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Copycat Mars bars featuring finger-licking chocolate nougat under a layer of irresistible soft caramel all covered in milk chocolate.
I love recreating popular candy bars more than I love eating them. The homemade versions of store-bought candies always turn out to be much better. If you’ve tried our bounty bars or junior mints before, you’ll love my Mars bars.
These homemade Mars bars recipe comes close to the original due to carefully chosen ingredients. Made with marshmallow fluff and Nutella, the nougat layer is perfectly chewy and chocolatey. Topped with soft caramel and finished off with a layer of smooth milk chocolate, these homemade bars taste like the real thing!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s only 5 ingredients. Unlike the real thing that has a rather long and obscure ingredient list, homemade Mars bars are made with only five ingredients.
- It has the perfect texture. Light and slightly chewy chocolate nougat against soft and rich caramel all covered in a layer of snappy milk chocolate. Perfection, isn’t it?
- Easy to customize. With a few simple swaps, you can adapt the ingredients to be suitable for various diets out there.
If you enjoy the mouthwatering combination of caramel and nougat, you should definitely try our copycat snickers too.
Ingredients needed
As mentioned earlier, these homemade candies need just five simple ingredients. Here is what you’ll need:
- Marshmallow fluff. Making nougat with marshmallow fluff is so easy yet so delicious. It turns out light and fluffy with the perfect amount of chewiness.
- Chocolate spread. I use Nutella for this recipe but you use any chocolate spread you like.
- Milk chocolate. I stick to milk chocolate as that’s what the original Mars bars have. You can use dark chocolate if that’s what you prefer.
- Caramel candies. For the signature caramel layer of the candies. Choose soft meltable candies like Werther’s Original or Hardy’s caramels.
- Milk. A small amount of milk added to the candies when melting them results in a softer caramel layer once it sets.
How to make homemade Mars bars
I can’t emphasize enough how easy this copycat recipe is. Each layer is made with a single step, and the whole thing comes together effortlessly.
Step 1 – melt the chocolate. Melt half of the chocolate candies in the microwave and spread it evenly into a prepared pan. Doing this creates a thicker layer of chocolate at the bottom.
Step 2 – prepare the nougat layer. For this layer, simply mix the marshmallow fluff with the chocolate spread of your choice. Once fully mixed, microwave for 30 seconds and spread it evenly over the chocolate layer.
Step 3 – make the caramel filling. Get to making the caramel filling while the layer of nougat sets. Remove all the wrappings and add the candies to a microwave-safe bowl along with the milk. Microwave at short intervals and keep stirring until a smooth mixture remains. Pour the caramel over the nougat layer and spread it evenly.
Step 4 – Slice and cover in chocolate. Once fully set, slice into even-sized bars. Melt the remaining chocolate and use it to cover the bars. Allow to set and enjoy.
Tips to make the best recipe
- For smoothly melted chocolate, cut the chocolate into uniform pieces. Add the chocolate to a clean and dry microwavable glass bowl. Be careful no water gets into it because the chocolate will seize even if water drops in the bowl. Microwave at 30-second intervals and stir between each until fully melted.
- When buying caramel for melting, opt for soft caramel candies. Hard caramel candies will burn and remain intact.
- As the nougat and caramel layers are both sticky, you must take some measures to get clean cuts. Lightly oiling the knife before cutting the bars will do the trick.
- Use a pair of thin tongs to dip the bars in melted chocolate. Then, place them on a rack so the excess chocolate drips off.
- Add some nuts for some crunch! This is optional and not in the authentic recipe but I like to add a single layer of peanuts to it.
Storage instructions
To store. Place leftovers in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for up to a week.
To freeze. These bars can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Whenever you want to eat them, just pull one out of the freezer and let it soften at room temperature for a few minutes.
More homemade candy bars to try
Frequently asked questions
Mars bars contain skimmed milk powder, cocoa and cocoa butter, sugar and glucose syrup, whey powder, egg whites, and a few other ingredients to provide good texture and flavor.
Unlike the real Mars bars, these copycat homemade bars are gluten-free. However, both bars are not vegan. You can customize the ingredients of homemade Mars bars and make them dairy-free and vegan.
Mars Bars
Ingredients
- 7 ounces marshmallow fluff
- 2/3 cup Nutella
- 12 ounces chocolate divided
- 7 ounces caramels
- 3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or stovetop, melt half the chocolate. Pour it into the lined pan.
- In a separate bowl, add the marshmallow fluff and Nutella and microwave for 20 seconds. Whisk together and pour over the chocolate.
- In another bowl, add the unwrapped caramels with milk and microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Whisk together then pour over the nougat layer. If using peanuts, sprinkle them over the top.
- Place the pan in the freezer for 1-2 hours to firm up.
- Once firm, cut into bars.
- Melt the remaining chocolate and, using two forks, dip the bars until completely coated in chocolate.
- Place the chocolate-covered bars on a wire rack to firm up.
While I love both Mars and Snickers Bars, Mars Bar has always been my favorite of the two! They stopped creating my absolute favorite candy bar years ago(I’m sure way before you were born…haha). The “Original” Butternut Candy Bar was the best of the best! Your recipes look so amazing!
Thank you, Kiki!
Hey! Do I understand this correctly — according to instructions, if using coconut flour, you only have to use 1 cup, but almond/oat flours requires increasing it to 2 cups? Also, if I wish to use protein powder do I need to decrease the amount of flour? Thanks 🙂
Yummy!! I used to be a Hershey’s and Kit Kat person, but there was a brief time where I loved Snickers! Never actually tried a Mars bar though. But this rendition looks even better!