These puffed rice chocolate crunch bars are soft and the crunch is delicious, a healthier version of the popular Nestle Crunch bar and this one has only 3 ingredients.
Puffed rice chocolate crunch bars are thick with a crunchy texture, and a melt-in-your mouth texture. They are easily made of just chocolate, peanut butter and cereal, quinoa, or granola. Like my chocolate rice cakes and my chocolate puffed quinoa bars these easy homemade crunch bars are higher in protein than store bought bars.
These are easy to make and easier to eat. Wash them down with anything from a hot pumpkin spice latte or my light and foamy banana milk.
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Why You'll Love This
Quick and easy. The base of this recipe is only 3 ingredients, and any other ingredients you choose to add it. So easy!
Allergy-free & diet friendly. Depending on the chocolate and cereal you use, these bars can be dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free, vegan and even nut free.
Nestle crunch copycat. Like the commercial candy bar made by Nestle company called the Nestle Crunch Bar, these bars are simply chocolate with a crunch. However homemade you can avoid the processed additives.
Ingredients
Chocolate – Use chocolate chips or chop up your favorite dark chocolate bar.
Peanut butter - Peanut butter adds protein and softens the chocolate.
Puffed rice cereal – Use puffed rice, crispy rice cereal, puffed quinoa, cereals such as Rice Krispies, Kasha or Smart Bran. Some granolas can work, but do not use rolled oats, they will become soggy.
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
Flavor the chocolate. You can use a flavored chocolate bar, such as mint or chocolate orange. Or add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper for a spicy flavor. And instant coffee for a mocha chocolate flavor.
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Keep it nut-free. Use sunflower seed butter, or swap the peanut butter for full fat coconut milk from a can, about half the amount.
Step by Step Instructions
For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Preparation. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute, and additional 15 seconds after that if needed. If the peanut butter is clumpy, you can microwave it also in a separate container for 15 second intervals and stir until creamy.
Step 1. Add both melted chocolate and creamy peanut butter to your crunch ingredient.
Step 2. Stir the mixture with a spoon.
Step 3. Pour the mixture into pan lined with foil or parchment paper. Chill 30-60 minutes to set!
Step 4. Slice the bars in half, and then cut those in half and so on, until you have 16-20 bars.
Recipe Tips
Melt your nut butter in the microwave for 15 seconds to make it easier to measure. Stir it up in the jar to be sure oils are more incorporated.
When it is time to slice squares, dip your knife in a pot of boiling water, wipe it off and make a single cut. Repeat until you have cut all squares.
FAQS
Store chocolate crunch bars in a sealed container for 1 week in the refrigerator. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Yes, the store bought crunch bar by Nestle's is made of crisped rice. Your homemade bars can be made with puffed rice or crisped rice although the crisped version will keep its crunch longer.
More Chocolate Snacks
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Chocolate Crunch Bars (puffed rice)
Equipment
- sharp knife
- break apart candy mold optional
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar
- ¾ cup peanut butter any nut butter
- ¾ cup puffed cereal rice, kashi, puffed quinoa
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Instructions
Prep
- Line a pan with parchment paper. Use a large loaf pan for fat bars, and an 8x8-inch pan for thinner bars.
Make the bars
- Add the chocolate chips to a heat safe glass measuring cup, and melt the mixture in the microwave for 1 minute, and 15 second intervals after that.¾ cup peanut butter, 1 ¾ cups chocolate chips
- Measure the peanut butter and if it is not creamy, microwave in a separate heat safe container in 30 second intervals until it is creamy.
- Stir the melted chocolate and peanut butter together in a bowl, and then fold in the puffed cereal.¾ cup puffed cereal
- Pour mixture into parchment-lined pan.
- You can sprinkle options on top or leave plain.
- Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to allow it to set, and slice! Enjoy!
- Slice by running a sharp knife under hot faucet water, wipe dry, cut by pressing hot knife down horizontally into slab of chocolate crunch. Repeat as needed for smooth cuts.
Anna says
Made these today at work and they're SO good. They were devoured! 😊
Dee says
Thank you!
Ela says
These bars made me stop breathing for a few seconds because they look out of this world! 😍😍😍 Such a wonderful and easy recipe, Dee. ❤
Dee says
Haha, Ela, what a super nice compliment!
Jess says
These look AMAZING dee!
Dee says
Thank you Jess
Natalie says
These bars look and sound so delicious! Perfect treat to make with kids!
Dee says
Natalie, thank you so much!