rodent feces allowed per Tablespoon of Chocolate. You can check this out. I found it years ago on a US Government web site.
Hi Eileen,
You will want to use a vegan chocolate, I really like Hu. There are vegan brands available:) xTieghan
Made the PB Twix bars – so yum! I am excited to try this too! And since you asked – can you try to recreate the Heavenly Hunks Oatmeal squares? I would love to make those at home!
Hey there,
I will have to add to my list! Let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
Why is this called “vegan” if you’re calling for honey… this is extremely misleading. This needs to be edited out.
Hi there,
Please note the recipe calls for honey OR maple syrup to make vegan. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! Happy Sunday! xT
Honey isn’t vegan
Hi Phoebe,
That’s why the recipe calls for honey or maple syrup:) Let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I made it exactly as your recipe said but you had not mentioned how to cut it into bars. The Carmel is so hard after you take it out of the freezer that it breaks apart and it is like trying to cut through steel. When I let it set out for a little bit then the nougat gets too soft and the Carmel is still too hard to cut through.
Hey Beth,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe try, I am so sorry you had issues with the caramel. Please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
These bars are incredible!! My husband is the chef/cook in the family, and this recipe is one of the ways he tells me he loves me. I mean, they are definitely a bit of work. And he admittedly doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth. But I love sweets and these snickers are the bomb dot com. We wrap individually and store in the freezer and there’s nothing better than knowing I can grab one after a long day at work. The flavors really sing. Thanks so much for the recipe!!
Hey Jess,
Happy Wednesday!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xxTieghan
These were absolutely delicious! Some advice, don’t rush the process. My caramel set up too much so it wasn’t runny but I was not mad about it because they were mouth wateringly delicious. My kids loved them. I made my own cashew butter in my food processor with a little cinnamon and vanilla which was incredible. I’d give 5 stars if I could. Other than using a different nut butter if you prefer I would not change up this recipe and expect them to turn out. Thanks Tiegen for another keeper! 🙂
Hey Jodi,
Awesome!! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Not a vegan and these were delicious. I think the caramel from coco milk was almost as good as regular caramel that I’d be fine using it in its place.
Hey Dana,
I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! ?xTieghan
I have tried to make these twice now and the Carmel never sets up after I remove them from the freezer. As I try and cut them into bars all the Carmel begins to loose shape and form one big puddle. They still taste amazing but don’t look great. What’s happening here?
Hey Jenny,
So sorry you are having trouble, I am thinking the caramel needs to be cooked for just a little bit longer. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
As someone who can’t do dairy or peanuts, snickers of any kind have been out of the question. I made mine with cashews, cashew butter and sun-butter. A bit time consuming, but totally worth it. I did not take a picture, because mine didn’t look anywhere near nice enough. Looks don’t matter though, when this is the closest thing I’ve had to a candy bar in years. Delicious!!!!!
Hey Jeri,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday? xTieghan
Hi! I live in South America where maple syrup is impossible to find. Is there anything else I can substitute it for?
Hey Michelle,
You could use honey in place of the maple syrup. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan