This candy bar has a long history. Nestlé launched the bar in the mid-1960s as the $100,000 Bar, heavily promoting the chewiness and richness of the caramel.
Within a few years, it was a first-tier candy, vying for a spot in the top ten most popular and sporting a killer tagline: “A fortune in flavor.”
The name change to 100 Grand came 20 years later. Now-a-days the 100 Grand bar is still available but unlikely to ever live up to bigger names of the candy universe.
But it was time to ‘healthify’ the recipe and this is what I have done. This healthier version of the 100 grand candy bar is gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free, and made with just 5 ingredients! They are the perfect easy no-bake dessert.
Compare this new recipe ingredients to the ingredients in the original candy bar:
Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Sugar, Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Crisped Rice (Rice Flour, Sugar, Barley Malt, Salt), Coconut Oil, Butter, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor.
So this ‘healthified’ recipe has had all that sugar, corn syrup, (natural flavours??) and chemical sounding stuff gone and only good stuff put back in so you can feel good about eating it or making it for someone in your family as a wee treat or gift.
The best part about this healthy candy bar is that the flavor possibilities are endless! You can add anything and everything to the basic recipe. You could add some chopped nuts or some dried fruit or even seeds like hemp seeds for extra protein.
I whip up this recipe pretty often for myself, because it’s quick and easy, and satisfies my chocolate cravings instantly! It’s great for a quick snack or even a dessert when after a meal you still are yearning for a ‘lil somethin’.
The wholefood ingredients in this recipe add to your health rather than take away from it like the old fashioned sugar laden candy. Cashew butter is loaded with fiber and minerals, including calcium, potassium and magnesium, which can help balance blood sugar and lower cholesterol.
Paired with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder, heart-healthy coconut oil and a splash of mineral-rich honey, this candy is a guilt-free indulgence! One little bite makes me happy in an instant. It’s soft and chewy and it melts in your mouth – so beautiful.
This healthier confectionary delight offers layers of crispy rice, smooth caramel, and a lavish coating of milk chocolate. I top my bars with a sprinkle of sea salt for a perfect sweet salty combination.
Whip up your own batch of this super healthy candy in just a few minutes, freeze to harden, and keep in the freezer so it is ready at a moment’s notice.
Whether it’s for a pre- or post-workout energy boost, or to satisfy that 3 o’clock snack craving, these healthy candy is the golden ticket.
I hope you will enjoy it as often as I do.
100 Grand Bar (Healthier Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
Caramel Layer
- 1 cup cashew butter (or any other nut/seed butter)
- 1/2 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
Instructions
Caramel Layer
- Line a 8 x 5-inch loaf pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some over hanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting. Or use a silicon candy mold or muffin liners. Add the cashew butter and dates to a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Spoon the mixture out into the bottom of the lined loaf pan and smooth it out. Or place a spoonful in each muffin cup or mold. Place in the freezer until frozen (4-6 hours).
Chocolate Coating
- Once the bars are frozen, make the chocolate coating. Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in medium 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.Once melted, remove from the heat and mix in the rice cereal.Remove the frozen caramel from the freezer and remove from pan using the parchment paper handles. Cut into 8-10 bars or more smaller squares. Or pop out of silicon candy mold.Skewer each bar or use 1 or 2 forks to hold each one and dip into the melted chocolate. Or hold the bar over the melted chocolate and spoon the chocolate over each bar. Then place on a tray lined with parchment paper. Place back in the freezer until the chocolate coating has hardened.Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
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