When Mother Nature gives you a rainy, dreary weekend in October, I say dive into Halloween prep. Look online for costume ideas, troll the dollarstore aisles for decorations, buy a massive pumpkin, and make candy bars. You’ll be feeling better in no time!
As a kid, I always loved Crunch Bars. There’s just something about crispy rice cereal wrapped in chocolate that is so much fun to eat. Luckily, it’s really easy to make a vegan version of the popular candy at home. Unlike the store bought bar, my version is free of dairy, soy, and artificial flavour.
To take this bar to the next level, I drizzled on a peanut butter shell made with all-natural peanut butter, a bit of coconut oil (to help solidify the drizzle when chilled) and sweetener. For shizzle, my drizzle. As always, the chocolate PB combo was a match made in heaven. If you’d like a nut-free version, feel free to swap out the PB for sunflower seed butter (like Sunbutter) or you can just skip it entirely. Either way, this mini bar is an easy way to get your chocolate fix and it would make a fun treat to serve for Halloween too!
Mini Crunch Bars with Peanut Butter Shell Drizzle
Yield
12 mini bars
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Chill time
15
Total time
Like the store bought candy bar, only much tastier and better for you! This dark chocolate bar comes together in about about 15 minutes flat. Try serving it at a Halloween party, but make sure to keep the bars in the freezer until just before serving. They will get soft at room temperature so you can try serving them on a chilled plate. One thing is for sure, they won't last long!
Ingredients
Crunch Bar
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 tablespoons liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, etc.), or to taste
- pinch of fine grain sea salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup rice crisp cereal
Peanut Butter Shell Drizzle
- 2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter of choice)
- 1.5-2 teaspoons coconut oil, as needed to thin out
- 1 teaspoon liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, etc.)
Directions
- For the crunch bar: Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with two pieces of parchment paper, one going each way. In a pot over low heat, gently melt the coconut oil and then whisk in the rest of the crunch bar ingredients (except the rice crisp) to taste. Once the mixture is smooth remove from heat and stir in the rice crisp cereal. Pour mixture into prepared pan, smooth out, and then freeze for 10-15 minutes, or until the chocolate is solid.
- For the PB drizzle: Melt the coconut oil and then whisk in the peanut butter and liquid sweetener. Adjust to taste if desired. Scoop into a plastic baggie.
- Remove crunch bar from freezer and cut into 12 small bars. Snip a tiny hole in the baggie and drizzle the PB mixture onto the bar (you can also try drizzling it with a spoon, if desired).
- Return bars to the freezer until the PB drizzle is solid, about 5 minutes.
- Serve straight from the freezer or fridge. Bars will melt slightly at room temperature so I don't suggest keeping them out long. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
Tip:
Note: To make these bars nut-free, use sunflower seed butter (I like Sunbutter brand) in place of the peanut butter.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)Cookbook Giveaway Winner!
The winner of a signed copy of my cookbook goes to: Beth S.!
Congrats Beth!! I’ll shoot you an email this morning to collect your info. A BIG thank you to everyone who participated in the What Did U Do? Farm Sanctuary campaign! I just found out the fundraiser is extended until October 9th, so there is still time to donate if you still want to help out. hugs!
It’s rainy here today and I love crunch bars, kismet! These look super delicious.
I used to be obsessed with these when I was a kid. I am so happy you created a much healthier version!
I love that I have all these ingredients. Yum!! Making these soon!
Mmm.. they look great. I’ve been trying to make crispie bars, but whatever I try the puffed rice always goes soft and chewy rather than crisp. I’ll have to try this recipe to see if I can master it…
Ooh I love this peanut shell thing you’ve got going here! I totally agree with you – rainy weekends are a great opportunity for cooking! I was having a bit of trouble with lighting (my place gets very dark when the sun isn’t out!) but managed to come up with a few stunners. Your photos look absolutely gorgeous today Ange! :)
I hear you on the dark photography conditions! I find shooting on a white surface helps when it’s dark out. :)
Is there a way to “share” these recipes on Facebook, instead of just liking them?
Hey Jennifer, If you post the recipe link on facebook, you can share them that way and a pic will pop up and a short description of the post. hope this helps!
These look perfect for Halloween! I love that you added the peanut butter drizzle, ’cause chocolate and PB are the perfect combination!
These look sooo good! Gonna make them, so will just have to hit the gym a little harder than usual coz there’s no way I can eat just one!!!!
these look delicious, angela! perfect for halloween and anytime at all.
I am so making these for Halloween this year! I never would have thought that making candy bars at home was so simple.
You are the BEST “for shizzle my drizzle”!! haha!!
heheh :)
Oh my goodnes.. these look amazing! They are the perfect vegan treat for halloween.. or every day until halloween! Love that they are so easy to make. And a pb + chocolate combo is perfect!
Oh my goodness! Those look fantastic. I have had a serious sweet tooth lately but didn’t have a good way to meet it. This will be perfect. I can’t wait to try it.
Baking is definitely the best way to spend a rainy day inside. These remind me of Star Crunches. I’m not sure if they sell them in Canada. Of course, these are way healthier and more yummy looking. And life isn’t complete without a little drizzle. ;)
I’ve always wondered about peanut butter and coconut oil. I love it with chocolate, so I was pretty sure peanut butter would work well. I guess I have a reason to try it now. This recipe looks great.
Oh my! What delicious evil have you brought (happily) into my life!?! My husband will go nuts over these!
Totally pinning! I’m excited because I already have the ingredients at home too!
Easy bars that only take a few minutes! I love a crispy bar I am looking forward to trying them…. :)
Wow, these look ridiculously awesome. I’d like to make them soon. When you say brown rice crisps, is that unsweetened? I’m not sure we have those here, just the ones sold as cereal which I’m sure have some sugar (and other stuff) in them.
Yes they are lightly sweetened. As far as cereals go, they are quite low in sugar with 3 grams per cup :) at least for this brand, 365
These are going to be the death of me. YUM! <3