Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

I typically get asked the place I get my recipe inspiration and whereas I normally get it from nourishing meals my mother made for me rising up, fascinating dishes I’ve had at eating places, or distinctive twists on conventional consolation meals, typically I simply need to recreate home made variations of sweet bars everybody is aware of and loves.

It all started with my home made Reese’s eggs that I’ve been making for years and has since changed into unimaginable healthy peanut butter twix bars and even tahini caramel millionaire bars. I all the time recreate these candies utilizing substances you possibly can be ok with, however I don’t skimp on style right here. I hope you’re sitting down as a result of right this moment I’m re-sharing a deal with that’s completely epic.

These vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars are like a double chocolate model of a Snickers bar however simply so occur to be vegan, dairy free, grain free and gluten free. WHAT?!

We’re beginning with a chocolate shortbread crust, topping it with crunchy, salty peanuts, pouring on my well-known vegan peanut butter caramel, and ending the bars with a layer of chocolate. When I say these bars are rattling good I imply they could simply be life-changing. Make a batch or two, retailer them for the week, and don’t neglect to share with family members!

Ingredients in these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars

These bars are principally simply layers of chocolatey, peanut butter goodness. You get a chocolate shortbread cookie base, a candy & salty peanut butter caramel center, and, in fact, a layer of darkish chocolate on high. Here are the substances you’ll must make them:

• For the shortbread base: we’re getting that true chocolate shortbread taste and texture however making it gluten free and grain free with effective, blanched almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut oil, a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup, vanilla and salt.
• For the peanut butter layer: that peanut butter “caramel” is made with pure, drippy peanut butter (we love Wild Friends — use the code ‘AMBITIOUS15’ for 15% off), maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, sea salt, and chopped up roasted & salted peanuts. I extremely advocate attempting honey roasted peanuts for much more taste!
• For the chocolate layer: high all of it off with a coating of chocolate produced from chocolate chips and coconut oil. So simple and so scrumptious! Be certain to make use of dairy free/vegan chocolate chips to maintain the bars vegan & dairy free.

Can I take advantage of a special nut butter?

Any nut butter ought to work in these grain free chocolate peanut butter caramel bars, however I actually advocate sticking with peanut butter for one of the best taste. Plus, the chopped peanuts add such an incredible texture to the bars!

How to make double chocolate peanut butter caramel bars

All of the layers in these vegan and gluten free chocolate peanut butter caramel bars may look just a little intimidating, however they’re simpler to make than you assume!

1. Prep your pan. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper in order that the bars don’t stick.
2. Make the shortbread base. Add the entire substances for the chocolate shortbread base to a bowl and blend it till a thick crumb texture seems. Pour this into your pan, press it down and bake.
3. Peanut get together. Once the crust comes out of the oven, sprinkle on these chopped peanuts. Let the crust cool earlier than including the peanut butter caramel.
4. Make the caramel. While the crust is baking you’ll soften the peanut butter caramel substances in a saucepan over medium-low warmth. Stir frequently till the caramel begins to bubble ever so barely, then pour it over the peanuts and the shortbread crust.
5. Chill the bars. Before including the ultimate layer you’ll want to put the pan n the fridge for a minimum of 30-60 minutes, or within the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
6. Make the chocolate layer. Finally, soften the chocolate chips with coconut oil within the microwave or in a saucepan over low warmth till clean. Pour the chocolate over the chilled caramel layer and tilt the pan to evenly distribute it.
7. Chill & take pleasure in. You’ll want to sit back the bars another time within the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour till the chocolate is hardened. Then reduce them into 16 bars and revel in!

Get the precise bar form

Yes, you possibly can reduce these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars into squares, however I feel they’re far more enjoyable when reduce into Twix or Snickers-shaped bars! To do that, start by chopping the complete pan of bars in half. Then, reduce every half into 8, 1-inch bars. You’ll get 16 longer bars as an alternative of squares!

Our finest tips & reminders

• Use the precise pan. Be certain to make use of an 8×8-inch pan to get the precise form and consistency. Even just a little giant, like a 9×9 inch pan, will make the bars too flat.
• Pack your almond flour. You’ll need to use packed almond flour (and ensure it’s blanched, effective almond flour) similar to you’ll with brown sugar.
• Have endurance. I do know it’s tempting to place the entire layers collectively with out ready on the coolness time, however you actually do want the caramel and chocolate layers to sit back fully in order that the bars maintain collectively nicely.

How to retailer & freeze these bars

• To retailer: these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars ought to be saved lined within the fridge till you’re able to serve them. They will keep good in your fridge for about 1 week.
• To freeze: be at liberty to maintain them in a freezer-safe container in your freezer for as much as 1 month. If you do preserve them in your freezer, make sure you depart them out on the counter for a couple of minutes earlier than serving in order that they soften up a bit.

Recommended instruments

Check out all of our favourite kitchen necessities right here!

More vegan treats you’ll love

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I hope you’re keen on these vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars! If you make them make sure you depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you favored them. Enjoy, xo!

Vegan Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Prep Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

ServesServes 16 bars

Incredible vegan chocolate peanut butter caramel bars with a scrumptious chocolate shortbread cookie base and crunchy, salty peanuts proper within the center. These chocolate peanut butter caramel bars style similar to a Snicker’s bar however are naturally sweetened, gluten free and dairy free!

Ingredients

• For the shortbread base:
• 1 ¼ cup packed effective blanched almond flour (I take advantage of Bob’s Red Mill)
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• For the peanut butter layer:
• ¾ cup drippy pure peanut butter (crunchy or creamy works)
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ¾ cup coarsely chopped roasted salted peanuts (honey roasted are wonderful!)
• For the chocolate layer:
• ¾ cup chocolate chips, dairy free/vegan if desired
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 levels F. Line an 8×8 inch sq. pan with parchment paper. It’s vital to make use of an 8×8 inch as a 9×9 inch pan could also be too huge.

• In a medium bowl add the almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Mix along with a fork till it kinds a pleasant thick crumb texture. Add to the pan and use your fingers to evenly press down into the pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow the crust to chill for 10 minutes earlier than including caramel.

• After the crust comes out of the oven, sprinkle the crust evenly with the peanuts.

• While the crust is baking, make the peanut butter caramel layer: Add the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract and sea salt to a medium pot and place over medium-low warmth for roughly 2 minutes till caramel begins to only barely bubble, stirring frequently. Remove from warmth and pour caramel over the peanuts and barely cooled crust.

• Place within the fridge for a minimum of 30-60 minutes to fully harden the peanut butter. It should not take longer than this, however in case you are impatient, simply place it within the freezer for 15-20 minutes, this could velocity up the method.

• After half-hour or so, make the chocolate layer: Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave protected bowl and microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between till chocolate is totally melted. If you favor, you may also soften the chocolate and coconut oil in a small saucepan over low warmth.

• Pour the chocolate over the caramel layer and tilt the pan side-to-side to evenly distribute the melted chocolate. Place within the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour till chocolate is hardened and bars are fully cooled.

• Remove bars from the pan and reduce into 16 bars (that resemble twix bars). To do that, reduce the complete pan of bars in half, after which reduce every half into 8 (1-inch) bars (not squares!), so that you’ll find yourself with 16 bars. Enjoy! Bars ought to be saved lined within the fridge till able to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 275calCarbohydrates: 17.8gProtein: 6.6gFat: 21.9gSaturated Fat: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 12.7g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats

This put up was initially printed on September 14th, 2021, and republished on February thirteenth, 2024.