Healthier homemade payday bars

These sweet and salty healthier homemade payday bars are super similar to the classic candy bars, but are vegan, gluten and refined sugar-free, and made with only a few ingredients.

Growing up, my dad was the biggest payday fan. He’d always have them around, so they’re so nostalgic to me. I knew I had to make a homemade version with better for you ingredients and I couldn’t be happier with these! They couldn’t be easier, too!

Ingredients in healthy homemade payday bars vs the original payday bar:

I am all for treating yourself to the real deal, but I love having something sweet after my meals or as a night-cap, so having better-for-me options on hand is super helpful! Let’s take a peak at the ingredients in a classic payday bar.

Classic Payday bar: Peanuts, sugar, corn syrup, skim milk, vegetable oil (palm oil, sunflower oil), contains 2% or less of: salt, carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides.

These homemade payday bars: Peanuts, peanut butter, canned coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla, sea salt.

As you can see, the ingredients in these homemade payday bars are so much simpler than the classic payday bar, without any of the unnecessary additives. A lot of homemade payday bar recipes include marshmallows, but this version is made without marshmallows to keep them refined sugar free!

How is the texture?

The texture is pretty similar, however, because I wanted to keep the ingredients short and sweet, these come out just slightly different. I feel like the originals are a little more chewy, while these are a bit more fudgy. Regardless, the flavors are on point and they are so similar! If you did want a chewier payday bar, you could try subbing half of the maple syrup with coconut sugar – I think this will help!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Peanuts: I love using roasted peanuts for a deeper flavor, but any will work! If you can’t have peanuts, you can substitute another nut, like almonds.
• Peanut Butter: I always opt for an all-natural peanut butter with only peanuts or peanuts and sea salt for ingredients. If you need to substitute something for peanut butter, almond or cashew butter work great.
• Canned coconut milk: Full-fat canned coconut milk will create the best results. I don’t recommend using light coconut milk. If you’re not plant-based, you could try using heavy cream.
• Maple Syrup & Coconut sugar: I personally love using a mixture of both, because it creates a chewier texture, like the original candy bar! However, i’ve used all maple syrup and we loved it as well, it just turns out a little more fudge-like! You can sub honey for the maple syrup, if needed!
• Vanilla extract & sea salt

How to make healthier homemade paydays

First, you’ll make the caramel layer by combining the coconut milk, maple syrup, coconut sugar, vanilla, and sea salt in a small saucepan. You’ll bring it to a boil over medium heat. Stirring constantly, let the mixture boil for 5 minutes. Then reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 35-45 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to reduce and deepen in color.

Next, you’ll remove it from the heat and stir in the peanut butter.

Then you’ll add a layer of peanuts to the bottom of a lined loaf pan, before pouring the peanut butter caramel mixture over top. Then you’ll top the caramel layer with some more peanuts, pressing them down into the top, gently.

Pop the tray in the freezer to firm up for 3-4 hours before cutting into pieces!

Storing Healthier Homemade Payday bars

These are best stored in an air-tight container in the freezer!

Other homemade candy recipes you’ll love!

• Healthier vegan butterfingers
• Vegan Snickers Cheesecake
• Healthier pecan snickers
• Healthy vegan fudge

Healthier Homemade Payday Bars

These sweet and salty homemade payday bars are super similar to the classic candy bars, but are vegan, gluten and refined sugar-free, and made with only a few ingredients!

4.50 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Freezer time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Squares

Calories 1 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups peanuts
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 can full-fat coconut milk
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of sea salt

Instructions

 

• Add the coconut milk, oil, vanilla, sea salt, maple syrup, and coconut sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Let the mixture boil for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Let the mixture simmer for 35-40 minutes, until it deepens in color and starts reducing. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter until smooth.
• Line a bread loaf pan with parchment paper. Add 1 cup of peanuts to the bottom, spreading them out evenly.
• Pour the caramel mixture over top of the peanuts, spreading it out evenly.
• Top the caramel layer with the remaining 1 cup of peanuts, pressing them super gently into the top.
• Place the pan in the freezer for 2-4 hours, or overnight, before cutting into pieces.

Notes

Store these in an air-tight container in the freezer.

Keyword caramel, healthy dessert, homemade candy, payday, Peanut Butter, vegan dessert