Healthy Homemade Snickers Protein Bars (Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free)
Healthy Homemade Snickers Protein Bars (Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free) which tastes just like the original candy bar, but with a sugar free and low carb makeover! A quick, easy and portable snack or dessert which takes minutes to whip up and can be made with or without protein powder!
After sharing my homemade bounty protein bar recipe, it was inevitable that my homemade snickers version would be next.
I’m a little surprised that it has taken me so long to share this no bake snickers recipe! Snickers is the answer to my sweet and salty palate, as evidenced by the sneaky ways I’ve incorporated in various foods.
- It has appeared in one of my favorite overnight oats recipes
- My post-workout protein shake got given the Snickers makeover
- If you add a drizzle of caramel to this healthy ice-cream, you have all the best parts of it too!
Ever since I started working out and exercising more, I’ve ensured to focus on my protein intake. For the longest time, I would resort to store bought protein bars. As predicted, this quickly added up. I soon realized I could make my own!
I first started by using my homemade protein bar recipe (3 ingredients and ready in 5 minutes!) before becoming fancy and making a 3 ingredient homemade Paleo version. Since then, I’ve gotten way more creative and let’s be real- They have become my edible motivation AND replacing a boring protein smoothie or protein shake!
The original snickers chocolate candy bar is made up of a thick, chewy nougat, a thick caramel, a thin layer of crushed peanuts and covered in chocolate.
My healthy homemade snickers chocolate candy bar is made up of a thick, chewy bar, a thick, refined sugar free caramel, a thin layer of crushed peanuts (or almonds) and covered in dairy free and naturally sweetened chocolate.
Same texture makeup, same layers of ingredients, one HUGE healthy and a naturally protein-packed makeover!
Before the Paleo police start lamenting that peanuts aren’t paleo, I’ve got you covered below.
This seriously addictive snickers copycat recipe may sound or look complicated, but I promise it is super simple and will be a staple in your meal prep, lunch boxes, back to school snacks and everyday desserts. Heck, you can even enjoy it pre or post workout.
Can we get an AMEN for edible workout motivation?
These homemade snickers require an easy 3-step process!
The first step involves making the ‘nougat’, which is where most of the protein is stored, but you’d never be able to tell- It tastes just like the original. It uses a combination of coconut flour, smooth nut or seed butter, vanilla protein powder, a sticky sweetener and some milk to form a thick batter.
I know to some people, coconut flour is an ingredient which can be hit or miss, but this recipe is fool-proof, because of the added milk or liquid of choice. You’ll also add the protein powder here too and mix it all together.
A quick note- You’ll want to use a casein protein powder, a brown rice protein powder or a paleo protein powder here. From recipe testing, I’ve found other kinds of powders to leave the batter either sticky or over dry. If you want this recipe to have NO protein powder, that is totally fine- It is still naturally high in protein without it!
Before you add the liquid, you’ll add your smooth peanut butter and sticky sweetener of choice. If possible, melt these two together because it makes it so much easier to mix and form into a durable dough. I wanted to make it taste just like the Snickers nougat, so used peanut as my nut butter. To keep it paleo or if you have a peanut allergy, the best swap being almond butter or cashew butter. If you have a nut allergy, sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter work great.
The chewy caramel layer is my favorite part, and tastes better than what a classic caramel would taste like! You’d assume to make a chewy caramel, you’d need to be standing over a stove for a long period of time, but not at all- This only needs TWO ingredients or three, if you want it super silky and creamy!
Either microwave or stovetop, you’ll simply need to combine a nut butter (I used peanut butter, but feel free to use almond/sunflower seed butter) and a sticky sweetener (this sugar-free maple syrup works great!). Together, they produce a creamy, dreamy and sticky caramel-like texture. To take it up a notch, I’d recommend adding some coconut oil, which adds a glossy and even creamier texture.
There is an optional part here, but I think it is imperative to keep true to a Snickers bar- Add a layer of salted, crushed peanuts (or crushed nuts or seeds of choice) on top of the caramel, before placing the bars in the fridge to firm up!
