Healthy Pecan snickers (high protein, no bake)

These healthy Pecan Snickers Bars will quickly become your new favorite high protein, no-bake snack or dessert! Made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients, these bars have that classic nougat base, nut butter caramel filling, crunchy pecans, topped in chocolate and sea salt. They are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and grain-free!

Honestly, there’s nothing I love more than a Snickers. Don’t get me wrong, I could get down with a Twix bar, Almond Joy, or Butterfinger, but Snickers were probably my favorite candy bar growing up, but what’s not to love about the sweet and salty marriage of caramel, peanuts, and chocolate? My healthy homemade Snickers bites are one of the most popular recipes on my blog, so as we come into fall, I had to put a fall spin on them!

I saw Pecan Snickers Bars at a gas station over the weekend and my brain started doing flips. So I took my Snickers bites recipes and made them into bars, switched up the caramel layer just a tad, and added pecans – DELICIOUS. These could not be easier to make, although they may look difficult or fancy. After you make them, you won’t be able to stop!

Healthy Pecan Snickers Recipe video

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Wholesome – these healthier homemade Snickers bars are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free (paleo friendly), and grain-free! They’re naturally sweetened with maple syrup and way lower in sugar than a classic candy bar!
• Easy – made in one bowl, these bars couldn’t be easier. Sure, they may have three layers, but each one comes together in just a couple of minutes. If they didn’t need any freezing/firming time, they’d be done in under 15 minutes! No baking is required!
• They make a great snack or healthy dessert! Meal prep a batch to have on hand for an after-dinner dessert or whenever you want a sweet treat!

How to make healthy pecan snickers

Full recipe, measurements, & instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Parchment paper
• Loaf pan

Ingredients

• Almond flour: Almond flour helps create a chewy, light nougat texture. I purchase mine on Amazon as it’s the cheapest! You can also use ground cashews or tiger nut flour for a nut-free option!
• Oat flour: You can make oat flour homemade by blending oats in a blender or use store-bought!
• Protein powder: Because protein powder adds some flavor and sweetness to the recipe, be sure to use a protein you really love the flavor of! I like to use Macro Mike (the vanilla buttercream or salted caramel are my favorite for this recipe!) Use my code “amb-dani” for a discount!
• Maple syrup: Honey or agave also work!
• Coconut oil: Avocado oil makes a great substitute.
• Pecans: If you can’t have pecans, feel free to use any other nut (peanuts or cashews are great!)
• Cashew butter: You can also use almond butter or pecan butter! If you want an even more fall/festive spin, use my favorite Snickerdoodle nut butter from Groundxup! (Code: DANI for a discount!)
• Pantry staples: vanilla extract, sea salt

Steps to make healthy pecan snickers bars

• Make the nougat base: Simply add everything to a mixing bowl and mix well until a nougaty mixture forms. I like to use my hands, to really get everything mixed together well. Using a spatula, it may seem like the dough won’t come together – switch to your hands! Taste & adjust as needed. Press the nougat mixture into the bottom of your parchment-lined loaf pan.
• Make the caramel layer: Mix together all of the caramel ingredients together in the mixing bowl until completely smooth. Pour it over the nougat base, using a spatula to spread it out. Then sprinkle the pecans over top. Place the pan in the freezer for 2 or so hours, until it’s firm enough to cut into slices.
• Dip in chocolate: Cut them into bars or bites. Grab a cookie sheet or large plate and place the parchment paper and bars on top. To melt the chocolate, use the double boiler method or melt it in the microwave. To melt in the microwave, add the chocolate and coconut oil to a small bowl (or the same mixing bowl) & heat in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well between each, until completely smooth.
• Carefully dip each bar into the chocolate, then use a fork to lift it out, scraping the bottom of the bars across the edge of the bowl to allow excess to come off. Then place back on the parchment paper lined plate or cookie sheet. Place the bars in the freezer for 30 minutes or so to allow the chocolate to firm before moving them to an air-tight container.

Healthy snickers bars with dates

If you’d rather use a date caramel for the filling, feel free to do so! I prefer the texture of the nut butter caramel, but I do have a date caramel recipe that I enjoy! Keep in mind the date caramel doesn’t firm up as much as the nut butter caramel and is messier/oozes out of the bars more.

