Chocolate Crunch Bars - Vegan (2024)

November 1, 2014 by Tracy | Updated December 20, 2020 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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Make your favorite crispy chocolate candy bar at home! It's easier than you think to make your own Chocolate Crunch Bars - Vegan and gluten-free friendly, too!

Do you have a candy from your childhood? Crunch Bars are definitely one of mine as they were one of my dad's favorites and so when we started this blog it was one of the very first candies we ever made after being inspired by Oh She Glows. Since then it has been made and shared and tweaked and the Chocolate Crunch Bars - Vegan, are still one of our favorite candies to make and one of my favorites to make for my girls. Not only are they made with all natural sweeteners, but also super healthy coconut oil, and the superfood, cacao!

Ingredients Needed

Rice Cereal - To make them gluten free, we love this cereal, but you could also use your favorite gluten filled crispy rice cereal, too.
Coconut Oil - This keeps it's vegan, but you could use butter.
Chocolate Powders - We prefer a mixture of Cocoa and Cacao because of the super food power of cacao, but without being too overwhelmingly rich.
Maple Syrup - Our all natural sweetener of choice, but you could also use honey.
Vanilla Extract - Have you made your own, yet?
Salt - Just a pinch!

Tip: Control the crunch! We love these crunch bars packed with rice cereal, but if you want a lower to chocolate to crisp ratio and crunch, you can definitely reduce the amount.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Even better than the simple, healthy, ingredients - these bars are so easy to make!

Step 1: Heat everything in a saucepan.

Step 2: Add chocolate mixture to rice cereal.

Step 3: Give it all a good mix and then add it to a parchment-lined loaf pan, or baking pan.

Step 4: Spread it into an even layer and then pop in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes.

Step 5: Once it has all set, then thanks to the parchment paper all you need to do is lift it out of the pan (easy - cleany) and then slice!

How delicious do these look?? They are SO GOOD.

These are packed with rice cereal, just the way we like it! But you can definitely reduce the amount of rice cereal, too.

Hands down one of our favorite candies - and so healthy!

Other Favorite Candies

Copycat Butterfinger Candy Bites

Homemade Peppermint Patties

Homemade Mini Almond Joys

Homemade Andes Mints

Inside Out Peanut Butter Cups

These do not last long in our house!

FAQs

Can I make these with butter?

Yup! They of course won't be vegan, but also delicious!

What about another oil?

No, you will need to use something that will solidify so vegetable oil and olive oil won't work.

How do I store them?

In the fridge or freezer. At room temp / warm they will get a little melty and may melt a little in your hands if you take your time eating them. That's why sometimes we cut them into true little bite-sized pieces.

Can I use another sweetener?

Yup! Honey or agave works great.

Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, I n stagram, and Pinterest!

If you want to see more, be sure to sign up for my 5 Easy Ways to Start Cooking From Scratch!

Chocolate Crunch Bars - Vegan

The classic Crunch Bar made at home and Vegan friendly!

4.88 from 31 votes

Equipment

▢
loaf pan or baking pan

Ingredients

▢ 1/3 cup coconut oil
▢ 1/4 cup cocoa powder
▢ 1/4 cup cacao powder
▢ 1/3 cup maple syrup
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ 1 1/2 cup gluten free rice cereal or regular if gluten free isn't needed
▢ pinch of salt

Instructions

Melt coconut oil with cacao powder in small saucepan on low heat. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of salt and mix well.
Add rice cereal to a bowl and then add the chocolate mixture and mix well so that the cereal is completely covered.
Line a loaf pan or a square baking pan with parchment paper. Pour in rice cereal and chocolate mixture and flatten into an even level.
Place in freezer for 20-30 minutes or until it is completely set.
Lift parchment paper out of pan and separate the bar from paper. Cut into bars (of your choice of size) and enjoy!
Keep in freezer or fridge until ready to serve.

Notes

Cut into 9 inch bars or even smaller bite sizes!

Store in fridge or freezer - they can get a little melty when warm so best to keep refrigerated until serving.

Nutrition

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More Candy

Corn Syrup Free Peanut Brittle
Peanut Butter Pecan Crunch Bars
Copycat Butterfinger Candy Bites
Homemade Andes Mints

Reader Interactions

Comments

Kari
January 07, 2023 at 4:25 pm
Hi, do you have to use solid coconut oil and melt? Or can you use liquid? Not very familiar with that process. Thanks! Really want to try this asap!
Reply
- Tracy
  January 07, 2023 at 4:26 pm
  Hi Kari! I find it easiest to melt it to measure it. ☺️ Enjoy, I’d love to hear what you think!
  See Also
  Your Christmas Party Guests Will Devour These Holiday Appetizers
  Reply
Michele
June 29, 2021 at 9:07 am
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for responding. These are delicious with any combination of coco!
Michele
Reply
Michele
June 20, 2021 at 9:36 am
Hi Tracy, Please clarify whether it's 1/4 TOTAL for the chocolate powder. While you do show both cacao and cocoa powders in the photo and mention both in the ingredient list, only 1 is mentioned in the instructions. I realize I can combine them, but don't understand the total. Thanks so much.
Reply
- Tracy
  June 22, 2021 at 6:02 am
  Hi Michele! The total is 1/2 cup, which you can use a combination of both in any way you'd like. I like to split it 1/4 of each. I just mention the 1 in the ingredient list as chocolate powders but the recipe card notes the amount of each. Enjoy!
  Reply
Enah
August 02, 2019 at 9:26 pm
omg i cant wait to try this but with peanuts 😍
thank you❤
Reply
- Tracy
  August 03, 2019 at 8:50 pm
  Peanuts! What a great idea! Let me know how they turn out! 😀
  Reply
Deb
July 11, 2019 at 3:41 am

I’ve been making this recipe since I found it about a year ago. I now have to make big batches because my family can’t stop eating it all as soon as it’s made. It is not too sweet and goes well with fruit and yoghurt which is how we like to eat it
Reply
- Tracy
  July 11, 2019 at 9:57 am
  Deb! I LOVE that! Thank you so much for sharing! So glad you and your family enjoy it!
  Reply
Carmy
July 06, 2019 at 7:29 pm

I got a bunch of rice cereal and this is calling my name!
Reply
Donna
March 13, 2019 at 9:50 pm
I have all the ingredients except for the pure maple syrup could I substitute with molasses?
Reply
- Tracy
  March 18, 2019 at 8:14 am
  Hi Donna, I've never tried this with molasses but because it's so much thicker and isn't quite as sweet, I think it'll change the bar quite a bit. But if you do try it, let me know how it goes!
  Reply
Catalina
February 23, 2019 at 2:19 pm

I love crunchy chocolate bars. These would be perfect for our afternoon snack with a big cup of tea!
Reply
- Tracy
  February 24, 2019 at 9:18 pm
  Definitely!
  Reply
Emmeline Kemperyd
February 23, 2019 at 3:33 am
Oh this just reminded me of these chocolate rice crisps I used to get for Saturday candy when I was a kid - sooo yummy and so addictive! And now I'm seriusly craving them so I'll give your vegan kind a test! Looks absolutely yummy!
Reply
- Tracy
  February 24, 2019 at 9:18 pm
  Thanks, Emmeline!
  Reply
Veronica
February 20, 2019 at 11:56 am

This was super easy and quick to make as well as yummy to eat. I added loads more Rice Krispies. There was no room in the freezer so I put it in the fridge and it still solidified so I could cut it into bars. They were all gone by the next day!
Reply
- Tracy
  February 20, 2019 at 1:28 pm
  That's great to hear, Veronica! We never have them around much longer than a day!
  Reply