Homemade Kind Bars (Vegan, Paleo, Gluten Free)

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5 from 3 votes
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An easy no-bake recipe for copycat kind bars! Loaded with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, these healthy snack bars are completely vegan, paleo and gluten-free! 

Homemade KIND Bars packed with nuts, seeds and dried fruit- a delicious vegan and paleo snack!

Homemade Kind Bar Recipe

Making my own snack bars have become second nature to me. Whether it be no bake granola bars, keto protein bars, and peanut butter bars, I always have some on hand.

Inspired by my homemade Larabars, I wanted to recreate one of my other favorite store-bought bars and have a go at making Homemade Kind Bars!

Before I share my twist on it, let’s compare the two! 

Are KIND Bars Healthy?

Yes and no. 

Compared to other snack bars on the market, they are generally healthier and a great snack choice. Depending on which flavor you choose, they can be quite protein-rich.

However, overall, they tend to contain a little too much sugar and cereal, which isn’t the best for a grain-free or gluten-free diet. 

They also have a bunch of ingredients I have either personally never used or don’t even know what their benefit is. These ingredients include palm kernel oil, glucose syrup, rice flour, and soy lecithin. 

Kind Bars Nutrition

Kind Bars come in a variety of flavors, including Blueberry, Vanilla and Cashew and my personal favorite, Cranberry Almond.

On average, a KIND Bar contains 220 calories, 15 grams of fat (3 grams saturated), 16 grams of carbs (7 grams fiber) and 6 grams of protein.

I personally wouldn’t consider KIND bars to be a very high protein bar or a replacement for a protein bar. 

Are KIND Bars vegan, gluten-free and/or paleo? 

As KIND Bars come in a range of flavors and varieties, some may fit one of these diets. As such, you’ll need to keep an eye on the ingredients to see if it is suitable for your diet.

From the ones I’ve personally tried, none have been paleo-friendly or vegan (they contained honey and/or cereal grains). 

As such, my recipe for DIY Copycat KIND Bars is the opposite! They use minimal ingredients (which you can pronounce) and they also are suitable for all 3 of the diets above! 

Homemade KIND Bar Ingredients

How to make homemade Kind Bars

Step 1: Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside. 

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine all your ingredients, except for your maple syrup, and mix well.

Step 3: Add your maple syrup and mix very well, until fully incorporated. If the KIND Bar batter is a little too loose, add a dash more maple syrup.

Step 4: Transfer the mixture into the lined pan and spread out evenly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.

Step 5: If desired, drizzle over some coconut butter and allow it to firm up into the bars. Cut into bars and enjoy. 

How to store homemade Kind Bars

Homemade Kind bars will keep at room temperature, but they tend to fall apart. You are best to store leftover bars in the refrigerator in a sealed container. They will keep in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

Kind bars are freezer friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. 

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Homemade KIND Bars

Before transferring your mixture to the lined pan, ensure it is thick but not crumbly. You want to be able to press the mixture into the pan and allow it to set. If it seems too loose, add a little extra maple syrup.

I used maple syrup, in order to keep the bars 100% vegan, gluten-free and paleo. If you don’t have dietary restrictions, brown rice syrup is the best substitution, as it is super thick. Agave nectar and honey can also be substituted, but the latter will have a more pronounced flavor!

Do not freeze the bars before they have been sliced, as they will be dense and have a very doughy texture. 

As long as you have 1 1/2 cups TOTAL of nuts, you can use any combination you have on hand. Walnuts and pecans would be great additions, along with some macadamia nuts too. Just be sure to chop them up, to ensure they hold together.

Similarly, use any dried fruits you have on hand- Chopped dried apricots, dried mangoes or even currants would be fantastic. 

These bars make fantastic snacks for school (they are peanut-free!) or in between workouts. To keep bars fresh, wrap them in parchment paper before sealing them in a container. This will also avoid them from sticking together. 

DIY Kind Bars are a healthy vegan and paleo snack ready in 15 minutes!

Homemade KIND Bars Recipe are a healthier twist on the store bought KIND BARS

Homemade Kind Bars (Vegan, Paleo, Gluten Free)

5 from 3 votes
A quick and easy recipe for Homemade Fruit and Nut Bars which taste like a KIND Bar! This copycat recipe is completely vegan, gluten-free and paleo, and makes the perfect snack! 
Servings: 14 Bars
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside. 
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine your nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and salt and mix well. 
  • Add your vanilla extract and maple syrup and mix well. If the mixture is too thin/crumbly, add a little extra maple syrup. 
  • Transfer the mixture to the lined pan and press firmly into place. Refrigerate until firm. Once firm, drizzle with optional coconut butter before slicing into 14 bars. 

