Keto Chocolate

Jump to Recipe ▼
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 20 servings

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

This keto chocolate is an easy candy bar recipe made with just 3 ingredients. Crispy, chewy, and ready in 5 minutes, each bar has just 2 grams of net carbs.

keto candy bars.

Can you eat chocolate on keto?

As you’d expect, standard grocery store chocolate and chocolate candy bars are not keto-friendly. They are loaded with sugar. One small candy bar has more carbs than someone on a keto diet can have in a week.

While there are some keto-friendly chocolate brands, they are extremely expensive. A standard keto candy bar is over $8- simply not worth it.

Luckily, you can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost. Here’s why I love this keto bars recipe:

  • 4 Ingredients. Technically, you don’t even need the almond butter, but I love how firm the bars are when using it. 
  • Ready in 5 minutes. No baking required. The hard part is waiting for them to firm up. 
  • Just 2 grams of net carbs per serving. I tested a few combos to keep the carbs as low as possible.
  • Easy to customize. Add flavor extracts, nuts, seeds, coconut, or my favorite- crumbled keto chocolate chip cookies.
  • Affordable. Make them yourself, and you pay a fraction of the cost of buying the pre-made kind!

I’ve been making these for years, and they’ve become the most requested treat I bring to parties- everyone I’ve served them to says they taste like a keto crunch bar.

★★★★★ REVIEW 

“So yummy. One of the best keto bars I’ve ever eaten.” – Bibi

Key Ingredients

Here’s what goes into this keto bar recipe, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.

  • Unsweetened chocolate– Also known as Baker’s chocolate, these candy bars are 100% unsweetened and have very few carbs. On their own, they are not edible, but when mixed with sweet ingredients, they add the chocolate element necessary. 
  • Sugar free maple syrup– Skip the expensive store-bought kind and make your own keto maple syrup. I don’t recommend granulated sweeteners because they leave the bars gritty.
  • Coconut oil– Choose the refined variety to avoid any coconut flavor. I also tested these with unsalted butter, and it worked well.
  • Almond butter– Smooth and drippy almond butter with no added sugar. Peanut butter and nut-free alternatives also work. I sometimes make it with sunflower seed butter.
  • Crushed nuts and seeds– Optional, but I like using chopped almonds and pepitas to make these taste like crunch bars

How to make keto chocolate bars

Start by adding the chocolate, syrup, coconut oil, and almond butter to a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave everything in 30-second spurts until the chocolate has mostly melted. Gently mix until smooth.

Next, fold through your crushed nuts and seeds until combined. Transfer into a square pan and refrigerate for thirty minutes, or until firm.

Once firm, slice them into chocolate bars.

keto chocolate bars.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Melt in increments. Microwave the mixture in 20-second spurts to avoid burning the chocolate. 
  • Bars over chips. Avoid using chocolate chips, as they don’t melt anywhere near as well as a chocolate bar. 
  • Measure by weight, not volume. 1 1/2 cups of chopped chocolate weigh about 8 1/2 ounces, which is useful if you’re working from a bar rather than measuring by volume. 
  • Candy molds. Pour the mixture into candy molds instead of a pan for individual chocolate bars that look professionally made. I do this for Christmas and Halloween. 
  • Add a caramel drizzle. Before refrigerating, I like to drizzle some keto caramel sauce over the top. It seeps into the bars beautifully before it sets.

Flavor variations

The base recipe acts as a blank canvas, so here are some tested variations worth trying:

Milk chocolate– Use keto milk chocolate chips instead of unsweetened chocolate. 

Peppermint chocolate– Add 1/2 teaspoon of pure peppermint extract to the mixture. I make this every Christmas- it’s a fun holiday dessert.

White chocolate– Use sugar free white chocolate instead of unsweetened chocolate. Just a warning, though- the bars will be very sweet.

Toffee chocolate– Fold through half a cup of crushed keto candy pieces. My partner can polish this version off on his own.

Orange chocolate– Add 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract to the mixture. This is such an underrated combination (hello, Terry’s chocolate orange).

Storage instructions

To store: This keto chocolate is stable at room temperature in a sealable container. It will keep well for up to four weeks. If you’d like it to keep longer, store it in the refrigerator. 

