Vegan Chocolate Crunch Bars

Vegan Chocolate Crunch Bars are the ideal guilt-free, decadent treat that doesn’t require baking. These bars strike the ideal balance between texture and flavor, combining the satisfying crunch of puffed rice with rich, smooth chocolate. In addition to being dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan, these Vegan Chocolate Crunch Bars provide you with a quick energy boost. The best part is that they can be customized to add more flavor and nutrition by adding nuts, seeds, or dried fruit.

STATS

• Diet: Vegan
• Course: Snack or dessert
• Cuisine: American or Western
• Prep done in ten minutes
• Cooking time: None
• 120 minutes will be spent in total, along with chilling
• Size per serve: 1 bar per person(one-twelfth of the yield)
• Number of servings(total): Twelve servings
• Cooking method: No-cooking, Only chilling
• Difficulty: Easy

TOOLS

• Sharp knife
• Mixing bowls
• Double-boiler or microwave-safe bowls
• Siliicone spatula
• Parchment liner
• Baking dish(8 by 8-inches)

INGREDIENTS

• A dash of sea salt
• 1/4 cup of agave syrup
• Chocolate chips, two cups
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
• Coconut oil, two tbsps.
• 2 and 1/2 cups of rice cereal

INGREDIENT NOTES

COCONUT OIL

• This will help the bars to set smoothly. You can swap it with either vegan butter or avocado oil but we always prefer the taste and texture of coconut oil.

SWEETENER

• Adding the agave syrup is optional to add a slight caramel note with some extra sweetness. You may replace it with maple or date syrup as a vegan alternative.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS

• You will need the vegan chocolate chips that must be free from any dairy items. Dark chocolate chips are preferred here. You can try some trusted brands that produce vegan products like Hu or Enjoy Life. You may also use a vegan semi-sweet or a sugar-free version to lower the calories.

VANILLA ESSENCE

• The addition of vanilla essence completes sweet snacks, especially chocolate ones. For a twist, you can use hazelnut or almond essence.

RICE CEREAL

• Adding the puffed rice cereal will let you experience the amazing crunch. Just make sure that they are vegan-friendly and unsweetened. You may also add crunch using puffed quinoa, millet, or buckwheat, but the flavor profile changes a bit.

SALT

• Minor sea salt addition makes a major difference and balances all the flavors. You may also use the kosher salt or Himalayan salt.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. The 8-by-8-inch baking dish’s sides and base should be covered using a parchment liner.
2. Use some extra parchment for easy removal.
3. Add the coconut oil and vegan dark chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl.
4. Run them in the microwave till they melt fully, pause, and stir every thirty seconds.
5. Mix agave syrup, sea salt, and vanilla essence into the melted chocolate.
6. Now fold the puffed rice cereal into that sweet chocolate mixture and coat them evenly.
7. Transfer the mixture into that baking dish(lined).
8. Spread to make the even top and press using a spatula.
9. Put these crunch bars in fridge for 2 hours so they get set.
10. Once they are set, demold the square by holding the extra parchment.
11. Place the cruch square on the board and make 12 uniform bars of it.
12. Your Vegan Crunch Bars are ready to serve!

TIPS

• You can garnish the bars with chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or freeze-dried berries before refrigeration.
• You need to lower the amount of coconut oil to have even firmer bars.
• Add and mix a couple of tablespoons of vegan protein powder to make the protein-boosted bars.

STORING DIRECTIONS FOR LEFTOVERS

CHILLING

• Save the remaining bars in a sealed container. Refrigerate them for approximately ten days.

FREEZING

• Pack the crunchy bars in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze them for approximately 100 days. Defrost them for 15 minutes before serving.

FAQs

Will these bars remain firm at room temperature?

• They can remain firm but softer at normal temperature and even softer if weather becomes warm. It’s better to keep them chilled till serving time.

Will we make these bars sugar-free?

• Yes, skip the agave syrup and choose unsweetened vegan chocolate chips to have these bars sugar-free.

Will the addition of nuts or seeds work?

• Sure! You add pumpkin seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts for the boost of nutrition and crunch.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS/SERVING

Size/serve: 1 bar out of 12 bars
Calories: ~160 kcal
Carbs in total: Twenty grams
Fiber: 2 g
Net carbohydrates: Eighteen grams
Fats: 9 g
Sugar: Ten grams
Proteins: 2 g
Sodium: 30 milligrams