Notes

* Start with 5 tablespoons and if needed, add an extra tablespoon.
Homemade Kind Bars (Vegan, Paleo, Gluten Free) should be stored in the fridge and will keep for up to 4 weeks.
Kind bars are also freezer friendly and will keep frozen for up to 2 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1BarCalories: 173kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 5gFat: 11gFiber: 9gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 4.1mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 0.7mgNET CARBS: 8g
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Homemade Fruit and Nut Bars Recipe which tastes like a KIND Bar

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. I’ve just returned from my trip and let me tell you, the plane food was incredible! Incredibly bad!! Of course. I ate it anyway (shame in me).
    I was really amazed by the selection of bats they have in the US! I could hold myself back though. I’m not the hugest fan of bars, I like them but in the end I think most if them contain too much sugar. Is rather eat a handful trail mix by itself!

      1. Morning 🙂 Just found you wonderful recipes & can’t wait to try them!! Only where can I find brown rice syrup?? Or is there a substitute? Thanks

        1. Hey Amber! Thanks SO much for your kind words! You sure can- You can use honey or agave however you’ll need a tad more- It’s not as sticky 🙂

      2. It was my 40th birthday when flying on Singapore Air and they gave me a massive cake that was like a giant dessert – sponge base with chocolate mousse on the top! Nom Nom Nom!

  2. These look awesome Arman – you could sell these in Aboutlife fo sho! I have never had a kind bar but I want to try these!

  3. In the UK I go for nakd bars whenever possible 🙂 What is the equivalent of these elsewhere?

    I went to Harry Potter Studios in London and considered buying a wand, but they were sooo expensive – whose did you buy? Was it Harry’s??

    I was looking forward to your healthy take on yogurt topping :-)…

    1. Ohhh I tried a Nakd bar (the cashew one and cocoa loco or something?)- Their equivilant is a larabar. I bought the wand from universal!

  4. I LOVE kind bars…like to an unhealthy level. However every single one contains chicory root fiber which my stomach does not like!! (I have no idea how you handle the amount of fiber in Quest bars! Hats off to your digestive system). I don’t typically make a lot of recipes posted by bloggers (or anywhere…I don’t make anything, ever) but this one I may need to try.

    1. LOL! Chicory root fiber, I lol’d when I saw that ingredient…I pictured digging up a garden!

      You are awesome. Make it and make me one.

  5. I think that I would like these more than the actual kind bars, which have far too much sugar for my taste. I do like their nut and spice ones, though! And I love the old school mojo bars. Don’t be a hater. I will hate on your quest bars.

    1. That, my friend, is a huge compliment.

      I LOVE mojo bars but hated them because they ripped open. They made me more obsessed with pretzels + pb + chocolate.

  6. Ah! I miss Whole Foods. The variety of bars available in the States is insane! So many options. My options are WAAYY narrowed down by my peanut and soy allergy– out of the 200+ at whole foods, I can maybe have 5. The ones I buy aren’t great- but I still bring pack cases of them because they are so good for plane rides and travel.

    I’m totally with you on plane food!. I bring carrots, apples, nuts, and whatever bars I have. I don’t even take the meals anymore! Never even slightly tempted to eat it, even if I am hungry.

    1. Australia is terrible compared to America- our bars are full of strange ingredients and most start with sugar! I’ll need to start thinking of what to pack for an upcoming plane ride…in terms of snacks!

  7. They put that damn wall of bars on the check out que just to entice you to gaze and buy them as you’re waiting your turn! Haha! Kind bars are cool! My favorite is the almond cashew flax bar and the cranberry one!

  8. My favorite part is that you add sea salt to these – heck yes you know how to create a great flavor profile (I sound like a complete tool saying that, don’t I). But sea salt + sweetness takes snacks like this to a whole new level! Love

  9. I am OBSESSED with KIND bars. My current fave is the chocolate almond chili version. Sooo good. I didn’t get a wand but I did buy a Harry Potter journal which I use to brainstorm recipes. That’s what they’re for, right?

  10. Kind bars are my absolute favourite- and they have them in Canada
    p.s. Did you use your HP wand to make these bars?

  11. Never tried kind bars before, but they do sound incredible! So i’ll definitely have to give your recipe a go, thanks for sharing!

  12. Hey you’re 50/50 on the yogurt to sugar ratio, that’s got to count for something 😉

    If there is one thing this post is missing it’s a picture of said Harry Potter wand.

  13. Er Arman- these look EPIC….WOW! I literally want to dive into my screen right now! KIND bars are my favourite but unfortunately they aren’t available in Mumbai either. Have you tried the sea salt & dark chocolate flavor- hands down the best flavour I’ve tried till date! As delicious as some of the bars at Whole Foods are, I remember being super disappointed with a few of their raw bars made from chia seeds (can’t remember the brand name). Whoever deemed it to taste like cookie dough has CLEARLY not tasted the real deal!!

  14. These look fabulous….almost doesn’t matter what they taste like though I’m sure they are delicious especially frozen (:

    I never bake/cook unless it’s roasting kabocha or microwaving veggies so I doubt I’ll get a chance to make these. …Want to send some to Wash. DC? Hee, hee…