To freeze: Place leftovers in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to six months. 

keto chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hershey’s dark chocolate keto-friendly?

The only keto-friendly Hershey’s products are their Dutch-processed cocoa powder (2 grams net carbs per serving) and dark cocoa powder (1.5 net carbs per serving).

Which chocolate candy bar has the least amount of carbs?

The lowest carb candy bar is Ghirardelli unsweetened baking chocolate, which has just 3 grams of net carbs per serving.

How many carbs are in keto bars?

There are just 2 grams of net carbs in these keto bars.

keto chocolate recipe

Keto Chocolate (Crunch candy bars!)

5 from 921 votes
This keto chocolate is an easy candy bar recipe made with just 3 ingredients. Crispy, chewy, and ready in 5 minutes, each bar has just 2 grams net carbs.
Servings: 20 servings
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 1 minute
Total: 2 minutes

Video

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. 
  • In a microwave-safe bowl or stovetop, combine your chocolate, almond butter, sticky sweetener and optional coconut oil and melt until combined. 
  • Add your nuts/seeds of choice and mix until fully combined.
  • Pour the chocolate mix into the lined baking dish and spread out using a spatula. Refrigerate or freeze until firm. 
  • Slice into chocolate bars.

Notes

Coconut oil (or butter): makes it easier to bite into the chocolate.
Leftovers: Keep at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 4 weeks. You can also freeze them for up to 6 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 149kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 176mgFiber: 3gVitamin A: 1IUCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 2g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

More keto chocolate recipes to try

Arman Liew

I’m a three time cookbook author, culinary school graduate, 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.

5 from 921 votes (883 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Arman… once again you have made this ongoing big man battle both fun and alluring! I’ve done this recipe as bars before just cuz and they turned out so good!! Alright, today I’m going to the dollar store and getting some Easter Bunny molds and doing this recipe as a bunny. Missing out daughters (both overseas right now). So as we are empty nesters now these tasty bunnies will “appear” only at the foot of OUR beds tomorrow morning. But thanks to you, there’ll be no HFCS hangover for us on Monday morning!!!! Anyway, I may just sprinkle some coconut flakes while the mix is still goo to add some hair to these hares! Thanks again for all of your lovely and thoughtful ideas for hopeless epicures out here! Now if only I could find a recipe for keto jellybeans.

    1. You are so welcome, Evan. I love the idea of making your own bunnies, and no doubt will make your daughters jealous! haha!

      Adding coconut flakes is a great addition, as are any nuts or seeds. I hope you have a great Easter long weekend- I am yet to find keto jellybeans myself!

  2. 5 stars
    How much saturated fat in complete recipe? No one ever breaks that out, but is super important component for heart/cholesterol issues, & average US diet means most of our population has these issues. Thx 4 recipe, & all you do, braddah! Aloha ~

    1. You are so welcome. Our team are looking into how we can incorporate that into our recipe cards and hopefully have a way to do it in the future.

    1. These ingredients mostly contribute to the sweetness and texture of the dessert, they don’t contribute strong flavors. That’s what the chocolate is for!

    1. Hi Byron- I recommend assembling the bars as instructed then before you refrigerate them to set, drizzle caramel over the tops. It will seep into the bars beautifully 🙂

    1. Hi Judy- I just weigh out the amount I need for 1 1/2 cups- breaking apart the chocolate and adding it to a cup, which works out to be about 8 1/2 – 9 ounces. Let me know how you go!

  3. 5 stars
    The base recipe only calls for 3 ingredients but coconut oil and nuts and seeds can be added for variation, texture or nutritional value.

    1. Recipe calls for 11/2 cups chocolate, but bar candy you suggest is Bakers unsweetened 4oz bars. Is that 2 and 1/2 candy bars to make the candy?

    1. 5 stars
      Made these for my husband who’s on keto right now. They’re so good! I’m not on keto but love dark chocolate. With added nuts, one piece is the perfect treat. Going to try this recipe with regular maple syrup as a Christmas gift for my sister.

      1. Thanks for the feedback, Kim! How is your husband finding it? We have lots of keto recipes, so if you ever need some help finding something he enjoys, let me know 🙂 Yes, this works well with regular syrup beautifully. Hope your sister enjoys it 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    These are truly amazing! Followed the recipe in the video and used rice crispy cereal instead of walnuts. Very easy to mix together. After some time in the fridge they came out perfect. Excellent taste and texture.

