Have you ever prepared homemade chocolate candy bars from scratch? It’s far easier than you think.
Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars
This recipe for gluten free dessert starts with a luscious nougat mixture of honey mixed into creamy almond butter.
How to Make Dairy Free Candy Bars
The base is then enrobed in a heavenly dark dairy free chocolate and topped with a gorgeous sprinkle of salt.
Dairy Free Chocolate Bars
My Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars are:
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Grain Free
And they’re absolute perfection for those suffering from an intolerance to foods typically found in processed, store bought candy bars.
Intolerance to Foods? Problem Solved!
My boys and their friends adored this recipe for healthy dessert when they were little, and they still do.
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Easy Recipes for Dessert for Kids
Back in the day, when I coached my older son’s baseball team, I used to bring these Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars to games –they were something the whole team could enjoy.
Recipe for Gluten Free Dessert
When I made this recipe for gluten free dessert for a school treat, I simply omitted the pecans and used sunbutter instead of almond butter for those who were allergic to nuts.
Easy Chocolate Dessert
Healthy candy bars? Yes, this term is not an oxymoron when it comes to this easy chocolate dessert recipe that’s sure to be your new favorite!
Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons palm shortening or grapeseed oil
- 1½ teaspoons celtic sea salt
- 1½ cups pecans, chopped
- 1 cup creamy roasted almond butter
- ½ cup honey or agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Warm shortening and 1 teaspoon salt in a 12 inch saute pan over high heat
- Add pecans to pan and cook for 4 minutes
- Warm almond butter, honey, vanilla and ½ teaspoon salt in a saucepan over medium heat
- Remove from heat and stir pecans into almond butter mixture
- Scoop 2 heaping tablespoons of batter into each candy bar mold and freeze for at least 1 hour
- Melt chocolate in separate saucepan over lowest heat possible
- Dip each bar in chocolate
- Transfer to a parchment paper lined small baking sheet
- Garnish bars with salt if desired
- Freeze 30 minutes
- Serve
Dairy Free Gluten Free Candy Bars
If you have an allergy to gluten you may be lactose intolerant as well. That’s why I created a recipe that’s also perfect for the dairy free diet.
My homemade gluten free candy bars deliver an exquisite dairy free chocolate option.
Chocolate Candy Bars
Homemade candy bars can be customized to individual palettes. The sky is the limit, try substituting your favorite nuts or adding other ingredients.
Homemade Gluten Free Candy
Like every household, ours has a fondness for sweets, and when the boys are home to visit, homemade candy seems to vanish quicker than I can make it.
When they were little, the Pantry Boys and their friends devoured my homemade gluten free candy, and my mind was at ease, given that the treats I created were full of nutrient dense food like almond butter.
Remember, just because it’s gluten free does not mean it’s healthy!
Recipes for Gluten Free Candy
Here are some of my other recipes for healthy, nutrient dense, gluten free candy.
Mint Chocolate Homemade Candy
My homemade Peppermint Patty Candy is a super healthy low carb dessert that melts in your mouth.
This candy recipe is a great project to make with the kids, my boys loved helping me with it when they were little.
Mixing 3 ingredients –coconut oil, honey, and peppermint extract, then chilling and dipping this heavenly mixture in melted dark dairy free chocolate was a fabulous project for a delightfully fun afternoon.
Low Carb Candy
My Almond Joy Chocolate Bark is a mouthwatering mixture of dark dairy free chocolate, toasted coconut, and earthy almonds.
This low carb candy recipe is super simple.
First, melt the dark chocolate chips and pour into a baking dish, then scatter the toasted coconut and almonds on the chocolate and refrigerate. That’s it, really!
Healthy Homemade Chocolate Bars
I’ve enjoyed Chocolate Bars since I was a child.
When my son was diagnosed with celiac disease, I knew I had to turn all of my favorite childhood recipes into gluten free classics for those with diet restrictions.
This chocolate treat is my simply delicious answer to the question of dairy free, vegan candy bars made at home with the cleanest ingredients.
