I usually get requested the place I get my recipe inspiration and whereas I normally get it from nourishing meals my mother made for me rising up, attention-grabbing dishes I’ve had at eating places, or distinctive twists on conventional consolation meals, typically I simply must recreate selfmade variations of sweet bars everybody is aware of and loves.

It began with my selfmade Reese’s eggs that I’ve been making for years and has since was unimaginable wholesome peanut butter twix bars and even tahini caramel millionaire bars. I all the time recreate these candies utilizing components you possibly can be ok with, however I don’t skimp on style right here. I hope you’re sitting down as a result of right now I’m re-sharing a deal with that’s completely epic.

These vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars are like a double chocolate model of a Snickers bar however simply so occur to be vegan, dairy free, grain free and gluten free. WHAT?!

We’re beginning with a chocolate shortbread crust, topping it with crunchy, salty peanuts, pouring on my well-known vegan peanut butter caramel, and ending the bars with a layer of chocolate. Once I say these bars are rattling good I imply they could simply be life-changing. Make a batch or two, retailer them for the week, and don’t neglect to share with family members!

Substances in these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars

These bars are principally simply layers of chocolatey, peanut butter goodness. You get a chocolate shortbread cookie base, a candy & salty peanut butter caramel center, and, after all, a layer of darkish chocolate on high. Listed here are the components you’ll must make them:

• For the shortbread base: we’re getting that true chocolate shortbread taste and texture however making it gluten free and grain free with advantageous, blanched almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut oil, a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup, vanilla and salt.
• For the peanut butter layer: that peanut butter “caramel” is made with pure, drippy peanut butter (we love Wild Mates — use the code ‘AMBITIOUS15’ for 15% off), maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, sea salt, and chopped up roasted & salted peanuts. I extremely advocate attempting honey roasted peanuts for much more taste!
• For the chocolate layer: high all of it off with a coating of chocolate made out of chocolate chips and coconut oil. Really easy and so scrumptious! You should definitely use dairy free/vegan chocolate chips to maintain the bars vegan & dairy free.

Can I exploit a special nut butter?

Any nut butter ought to work in these grain free chocolate peanut butter caramel bars, however I actually advocate sticking with peanut butter for one of the best taste. Plus, the chopped peanuts add such an incredible texture to the bars!

How one can make double chocolate peanut butter caramel bars

All the layers in these vegan and gluten free chocolate peanut butter caramel bars would possibly look slightly intimidating, however they’re simpler to make than you suppose!

1. Prep your pan. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper in order that the bars don’t stick.
2. Make the shortbread base. Add all the components for the chocolate shortbread base to a bowl and blend it till a thick crumb texture seems. Pour this into your pan, press it down and bake.
3. Peanut celebration. As soon as the crust comes out of the oven, sprinkle on these chopped peanuts. Let the crust cool earlier than including the peanut butter caramel.
4. Make the caramel. Whereas the crust is baking you’ll soften the peanut butter caramel components in a saucepan over medium-low warmth. Stir incessantly till the caramel begins to bubble ever so barely, then pour it over the peanuts and the shortbread crust.
5. Chill the bars. Earlier than including the ultimate layer you’ll want to position the pan n the fridge for at the least 30-60 minutes, or within the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
6. Make the chocolate layer. Lastly, soften the chocolate chips with coconut oil within the microwave or in a saucepan over low warmth till clean. Pour the chocolate over the chilled caramel layer and tilt the pan to evenly distribute it.
7. Chill & get pleasure from. You’ll want to relax the bars yet one more time within the fridge for at the least 1 hour till the chocolate is hardened. Then reduce them into 16 bars and luxuriate in!

Get the precise bar form

Sure, you possibly can reduce these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars into squares, however I believe they’re far more enjoyable when reduce into Twix or Snickers-shaped bars! To do that, begin by reducing the whole pan of bars in half. Then, reduce every half into 8, 1-inch bars. You’ll get 16 longer bars as an alternative of squares!