  5. 5 stars
    Arman!

    You never cease to amaze me !! Just made this, super easy and so yummy. Been following you for awhile and all your recipes have been a hit with my family. Love all your keto recipes and I have to say,ALL of them are delicious!! Thank you for coming up with fast, easy, and healthy recipes. I even added about 1/4 peanuts to this…..YUM. YUM. YUM.

    1. Hi! Thank you for all these recipes..they are a game changer! I’d love to make this treat but in the UK I can’t find maple extract to make the maple syrup. There are essences, but they often have a chemical taste. Is there an alternative to using the maple syrup for the recipie please?? Because of the liquid volume of this, I’m assuming it needs to be replaced rather than just omitted…?

      Thank you in advance!

      1. Hi Faaye, have you tried finding a premade sugar free maple syrup? I would suggest an allulose based alternative but I think it’s still a little tricky to find allulose in the UK. Alternatively you could try and find a sugar free syrup on Amazon. Failing that you could attempt to omit the syrup completely and just use a little extra nut butter. Let us know how you go!

  6. 5 stars
    Almost missed the part about the nuts being crushed haha. these turned out great! thanks for sharing.

  7. 5 stars
    I have been looking for a recipe to try with a bag of puffed quinoa that I bought. I think this might just work! Thanks.

  8. 5 stars
    Made this several times & love it, but want to know what unsweetened chocolate you’re using as the link to Amazon doesn’t work. I do strict keto and trying to keep my carbs down & the taste of these seems too sweet, though it may simply be my tastebuds since eliminating sugar (in all forms) 5 years ago. Thanks in advance!

      1. 5 stars
        This is one of our favorite desserts. My husband is diabetic and it does not affect his blood sugar.

  9. 5 stars
    Would anybody be able to let me know the measurements in Gram? I used google to try and find the proper conversion of each ingredient from Cup to Gram but i essentially ended up with something that has way too much chocolate. Still delicious and if i would x4 the nuts/seeds it would probably look different but i have a feeling something went wrong with the conversions 😉

  10. 5 stars
    I just finished making my third batch..I love this recipe!! The bars turn out perfect!! They are so delicious, and I love that they are healthy too!! A great addition to our Keto snacks. Thanks so much!!! 🙂

      1. 5 stars
        Just tried this n was amazing 👏 ty for sharing ❤️ will definitely make again n again lol 😆

  11. 5 stars
    Melted everything in a (homemade) double boiler. Don’t have to worry about it burning.
    Thanks so much, these are wonderful!

  12. 5 stars
    Hey Arman, great recipe, thanks so much!
    I tried it with a syrupy that doesn’t have water in it and it worked perfectly.
    When I replaced the syrupy with a water based syrup the chocolate seized, any idea what can I to avoid this?
    Thank you 🙏

    1. Hi Karim- the added water sort of dries out the other ingredients so just avoid any syrups with it in it.

  13. 5 stars
    Thank you so much, I have little chocolate monsters and this was a huge hit and a great peace of mind for me knowing that is healthy x

    1. 5 stars
      I am unsure of how to measure 1.5 cups of the chocolate as it comes in one large piece. Do you have the approximate ounces needed

  14. 5 stars
    This crispy bar is delicious, I have tried so many different types of not so sweet treats, and my husband is the tasting person, and finally I got something he just loves. “These are delicious “. I was shocked. The chocolate smells so good while melting. Thank you, The Vug mans workd

  15. Good morning Arman.
    I love this site, your recipes are so good. How do I search for a recipe, rather than scrolling through them all?
    Thank you.

  16. 5 stars
    Very good and easy to make. I will add salt next time because I think it will enhance the flavor. I eat one or two after dinner each day.

    1. I’m gonna try this next, with (1) cup of Pork Rinds and (1) cup of Roasted Coconut Shreds, and (1) cup “total” of Wallnuts/Sunflower seeds and Pumpkin seeds!😊

  17. These sound great. I haven’t found any drippy peanut or almond butter here. How much oil should I add to my non drippy nut butter or do i just increase the amount of coconut oil and if so how much? Can’t wait to try these.

