Healthy Raspberry Caramel Chocolate Bars

Hands up if you love Twix bars. Years ago, my candy of choice was….peanut butter Twix bars. They were my weakness. I couldn’t resist the crunchy shortbread crust. that deliciously sweet peanut butter middle and of course, the chocolate coating,

Anyone else?

I don’t buy candy bars any longer as I don’t crave the sweets of my childhood, and also because I love to make healthy desserts and snacks at home and create my own better-for-you versions.

Twix bars would be way too sweet for me now, and I’m sure I would find them rather lacking without the nutrient-dense, healthy ingredients I am now used to.

Since I started making my own healthier desserts at home, I decided to try to ‘healthify’ and recreate this classic favourite so that everyone can enjoy them.

These are Twix bars with a twist. This healthier, homemade version has four delicious layers: a nutty base layer, raspberry jam, a caramel layer and a chocolate coating, but it’s a ‘heathified’ version of the classic chocolate bar.

The Twix bar is a really popular bar to make and there’s probably about a million recipes online already, but I have tried to keep this one as simple as possible. Simple is best, as it means a) I’m more likely to make it b) chances are I have the ingredients already.  I think I am really a lazy healthy foodie at heart.

Why are Twix bars considered not-so-healthy?

Well, here is an ingredient list:

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter,Chocolate, Skim Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Pgpr, Artificial Flavors), Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Skim Milk, Dextrose, Less Than 2% - Salt, Cocoa Powder, Soy Lecithin, Modified Corn Starch, Baking Soda, Artificial Flavor.

In comparison here is the homemade Twix version ingredient list:

Ingredients: Almonds, Coconut, Dates, Peanut Butter, Raspberries, Chia Seeds, Honey, Salt, Dark Chocolate.

There are only 9 ingredients needed for my homemade Twix bars recipe !

The thing I love most about these is that they area MUCH healthier version of the classic bar. There is nothing processed, no refined sugar, animal ingredients, no additives, just nuts, dates and chocolate!

They sound too good to be true, but one bite and you will fall in love. I happily munched my way through two in the space of an hour after making them and was eyeing up a third one!

Rich and gooey, naturally sweet, slightly salty and no baking involved. A bit of blending, some chocolate melting and you are one step away from a homemade sweet shop.

They keep well in the fridge but can also be wrapped in paper and taken to school or work in lunch boxes. Perfect to take to a party too, if you care to share them.

Or do what I’m doing and making another big batch just for me and labelling it ‘self care’. I mean, that’s what it is, right?!

 

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword chocolate raspberry bars no bake, copycat twix bars, healthy candy bars, healthy raspberry caramel chocolate bars, healthy twix bars

Servings 12

Ingredients

Base Crust

• 2 cups almonds, blanched
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

Raspberry Jam

• 2 cups raspberries fresh or frozen
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds

Caramel Layer

• 2 cups dates, soaked for 30 minutes and drained
• 1/2 cup peanut (or almond or cashew) butter
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup peanuts

Chocolate Coating

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

Base Crust

• Line an 8 x 8” baking pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting.

  Place almonds into a food processer and process until broken down and crumbly. Add dates and coconut oil and continue to process until mixture is sticky and well combined.

  Press the base mixture into the bottom of your pan or dish evenly.

  Refrigerate while you prepare the raspberry jam.

Raspberry Jam

• Place raspberries in a small saucepan and simmer for a few minutes until they release their juices. Break them up a little with a fork and continue to simmer for a few minutes then turn off heat. Add your chia seeds and honey.

  Leave aside to cool and thicken.

  When cool, remove your chilled base crust and spread your raspberry jam over it evenly with a spatula or back of a spoon. Freeze for at least 1-2 hours until the raspberry sets so it doesn't run into the caramel layer when you add it.

Caramel Layer

• Place all your ingredients for the caramel (except the peanuts) into the food processor until it resembles thick gooey caramel.

  Lastly, add the peanuts and pulse a few times to combine.

  Be careful not to over process as the whole peanuts add some texture variance and give some different sized ‘bits’ in your bars.

  Using a spatula or back of a spoon, press the caramel layer evenly onto the frozen raspberry layer.

  Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Chocolate Coating

• Remove the bars from the baking pan using the parchment paper handles and cut into 12 bars (or more smaller squares) using a sharp knife.

  Place in fridge while you melt the chocolate for coating the bars.

  Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Remove bars from fridge, skewer each one, or use 2 forks to hold each one, or a fork holding them underneath, dip into the melted chocolate. Then place on a rack to dry.

  Keep refrigerated. If bars are frozen allow them to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften before serving.

  Store in fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

   

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites