Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (From-scratch Snickers)

These absolutely irresistible Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars start with a sweet shortbread layer, followed by a rich and silky peanut butter filling, topped with chopped peanuts, and finished off with a decadent chocolate topping. The combination of sweet, nutty flavors with a hint of salt creates a from-scratch Snickers bar experience that will make you forget about the store-bought version for good!

Not only are these bars incredibly tasty, but they’re also healthier than their commercial counterparts since they’re made with wholesome ingredients you can trust. Say goodbye to store-bought snacks and hello to this deliciousness that is bound to become a go-to at your house!

Homemade healthy snickers bars topped with flakey salt.

Your Go-to Candy Bar Made Better!

Who doesn’t love a Snickers bar? They’re one of our go-to candy bars of all time.

Seriously, we could eat them every day. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly great for our health or waistline.

So, we decided to take matters into our own hands and make from-scratch chocolate peanut butter bars instead! Naturally gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and dairy-free, too, they taste just like Snickers but are a lot healthier.

Now you can have your dessert and eat it, too!

What’s In a From-scratch Snickers Bar?

Almond Flour – This forms the “shortbread” base, creating a subtly sweet cookie-like flavor with a boost of fiber and healthy fats! You can make your own almond flour by grinding almonds, but we like to save time and use store-bought almond flour like Bob’s Red Mill.
Coconut Oil – This is used in every layer to combine the ingredients, creating smooth layers with rich flavor.
Maple Syrup – Used as a natural sweetener, maple syrup eliminates the need for refined sugar. Honey will also work.
Vanilla Extract – Use high-quality pure vanilla extract to enhance the sweet, nutty flavors. Trust us, you can taste a difference!
Salt – Just a pinch enhances the taste of the bars.
Peanut Butter – Use silky peanut butter, not chunky. Also, avoid natural varieties as they tend to separate and can cause the bars to become oil. Brands like Jif and Skippy are finest!
Peanuts – You can’t have from-scratch Snickers without peanuts! Roasted, salted varieties are finest.
Chocolate Chips – We recommend using semi-sweet chocolate chips, but dark chocolate will also work. If needed, opt for dairy-free or vegan varieties.

Almond flour crust pressed into a baking dish.

Can I Make This Recipe Without Peanut Butter?

Sure! It won’t be an exact healthy Snickers bar dupe, as the flavor and texture will change slightly, but the recipe will still be tasty.

Feel free to swap out the peanut butter with any other silky nut or seed butter you like finest. Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter would all work great.

A slab of chocolate peanut butter bars ready to be sliced.

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars So Good You’ll Never Go Back to Store-Bought Again

Prepare. Before you begin, preheat your oven, and line a square baking dish with parchment paper.
Create the shortbread base. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all the ingredients for the shortbread layer, mixing until the mixture is well combined, thick, and crumbly.
Bake. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and use your fingers to press it down tightly. Bake just until the base is lightly golden, and set it aside to cool before continuing.
Layer. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over the cookie base.
Prepare the filling. Combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Warm just until the mixture begins to bubble gently, stirring frequently. Then, remove it from the heat, and pour it evenly over the peanuts and shortbread.
Chill. Place the pan in the refrigerator to chill and set. Or, if you’re a bit impatient, transfer it to the freezer instead.
Melt the chocolate topping. Combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt, stirring in between each heating interval until the chocolate is smooth and combined. You can also do this in a saucepan over medium heat if preferred.
Top. Pour the chocolate over the chocolate peanut butter bars, tilting the pan from side to side to ensure it spreads out and coats the bars evenly.
Set. Return the bars to the fridge to chill and set completely.
Slice. Use a sharp knife to slice the slab into sixteen from-scratch healthy Snickers bars.

Tips and Tricks

Use the right-sized pan. An 8×8 square pan is key to creating thick bars with flavorful layers that hold together.
Create a strong base. Be sure to blend the base ingredients well, eliminating any lumps. Then, press it down really firmly before baking. Otherwise, it is likely to crumble, and your bars will fall apart!
Plan ahead. This recipe is simple but does take some planning. Be sure to allow plenty of time for each layer to chill and set so the bars have a rich flavor and even layers.
Use a sharp knife. When it comes to slicing the bars cleanly, you want to use a sharp knife. Wipe it clean between each slice, and run it under water as needed.

Side view of homemade Snickers bars showing the different layers.

Common Questions About This From-scratch Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

What kind of chocolate works finest?

Semi-sweet or dark chocolate gives you that classic Snickers feel, but if you like it sweeter, milk chocolate is totally fair game!

Can I make them dairy-free or vegan?

Yes–just use dairy-free chocolate. Also, be sure to double-check your ingredients if you’re keeping it strictly vegan.

How long do they need to chill?

Give them at least 1 hour in the fridge or 30 minutes or so in the freezer to set up nicely. You want them firm enough to slice cleanly.

Are these good for gifting or parties?

Definitely! They hold up well, travel great, and always disappear fast. Cut them into bite-sized squares or wrap individually for the cutest from-scratch gift.

More From-scratch Treat Recipes

If you have a sweet tooth like us, but don’t want to buy your treats from the store, these simple recipes are just what you need in your life!

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 16 servings

Prep: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Total: 2 hrs

Skip store-bought options, make chocolate peanut butter bars instead for healthy from-scratch snickers bars that taste like the real deal! Email

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Base:

1 1/2 cups of finely ground blanched almond flour We prefer Bob’s Red Mill
3 Tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil
3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of salt

For the Peanut Butter Layer:

3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts roughly chopped
3/4 cup silky peanut butter
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A dash of sea salt

For the Chocolate Layer:

3/4 cup dairy-free/vegan chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Make sure to use this specific pan size for finest results.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the almond flour, cooled coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a touch of salt. Stir the ingredients together until they form a satisfyingly thick, crumbly texture.1 1/2 cups of finely ground blanched almond flour, 3 Tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil, 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, A pinch of salt
Transfer this mixture into the prepared pan, then use fingertips to evenly press it down, forming a solid base. Place it in the oven, and bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow the crust to cool for about 10 minutes before moving on to the next step.
As the crust is cooling, evenly sprinkle the chopped roasted salted peanuts over it.3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts
While the crust is in the oven, let’s create the delectable peanut butter caramel layer. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and a touch of sea salt. Heat the mixture for approximately 2 minutes, just until it begins to gently bubble, stirring frequently. Remove it from the heat, and pour it evenly over the layer of peanuts and the slightly cooled crust.3/4 cup silky peanut butter, 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, A dash of sea salt
Place the pan in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to allow the peanut butter layer to firm up. Or, expedite the process by popping it into the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
After the chilling period, it’s time to craft the luxurious chocolate layer. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between until the chocolate is completely melted. Alternatively, use a small saucepan over low heat to melt the chocolate and coconut oil.3/4 cup dairy-free/vegan chocolate chips, 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
Pour the luscious melted chocolate evenly over the caramel layer. Tilt the pan from side to side to ensure the chocolate spreads out evenly.
Return the pan to the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the chocolate to solidify and the bars to cool completely.
Once everything is set, remove the bars from the pan, and cut them into 16 bars. To do this, slice the entire bar slab in half, then cut each half into 8 bars measuring about 1 inch in width (not squares!). This will yield a total of 16 bars.
Enjoy the from-scratch bars! Keep them covered in the refrigerator until ready to savor them.