  18. Used butterscotch chips( hiding in back freezer from Christmas) turned out great!
    Keep the recipes coming!

  19. 5 stars
    Looks so yummy! Now that Christmas is approaching, I will make these chocolate bars for my kids. Thanks for sharing

  20. Arman, your awesome thank you so much for the wonderful coconut recipes I do not use almond flour there isn’t much coconut recipes out there but you have quite a few and I am so happy. God bless you and may he give you lots more wisdom and knowledge. Stay safe.
    I love all your coconut recipes THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!

  21. Hi!
    I’m typing from Croatia and i have to tell you -i love your recipes 🫶
    As a diabetic, i don’t use maple syrup but i was wondering if it’s able to allulose liquid sweetener?
    (Since it is not as dense as maple syrup)

  22. Are the pictures the ones you made or from the video? What is everyone using as nuts and seeds. Would like feed back on what variety has been tries that people like.

  23. 5 stars
    Made twice in the last 2 weeks at my husband’s request. I used different nuts both times and it’s all delicious. I just received your 2 cookbooks because I was printing out so many of your recipes I thought I might as well buy the books. Everything I’ve made is so good. Keep ‘em coming.

  24. How many grams of chocolate is in 1.5 cups? Also can I use 90% chocolate instead of Bakers Chocolate?

  25. Hi there! I am not keto, but off of refined sugar (so I use a lot of keto recipes for ease). These bars are delicious!!! I used seeds mixed with One Degree brand organic Brown rice Cacao Crisps (no refined sugar, gluten free). My friends were promising me the moon for more! Thanks.

  26. This looks great. I haven’t tried it so didn’t rate yet. I use carob powder in all that I make. Will this work with mixing carob powder with the oil?

  27. Hi Arman, Thank you so much for another recipe. THIS ONE literally made my mouth water looking at the pictures lol. I have a VERY active imagination. I would make these but I am on a diet that I am restricting my calories as well as my carbs to lose weight for a lower back surgery that I need. I will save this recipe for after to try. Again thank you for all the time and effort you put into giving us great advice and recipes. 🙂

  28. Hi Arman, it would help to know the weight of the chocolate. A cup of chocolate pieces can vary so much in weight.
    Thank you

  29. Hello.
    Can I simply omit the sweetener? I don’t need a substitute, I just find the chocolate to be plenty sweet on it’s own.

    Thank you!

    1. I’m going to make these this afternoon, I’m excited to try them after reading through the comments.
      I’m going to use sugar free Jiff peanut butter and try them in my silicone pampered chef bar pan . Thank you!

  30. Second recipe I’ve used from you and so far it’s 2 for 2. These are addictive! I used sugar free honey for the sweetener which worked fine. I also threw in some coconut because I had some on hand. Thank you and I look forward to trying more of your recipes!

  31. Arman, I made these, except used natural peanut butter instead of almond butter & they are delicious – It’s hard to believe they are Keto – Carole

  32. Just love these keto crunch bars and am addicted. Regarding freezing, I make them with store bought chocolate, how long should they keep for and will they need to defrost before eating?

  33. Can I use peanut butter instead of almond butter?
    Also what would be a good replacement for coconut oil? I don’t like the taste of coconut

  34. Silly question – but isn’t maple syrup and agave syrup basically just sugar? Doesn’t seem sugar-free to me. It actually could be very bad for diabetics. Am I missing something here?

  35. Yummmm I’ve just gone low carb and absolutely love this! My two daughters and other none LC family members absolutely love it too. Perfect recipe, may have made this 4 times in the past month 😳

  36. This has to be the BEST EVER. Keto crunch bar..I used real maple syrup that I just happened to have…Im in heaven
    Made it for my son who 100% keto…

  37. These bars are a favorite of my keto family! I add homemade marshmallows to them and do less nuts and they are the bomb. By far the best keto treat I know of. Make them weekly and I have used different nut butters for different taste.

  38. These are hard to stop eating. This is by far the best dessert I’ve made. I used chocolate Barney Butter almond butter, which makes it that much better!

  39. So tasty! I didn’t even know that it’s possible to cook such yummy on a keto diet. Your article inspired me to try! Thanks!

