SNICKERS SQUARES- Vegan, Grain- Free & Refined Sugar-Free

Remember chocolate bars? It’s pretty hard to forget them. They’re always there. Sitting and staring at you, tempting you. All you want to do is buy your organic kale and get home, but there they are. Whispering to you that they’ll be more delicious than your veggies. It takes all your will power to turn down their advances.

I don’t forget about them, but I don’t buy them either. So what do you do when all you can think about is how delicious the combination of chocolate, peanuts, gooey caramel and soft nougat would be?

You gather a ridiculous combination of ingredients and you create this…

The perfect combination of potatoes, beans and bananas. Wait…what?

SNICKERS SQUARES

Rich chocolate, crunchy peanuts, gooey caramel and soft nougat all in one satisfying square.

Serves 16

Brownie Layer

Bake your favourite healthy brownie recipe in a 9 X 9 greased and parchment paper lined pan.  Let cool.

I used this recipe:

http://happyherbivore.com/2009/05/vegan-blackbean-brownies/

Note: When lining with parchment paper, leave an overhang on two of the sides so you can lift the final product out of the pan for easy cutting. 

Peanut Nougat Layer

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup mashed potato, approximately 1 small baking potato
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup Ricemellow Creme (http://store.veganessentials.com/ricemellow-marshmallow-creme-p1248.aspx)
• 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped peanuts

Instructions: 

1. Cook 1 small potato, remove the skin and mash. Measure out 1/2 cup.
2. Add almond milk and peanut butter to a small sauce pan. Heat over low to melt the peanut butter. Stir frequently until peanut butter is completely melted into the almond milk.
3. Add the mashed potato, Ricemellow Creme and vanilla extract.
4. Stir to combine and use an immersion blender to creme until smooth.
5. Stir in the peanuts.
6. Once brownie is cooled, evenly coat the brownie layer with this peanut nougat.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3 & 4:

Step 5 & 6:

Caramel Layer

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pitted dates, soaked in 1/4 cup hot water for at least 10 minutes
• 3 tbsp cashew butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp tapioca starch

Instructions: 

1. Add dates with soaking water, cashew butter, maple syrup and vanilla to a blender. I used a Magic Bullet. Puree until smooth.
2. Pour into small sauce pan and add tapioca starch.
3. Heat over medium-low and whisk constantly until it begins to thicken. This will take approximately 2 minutes.
4. Once the caramel begins to thicken, remove from heat and let cool.
5. After it has cooled to room temperature, add on top of the peanut nougat.

Steps 1-3:

Step 4 & 5:

Chocolate Layer:

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips, (http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/chocolate-for-baking/)
• 1/4 cup natural peanut butter

Instructions:

1. Add chocolate chips and peanut butter to a microwavable safe bowl.
2. Microwave for 1 minute on power level 5-7.
3. Remove from microwave and stir for 30 seconds. If chocolate chips have not melted completely, continue to microwave at 20-30 second intervals (power level 5-7) until mixture is completely combined. Do not burn the chocolate though!!!
4. Once the caramel layer has set, pour the chocolate layer on top and smooth evenly over entire bar. Note: The caramel layer will not set firm, so drizzle the chocolate layer over the entire brownie to make it possible to smooth the chocolate layer without disturbing the caramel layer. 
5. Place in fridge to set.

Steps 1 & 2:

Steps 3 & 4:

Once the chocolate layer is set, slice and enjoy!

Or, if you’re like me…get too excited and destroy the beautiful piece of art by cutting it like a caveman.

Recipe Inspiration: http://www.jaseyscrazydaisy.com/2012/02/snickers-brownies.html 

And there you go. My very first recipe blog post. Probably could have picked a less intense recipe, but it would be unethical to withhold a snickers square recipe, don’t you agree?

xoxo Erin

UPDATE! This recipe has been submitted to Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Gluten-Free Fridays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Try a New Recipe Tuesday and All My Bloggy Friends.

Advertisement