Date caramel recipe:

• 10 medjool dates, pitted
• ½ cup non-dairy milk
• 1 cup crunchy cashew butter, almond butter, or peanut butter, divided
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Add the dates, milk, half cup of peanut butter, salt, and vanilla extract to a small food processor or high-speed blender & blend until completely smooth. Transfer the caramel to a bowl, then add the remaining half cup of peanut butter, stirring until well combined. Then you would spread this over the nougat base and top with pecans.

FAQ’s

• Storing healthy pecan snickers bars: Store leftover bars in an air-tight container in the freezer! They are great straight from the freezer, but you can also let them sit out at room temp for 5 minutes or so prior to eating, for a softer texture.
• Can I use different types of nuts? Yes! Use whatever you like best. If you can’t have peanuts, cashews make a great substitute. Sunflower seed butter is a great nut-free option.
• What sweeteners work best? You’ll want to use a sticky sweetener like maple syrup or honey.

More healthy candy bar recipes to try

• 2 ingredient Rolo’s
• Healthy Twix Cups
• Almond joys
• The best vegan frozen yogurt
• Vegan cookie dough protein smoothie
• Healthier Mr. Goodbar candy bars
• Snickers protein brownies (no bake)
• Cinnamon roll energy bites

Healthy Pecan Snickers Bars

These healthy Pecan Snickers Bars will quickly become your new favorite high protein, no-bake snack or dessert! Made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients, these bars have that classic nougat base, nut butter caramel filling, crunchy pecans, topped in chocolate and sea salt. They are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and grain-free!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

Nougat

• 3/4 cup oat flour
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 5 tbsp your favorite protein powder *Linked my favorite below
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp coconut oil or avocado oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1-3 tbsp milk, of choice, as/if needed

Caramel

• 3/4 cup cashew butter
• 1 scoop collagen powder *optional. Do NOT use other protein powders. Collagen is the only one that will dissolve into the caramel.
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract & Sea salt
• 1/3-1/2 cup chopped pecans

Chocolate coating

• 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars
• 2 tsp coconut oil
• Flakey sea salt

Instructions

 

• Note: You can make these into smaller bites in a mini muffin tin or use a standard loaf pan (My loaf pan is 9×5).

Nougat base

• note: if you want a thicker base, you can double the nougat recipe!

  Add all of the nougat ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix well until a dough forms. It shouldn't be dry but shouldn't be overly sticky. I like to use my hands, to really get everything mixed together well. Using a spatula, it may seem like the dough won't come together – switch to your hands!
• NOTE: If the dough is too dry, add 1-3 tbsp milk (i like cashew milk), one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together. Taste & adjust as needed. If the dough is too wet, add another 2 tbsp of almond flour until it's workable!
• Press the nougat mixture into the bottom of your parchment-lined loaf pan.

Caramel layer

• Combine all of the caramel ingredients together in the mixing bowl, mixing until completely smooth. Pour it over the nougat base, using a spatula to spread it out. Then sprinkle the pecans over top.
• Place the pan in the freezer for 2 or so hours, until it's firm enough to cut into slices.

Dip in chocolate

• Once firm, remove from the pan and cut them into bars or bites. Grab a cookie sheet or large plate and place the parchment paper and bars on top.
• To melt the chocolate, use the double boiler method or melt it in the microwave. To melt in the microwave, add the chocolate and coconut oil to a small bowl (or the same mixing bowl) & heat in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well between each, until completely smooth.
• Carefully dip each bar into the chocolate, then use a fork to lift it out, scraping the bottom of the bars across the edge of the bowl to allow excess to come off. Then place back on the parchment paper lined plate or cookie sheet.
• Place the bars in the freezer for 30 minutes or so to allow the chocolate to firm before moving them to an air-tight container.

Video

Notes

• • Storing healthy pecan snickers bars: Store leftover bars in an air-tight container in the freezer! They are great straight from the freezer, but you can also let them sit out at room temp for 5 minutes or so prior to eating, for a softer texture.

• • Can I use different types of nuts? Yes! Use whatever you like best. If you can’t have peanuts, cashews make a great substitute. Sunflower seed butter is a great nut-free option.

• • What sweeteners work best? You’ll want to use a sticky sweetener like maple syrup or honey.
  • Protein powder: Because protein powder adds some flavor and sweetness to the recipe, be sure to use a protein you really love the flavor of! I like to use Macro Mike (the vanilla buttercream or salted caramel are my favorite for this recipe!) Use my code “amb-dani” for a discount!

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