  40. When you say Monk Fruit for a sticky sweetener, is it in liquid form? I can only find it in granular form. Thank you.

  41. I’m kinda new to Keto , but I don’t understand how the syrup is okay since it is literally pure sugar. Natural or not I’m not sure how one can stay in Ketosis if sugar needs to be cut out all together (or almost all together)?
    If you can please explain that would be most helpful 🙂

  42. I used Coconut oil, Almond butter (order from Amazon), Keto chocolate Chips (Amazon) & Walden Farm Syrup. Added nuts, oats & sunflower kernels & it is smooth & fabulous. Satisfies any chocolate craving you would
    ever have.

  43. Hi….I have made these a few times…they are delicious…however I made them again today and the chocolate mixture didn’t liquify it looked more like cookie dough, just wondering why that may have happened? They are still good, but a little crumbly….I used all the same ingredients that I used the first two times!!

  44. Oh my gosh..yum! & So simple . I used honey for the sweetener , semi sweet baking chocolate and a vanilla almond butter.
    Thank you

  45. If I use baking chocolate, how many ounces? 9, as in the same number of ounces in 1 1/2 cups of chips? Trying to figure out why my chocolate mixture was so thick. Tastes good…

  46. I dont undertand.. if I make the chocolate myself, the recepie is still the same? I have to wait for the chocolate to firm to use it? Because now it is liquid so if I keep adding the ingredientes for the bars I believe its going to be more liquid..

  47. First time caller, lone time listener… ? Looove your recipes, have made many (and veganized them – sorry, I used the “V” word). Quick thought, hemp seeds….do you think I should decrease the volume using them since they are more ‘dense’ packed in a cup?
    Thanks!
    -VV

    1. Hi there! I would still keep it the same, but I’m not too familiar with hemp! The beauty of these bars is that you can decrease the crunchy add-ins and it will still be fine 😉

  48. This was delicious! I didn’t have sticky sweetener, so i added 2 Tablespoons chia seeds and used granule sweetener. Came out great! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!

      1. These bars are amazing! I make them once a week and it curbs all my cravings. Thanks a million

  49. I made these 2 weeks ago and they’re my new obsession. I’m making another batch next week because I’m running low. So good!

  50. Is there anyway to make this stick together/hold without the sweetener? I have SIBO and have been told by my consultant to avoid all sweeteners, even natural ones ?

      1. Bummer! ? Could I perhaps improvise with sticking it together with some egg white and adding vanilla extract to sweeten?

  51. What are the measurements for the 3-ingrediant homemade chocolate as a substitute for chocolate chips?

  52. Hi, I may be overlooking it, but I see shredded coconut in the description but I can’t find it in the ingredients or instructions. How much do you use and does it matter what kind? Having a party with some fellow Keto friends and I can’t wait to show up with this! Thank you.

  53. What am I missing? I don’t see anywhere in the ingredients list to use Rice Krispies, but the video shows you using them. And how are those paleo or kept friendly?

      1. I am going to try this with dark cocoa and coconut oil to switch out with the baker’s chocolate.

  54. How many servings does this make per your nutrition for 1bar? Do you cut the 8×8 pan into 6 bars or 8?

    1. As many as you like- You can adjust the macros to fit as many bars as you slice them into! 🙂

      1. We just don’t know the size of bar you used to get your macros for the serving size

  55. Wud it b fine if also add rice krispies? Cos looking at ur pix i m getting the impression that these r ferrero rocher bars! Yum!

  56. I am very into keto chocolate crunch bars but have NO idea where you can BUY ALMOND BUTTER OR WHAT BRAND OF COCONUT OIL to buy, bought coconut oil a while ago and it was terrible and when you say stevia sweetened keto friendly chocolate chips that is another whammy, where are you buying this stuff and here in Florida they just don’t have that in my area and I really do not what to go on the computer to order this with all the Facebook problems…All I’ve ever used is Nestles choc chips/Hersey’s coco FYI…Thanks

  57. I’m trying this today. Funny how I would stir in 1 or 2 cups of brown rice krispies. What do you think?

      1. Wasn’t sure how to comment other then hitting reply to another comment. When you melt the ingredients in the microwave is it supposed to be really runny? Mine is