Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - low sugar, vegan, gluten free

These chocolate peanut butter caramel candy bars are smooth and chewy with a hint of crunch and all sorts of deliciousness. If you love indulgent candy bars, you’re going to drool over this healthy version of a Reeses’s Nutrageous bar!

I will forever say that the REAL holidays are the day after the official holiday, because that’s when all the holiday-themed candy goes on sale! I really shouldn’t be allowed in the stores on those days. My love for candy is strong and my will power is weak! And, recently I found the Nutrageous Reese’s candy bar, which I’m pretty sure isn’t new, but it’s new to me. And I can’t eat enough of them! The candy bar is a peanut butter log coated with caramel, topped with peanuts, and smothered in chocolate.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - low sugar, vegan, gluten free

But, instead of “accidentally” eating an entire sugar-filled candy bar, why not make our own healthy version! These healthy homemade bars are still full of peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate, but are low in sugar, high in protein, and just as delicious!

First, we need to make a chewy, creamy, deliciously peanut buttery mixture that will become the center of our candy bar. It turns into a play-doh-like consistency that is totally fun to play with easy to roll into logs.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - low sugar, vegan, gluten free

Second, we’re going to dip our peanut butter logs into a deliciously creamy, healthy caramel. It’s rich and gooey in all the best ways.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - low sugar, vegan, gluten free

Third, we’re going to cover our caramel coated peanut butter logs in some peanuts and coat the whole scrumptious thing in chocolate.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - low sugar, vegan, gluten free

I’m really not sure anything can get any better!

Unless you don’t like peanut butter…in which case, maybe you should get your taste buds check out ;p .

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - low sugar, vegan, gluten free

Of course, if you’re allergic to peanuts, I’ll let it slide. But, you could also try making these chocolate peanut butter caramel bars with almonds and almond butter and I’m sure it would be equally amazing. Nothing wrong with chocolate almond caramel bars!

If you make these healthy treats, be sure to tag me – @HealthyHacksRD. I love to see your creations!

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars - gluten free, vegan, low sugar

And let me know in the comments: What is your favorite candy bar?? 


Yields 6 bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars

Gluten Free; Vegan; No Bake; Low Carb; High Protein; Soy Free; Low FODMAP

35 minPrep Time

35 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

    Peanut Butter Center
  • 1/2 cup powdered peanut butter
  • 3 Tbsp natural peanut butter
  • 3 Tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt (omit if your PB is salted)
  • Caramel
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/8 cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp milk of choice
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
  • Chocolate Coating
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 2 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

  1. For the peanut butter center: in a medium sized bowl, stir together the powdered peanuts, peanut butter, water, vanilla, and salt. The dough should be smooth and not sticky.
  2. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces.
  3. Take one piece, knead it in your hands slightly to get it soft and roll it between your hands to form a log. It should be about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
  4. Roll out the remaining pieces and place them on a sheet of parchment/freezer paper. Place that, uncovered, in the freezer until hard (about 1-2 hours).
  5. For the caramel: in the same bowl, stir together the almond butter, maple syrup, milk, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt.
  6. Place the caramel mixture in the fridge to thicken up (about 10 - 15 min).
  7. Once the peanut butter center is hardened, remove them from the freezer and the caramel from the fridge. Dip or roll the peanut butter center in the caramel and place them back on the freezer or parchment paper.
  8. Cover the caramel coated logs with the chopped peanuts. (I found the easiest way to do this was by dropping the peanuts onto the logs and then lightly pressing them into the caramel.)
  9. Return them to the freezer to harden (about 30 min - 1 hour).
  10. Once the caramel coated logs are firm, place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and melt the chips for about 60 - 90 seconds, stirring at 30 second intervals.
  11. Once completely melted, add the coconut oil and stir together to incorporate.
  12. Place one candy bar in the melted chocolate at a time, and spoon the chocolate over the bar, coating it completely. Using a fork, pick up the chocolate coated candy bar and allow the excess chocolate to drip off before returning it to the freezer/parchment paper.
  13. Repeat this step for all the bars, then return them to the freezer to set (about 10 - 15 min.).
  14. Enjoy drooling over your perfectly tasty, homemade candy bars! If by chance there are any left over, store them in a air tight container in the freezer.

Notes

Prep time includes hands-on time only (freezing time not included).

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8 Replies to “Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Bars”

  1. These are fantabulous!!!! OH MY GOSH. I am obsessed.
  2. Oh my gosh, perfection. I can never say no to a chocolate and pb combo! Saving this recipe right now!
    1. Same here, Karly! Chocolate and pb are made for each other! I have no doubt you'll love these ;)
  3. These are still too high in carbs for me. Can the maple syrup and corn starch be replaced with lower carb? Maybe monk fruit syrup and xanthan gum? Also low carb chocolate chips?
    1. Hi Vicki, you can use monk fruit syrup. Just be aware that it's a lot sweeter than maple syrup, so the amount needed to get the caramel the right consistency might make it very sweet. I also wouldn't recommend using xanthan gum in place of the cornstarch because it'd probably make the caramel very gummy. You could try almond flour, but I can't guarantee the caramel will set up right without the cornstarch... Hope this helps!
  4. What are the nutritional values on these?
    1. Sorry, I don't have that information :( You could plug in the ingredients into a fitness/meal logging app like MyFitnessPal.com if you'd like though :)

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