Our greatest suggestions & reminders

• Use the precise pan. You should definitely use an 8×8-inch pan to get the precise form and consistency. Even slightly giant, like a 9×9 inch pan, will make the bars too flat.
• Pack your almond flour. You’ll need to use packed almond flour (and ensure it’s blanched, advantageous almond flour) similar to you’ll with brown sugar.
• Have endurance. I do know it’s tempting to place all the layers collectively with out ready on the nippiness time, however you actually do want the caramel and chocolate layers to relax utterly in order that the bars maintain collectively nicely.

How one can retailer & freeze these bars

• To retailer: these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars ought to be saved coated within the fridge till you’re able to serve them. They are going to keep good in your fridge for about 1 week.
• To freeze: be happy to maintain them in a freezer-safe container in your freezer for as much as 1 month. When you do hold them in your freezer, make sure you go away them out on the counter for a couple of minutes earlier than serving in order that they soften up a bit.

Really useful instruments

Take a look at all of our favourite kitchen necessities right here!

Extra vegan treats you’ll love

Get all of our scrumptious vegan desserts right here!

I hope you like these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars! When you make them make sure you go away a remark and a ranking so I understand how you preferred them. Get pleasure from, xo!

Vegan Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Prep Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Prepare dinner Time 15 minutes minutes

Complete Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

ServesServes 16 bars

Unimaginable vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars with a scrumptious chocolate shortbread cookie base and crunchy, salty peanuts proper within the center. These chocolate peanut butter caramel bars style similar to a Snicker’s bar however are naturally sweetened, gluten free and dairy free!

Substances

• For the shortbread base:
• 1 ¼ cup packed advantageous blanched almond flour (I exploit Bob’s Purple Mill)
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• For the peanut butter layer:
• ¾ cup drippy pure peanut butter (crunchy or creamy works)
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ¾ cup coarsely chopped roasted salted peanuts (honey roasted are superb!)
• For the chocolate layer:
• ¾ cup chocolate chips, dairy free/vegan if desired
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 levels F. Line an 8×8 inch sq. pan with parchment paper. It’s essential to make use of an 8×8 inch as a 9×9 inch pan could also be too large.

• In a medium bowl add the almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Combine along with a fork till it varieties a pleasant thick crumb texture. Add to the pan and use your fingers to evenly press down into the pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Enable the crust to chill for 10 minutes earlier than including caramel.

• After the crust comes out of the oven, sprinkle the crust evenly with the peanuts.

• Whereas the crust is baking, make the peanut butter caramel layer: Add the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract and sea salt to a medium pot and place over medium-low warmth for about 2 minutes till caramel begins to only barely bubble, stirring incessantly. Take away from warmth and pour caramel over the peanuts and barely cooled crust.

• Place within the fridge for at the least 30-60 minutes to utterly harden the peanut butter. It should not take longer than this, however in case you are impatient, simply place it within the freezer for 15-20 minutes, this could pace up the method.

• After half-hour or so, make the chocolate layer: Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave protected bowl and microwave on excessive in 30 second increments, stirring in between till chocolate is totally melted. When you want, you may also soften the chocolate and coconut oil in a small saucepan over low warmth.

• Pour the chocolate over the caramel layer and tilt the pan side-to-side to evenly distribute the melted chocolate. Place within the fridge for at the least 1 hour till chocolate is hardened and bars are utterly cooled.

• Take away bars from the pan and reduce into 16 bars (that resemble twix bars). To do that, reduce the whole pan of bars in half, after which reduce every half into 8 (1-inch) bars (not squares!), so that you’ll find yourself with 16 bars. Get pleasure from! Bars ought to be saved coated within the fridge till able to serve.

Diet

Serving: 1barEnergy: 275calCarbohydrates: 17.8gProtein: 6.6gFats: 21.9gSaturated Fats: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 12.7g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Images by: Eat Love Eats

This publish was initially printed on September 14th, 2021, and republished on February thirteenth, 2024.