Happy Halloween!
Kind of a bummer it fell on a Monday, huh? That definitely won’t stop me from eating way too much candy and staying up way too late tonight, though!
Some people get really passionate about Halloween. I’m generally not one of them, although I’m never one to turn down an excuse to dress up and eat chocolate.
But when I came to college, I realized that Halloween was kind of a cultural phenomenon. And that it lasted not just one night, but an entire weekend. When you’re as stressed about careers, classes, and the future as college students are, you tend to really welcome a weekend where you pretend you’re living a responsibility-free life.
Recently, I’ve been really trying to avoid processed foods. I’m lucky to go to a school where local, organic plant-based eating is prioritized, but when it comes to desserts, the options can be slim for a healthy eater.
This summer, I experimented a lot with making my own confections, and I thought Halloween was a great time to share one of my favorite recipes with you!
These candy bars are secretly health food, but don’t tell anyone. Beginning with a peanut butter base, these vegan and gluten-free bars are filled with vanilla date caramel, and topped with velvety chocolate and crunchy peanuts. They taste like a decadent cross between a snickers, a milky way, and a reese’s peanut butter cup.
They’re ridiculously healthy, actually delicious, and perfect for eating this week after the inevitable feast of peanut m&ms and mini twix bars. Happy Halloween!
- ⅔ cup powdered peanut butter
- 3 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup pitted dates
- ⅓ cup boiling water
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup vegan chocolate chips, melted
- Optional: crushed peanuts for topping
- In a medium bowl, combine maple syrup, vanilla extract, and powdered peanut butter until a paste forms. Add almond milk or water to bowl 1 tsp at a time, stirring until a dough-like consistency is reached.
- Form dough into 2-inch long rectangles and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet and chill in freezer.
- Meanwhile, process dates in a food processor. Add water 1 tbsp at a time until a paste-like consistency is achieved. Add vanilla extract and pulse until mixed. Spread date caramel over peanut butter base. Return to freezer to chill.
- Dip candy bars into melted chocolate and sprinkle with peanuts- freeze for 15 minutes before serving.
I hear ya about Halloween! It’s a great time to just dress up and act silly to blow off some stress…and the fact that candy is involved just makes it that much better. I love this healthy candy idea that you came up with here. That vanilla date caramel sounds quite tasty!!
Thanks!
I’m not really into Halloween either, except that I do like passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters, and of course, eating candy myself! 🙂 I would gladly devour these pb caramel candy bars, though. They look SO good, Medha! Happy Halloween!
Thank you 🙂
I just can’t handle the look of that melted chocolate! These sound delectable!!
Thank you, Annie!
These candy bars look fantastic, Medha! The only reason I love Halloween is because of all the candy and chocolate! 🙂
Haha same!
I’m all for these delicious homemade candy bars! They look incredible, and I’m majorly loving the peanut butter caramel filling.
Thanks!
I am always up for healthy desserts, yum! Have fun Medha 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
I’ve always thought it’s so fun to make candy around Halloween and Christmas. The combo of dates, peanut butter, and chocolate sounds so good!
Thanks!
You are so smart to experiment and create this awesome-looking candy bar! Way to go! It looks totally delicious and I’d definitely trade you some of my pile of leftover twix bars and what not for some of yours!
Thanks, Monica!
I don’t love Halloween either, but I’ll take anything with peanut butter! I really want some of these peanut butter caramel candy bars!
I’m the same way about PB 🙂
These look so delicious, Medha! I’m all about chocolate and peanut butter and love that these are a nutritious treat in disguise.
Thank you!
Halloween gets me every time, all the candy everywhere! But I love the idea of a healthier candy bar I can feel good about eating. These look wonderful, Medha!
Thank you! 🙂
These look scrumptious. I’m just wondering how long do they keep for?
I store them in the fridge, and I would estimate up to a week, although they always disappear quickly! 🙂
My husband is the big Halloween fan but I’m not that into it either besides dressing my kids up haha. Love these healthier candy bars! Perfect for an afternoon pickup or even a workout! 🙂
Thanks, Kelly!
I’m not passionate about Halloween — my kids are older now too so that doesn’t help! I am passionate about chocolate, however, and these homemade candy bars look off the charts delicious!
Haha thanks! Chocolate is the real passion 🙂