How to Make Chocolate Bars
As you can see from my quick and easy Chocolate Bar recipe above, making Healthy Homemade Chocolate couldn’t be easier, and like just about everything else, tastes better from scratch.
Dark Chocolate Candy Bars
If I haven’t inspired you to make chocolate from scratch, and you’re in the mood for the store bought stuff, read my article on The Best Healthy Dark Chocolate Bars.
Is Chocolate Gluten Free
When you make chocolate from scratch, you can control the outcome and avoid unwanted allergens.
While cacao beans are gluten free prior to their handling, after that, it’s in the processor’s hands to ensure the product is gluten free.
Since I have celiac and am 100% gluten free, I’m always on the lookout for hidden ingredients like barley malt, a substance that contains gluten.
Allergy to Gluten
All in all, when purchasing food, it’s incredibly important that we make a habit of regularly checking labels of the products we buy to make sure they’re gluten free.
Easy Homemade Desserts with Chocolate
And that’s why I love making these dairy free Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars, I know they’re something I can safely eat. As for Mr. Pantry, I have to hide them from him. Yes, they’re that good.
As for the rest of the treats listed here? They’re pretty incredible too. I hope you enjoy making, serving, and munching on these easy homemade desserts with chocolate as much as we do!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars recipe in 2008.
naomi says
OOps! I meant to say, you can’t beat something completely enrobed in chocolate….doh
naomi says
They sound just delicious! You can get the same amount of crunch if you slow roast pecans in the oven – also cuts down on the oil too. I like the idea of the simplified version, but you can beat something completely enrobed in chocolate can you?
x x x
elana says
Moi -Yes, I understand completely!
Allen -Thanks for your comment, yes the salt is goooood.
Courtney -That’s so cool that you simplified the recipe. I was telling a friend last week as I was testing these that some smart, efficient person would simplify them by leaving ’em in the pan and pouring the melted chocolate on top –we are on the same wave length. Look forward to meeting you this MONTH at the cooking class :-) xo Elana
Courtney says
We had company this past weekend so I planned on making a wholesome meatloaf. The only thing about meatloaf is that it takes a significant amount of time to bake in the oven. Since I had other priorities the day of my company, and didn’t have much time to prepare, I put the meatloaf in the oven and made these “candy bars” for dessert. This dessert recipe worked well because the oven was occupied. Instead of baking the pecans, I just kept them in the skillet a little longer until they became fragrant. I put the pecan mixture into the freezer and instead of cutting them into bars and then pouring the chocolate over them, I saved time by pouring the chocolate on top of the whole dish! We ended up with one gigantic candy bar and we all dove in. By the looks of the pan, we all enjoyed this dessert!
Allen says
YUM! Your candy bars look absolutely fantastic — I especially like the addition of salt on top :-)
Moi says
I personally did not vote for candy bars. I’ve been ruined by all of the commercialized candy! I stick with chocolate bars or truffles. But I’m impressed with what you have done
elana says
Becky -They are pretty good straight out of the bag, aren’t they? If you do get a chance to make these candy bars, let me know how they turn out for you.
Myrna -Welcome! Enjoy. And you are so welcome :-)
Christianne -Always good to hear from you; hope you had a great weekend with lots of fun in the kitchen!
Christianne says
My, do these look absolutely scrumptious!
I can’t wait to get into the kitchen… This means eating my (or should I say Elana’s) granola quickly this morning and then put an apron on…! Have a lovely weekend all!
Myrna says
Hi, Elana,
I am relatively new to your site, but I am enjoying it immensely. I am on a grain-free diet to lose weight and for general health purposes. I can’t wait to try out some of your recipes. Candy bars… Wow! Thanks so much.
Becky says
goodness, these bars look good, and healthy too. i never tire of ways to eat dagoba chocolate. although i must admit that most of the time i eat the dagoba chips straight out of the bag before i ever have a chance to cook with them !
Robillm says
I have never seen Dagoba chocolate chips–where do you purchase them?? Thanks!!