The final part is the chocolate coating and it’s a simple dip-each-bar into chocolate of choice method! To keep this 100% sugar-free, use these stevia sweetened chocolate chips. If that isn’t an issue, use any chocolate chips or choice (as long as they are designed for baking/cooking). I stick to these dairy free and paleo friendly chocolate chips as my go-to!
Seriously, if you ever feel the need to buy a snickers bar OR protein bar again, think again. My homemade version is-
Protein-rich
Quick and easy
Fool-proof 3 Step Process
Using just FIVE Ingredients
Dairy Free and Low Carb
Chewy and fudgy
Kid-friendly
Fitness friendly
SERIOUSLY ADDICTIVE AND GUILT-FREE
The next time you even CONSIDER satisfying your hunger with a snickers bar (because Snickers really satisfies) OR you need a store bought protein bar, think again. These healthy homemade no bake snickers protein bar is your answer!
Healthy Homemade Snickers Protein Bars
Ingredients
For the nougat layer
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1 cup vanilla protein powder Optional
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter can sub for any nut or seed butter
- 1/2 cup sticky sweetener of choice
- 1/4 cup milk of choice *
For the caramel layer
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter can sub for any nut or seed butter
- 1/2 cup sticky sweetener of choice
- 1/2 cup coconut oil optional
For the chocolate coating
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8 or deep dish pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your coconut flour, protein powder, and cocoa powder and mix well. Add your peanut butter, sticky sweetener and mix until a crumbly texture remains. Using a 1/4 cup, add milk of choice until a thick batter remains. Transfer the batter to the lined pan and refrigerate.
- In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, start making your 'caramel' by combining your peanut butter, sticky sweetener, and optional coconut oil. Melt until fully immersed and silky. Pour over the top of the Snickers nougat layer.
- Once firm, remove from the loaf pan and cut into bars. Melt your chocolate chips of choice. Dip each snickers base in the chocolate until evenly coated. Refrigerate until chocolate has firmed up.
Notes
Nutrition
More homemade protein bars? Gotcha covered!
No Bake Cinnamon Bun Protein Bars
No Bake Red Velvet Protein Bars
No Bake Apple Pie Protein Bars
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It says “optional” by the protein powder. Does that mean I can just not use it, or do I need to replace it with something else? I’m wanting to make these today because they look so good!
Hi there, you can simply omit it, if you use the protein powder, you’d likely need some milk to firm up 🙂
The candy bar King smacks down another amazing re-make!
Hey, what do I do if not using protein. Powder do I just leave out that step or replace with more coconut flour? Thank you
Just leave it out 🙂
How much flour do you use if you omit the protein powder?
Just leave it out completely and reduce the milk of choice 🙂
What can I use in place of the coconut flour and protein powder?
You can use oat flour or almond flour, but double the amount!
So 2 cups of each oat and almond to replace the 1 cup coconut and 1 cup protein powder??
can you estimate how many carbs would be in a 2 inch by 2 inch square?
For sure! If you go to myfitnesspal and plug in the ingredients, you can estimate the macros! Enjoy!
I think peanuts and legumes are the only reasons why I would never go on a Paleo diet permanently, hahaha! And a candy that always comes around in my life would have to be chocolates, specifically Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, truffles, and anything dark filled with a sweet caramel!
Can i replace the coconut flour with almond meal & if so how much?
Also i only have raw chocolate protein do you think that will matter ?
Thank you! love your recipes !!
That should be fine but double the amount. I haven’t used that protein powder so feel free to experiment.
It was amazing!!!!!!!
Can i replace coconut flour with ground blanched almonds
You can totally try that out- Double the amount though 🙂
How many grams of protein is in 1 serving? I know it depends but can you tell me roughly?
Feel free to calculate it using myfitnesspal or similar 🙂
Can you add more protein powder into this recipe? If so do you increase the amount of any other ingredients? Thank you 🙂
Not that I’ve tried but feel free to experiment and see!