Healthy Twix Bars – can you believe it? Sounds more like a dream. Well, of course you can’t compare them to an apple, but compared to regular twix bars or chocolate bars they are healthy: gluten-free, no milk and no refined sugar.
That doesn’t mean that they are low in calories, but the ingredients are all natural and therefore simply a better alternative if you feel like having a sweet treat. You can prepare these chocolate bars in no time at all. The layer of chocolate and caramel melts right in your mouth and is just incredibly delicious.
Tools & Equipment
- 23x 13cm / 9×5-inch loaf pan
- Cutting board
- Large bowl
- Medium saucepan
- Parchment paper
- Sharp knife
- Silicone spatula
- Small bowl
Recipe Tips
Flour: if you find that almond flour is too rich or you prefer the taste of coconut, you can swap half of the almond flour for coconut flour.
Honey: in case you do not have honey on hand or do not like it, you can use maple syrup instead.
Peanut Butter: you can use any nut or seed butter for the caramel layer. The butter can be creamy or crunchy, both types work just fine. Go with what you like best.
Prevent Chocolate from Cracking: do not let the Twix bars sit in the freezer for more than 5-10 minutes, otherwise the chocolate layer may crack when you cut them and use a long, sharp knife. Press the knife down gently and wipe it clean after each cut. Do not cut the chocolate directly after removing from the freezer, let it sit on the counter for a few minutes.
Directions – How to Make Twix Bars
Start by making the layer of shortbread and caramel, as they both need to cool completely before you can continue. You can finish off the chocolate layer when you take the baking pan out of the freezer.
Make the Shortbread Layer
Line the loaf pan with parchment and set aside. Preheat the oven to 177°C / 350°F and weigh your ingredients.
In a large bowl mix together the almond flour, melted coconut oil and warmed honey and stir until all ingredients are well combined.
Pour the shortbread mixture into the baking pan by using a silicone spatula. Bake the shortbread on the middle rack for 10-12 minutes or until it begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
Make the Caramel Layer
Gather your ingredients.
Mix together peanut butter, coconut oil, vanilla, maple syrup and sea salt in a medium saucepan over medium to low heat until fully liquefied. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
Make the Chocolate Layer
Pour the chocolate chips into a small bowl and add coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second steps, stirring in between until completely melted. If you don’t have a microwave you can use your stove to melt the chocolate.
Assemble the Twix Bars
Once the shortbread and caramel have cooled completely, pour the caramel over the shortbread layer and spread evenly. Place in the freezer until completely hardened.
Remove from the freezer and check first whether the caramel has already hardened completely. Pour melted chocolate over the fully set caramel layer and spread out evenly. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and place back in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes to harden.
Remove the hardened mold from the pan by pulling the sides of the parchment. and place it on a cutting board. Use a large sharp knife to cut into strips or smaller pieces as desired.
Storage: you can store these healthy Twix Bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
My Summary for Twix Bars
Difficulty: simple.
Taste: they do not taste like regular Twix to me, but nevertheless they are really delicious: chocolaty, nutty and cookie-like.
Texture: a layer of chocolate, caramel and shortbread, which together result in a creamy and crunchy chocolate bar. Both the chocolate and caramel layers melt in your mouth.
PROS: these chocolate bars are easy to make and a healthier alternative to regular chocolate bars. I’ll definitely make them again.
CONS: the shortbread layer on its own is a little dry, so next time I will make some adjustments here.
