The delicious caramel + shortbread + chocolate flavors of a Twix bar in a homemade bite. Try this easy, vegan, grain-free recipe for a healthier halloween treat!
Perhaps even MORE exciting to me than being in the thick of pumpkin spice season is being in the thick of homemade halloween candy season. It’s a little shorter than PS season with a hard out on Oct 31 versus those pumpkin spice treats that can stay relevant through Thanksgiving, so that means we need to make the most of it NOW. And these homemade healthy-ish Twix cups are the sweetest bite-size way to do that.
Homemade Twix Cups vs. Twix Bar
There is a lot to love about this homemade twist on the halloween cookie classic For starters, they are bite-sized which is a lot like fun-sized but without that pesky wrapper between you and the good stuff. Their mini size and how many of them you get out of just one batch makes them the perfect bring and share halloween dessert too. The caramel middle requires absolutely zero cooking or boiling or accidentally burning yourself with sugar, it’s a no-cook-just-whisk situation. And the cookie layer happens to be gluten and grain free, but still so rich and buttery just like a shortbread should be. And every ingredient involved is a bit better for you than the kind of Twix you might find out trick-or-treating.
How To Make Homemade Twix
The ingredient list isn’t super short, but remember there are three distinct layers involved. I promise each layer is simple and quick and delicious!
The Grain-Free Shortbread Cookie
Our crunchy cookie base is a butter-free twist on shortbread, and this version is even oil-free too. You will need:
- Almond flour + coconut flour. Both are necessary, and neither are easily substituted. The almond flour brings that buttery texture and flavor, and the coconut flour gives just the right amount of crunch and crumble.
- Maple syrup. Or agave or honey, whatever liquid sweetener you like.
- Coconut cream. For an oil-free option, or melted coconut oil is fine too (see notes). You can either buy a can that says “cream” or scoop out the thick part from a can of coconut milk.
- Salt. You better believe this recipe is heavy on the salty/sweet contrast.
The No-Cook Caramel
The easiest caramel recipe you have ever discovered, I’ve used it so many times for so many things. And it worked beautifully for these Twix cups too. It’s drizzle-able when warm, just firm enough with a little bit of gooey when refrigerated, or solid and sweet when frozen. And it only requires 5 ingredients and a whisk to make:
- Nut/seed butter. I have made it with so many different kinds – almond butter, SunButter, tahini, peanut butter (yes, peanut butter Twix cups are delicious!), macadamia nut even. You can’t go wrong.
- Maple syrup. Or again, honey and agave work as well.
- Coconut oil. You do need the oil this time, it helps it to solidify when chilled so it doesn’t just ooze out from between the cookie and chocolate.
- Vanilla and salt. Caramel musts.
P.S. If you pour this stuff over ice cream, you basically get caramel magic shell…AMAZING!
The Dairy-Free Chocolate Ganache
You could just melt chocolate chips and cover the caramel with straight dark chocolate. Or you could make a 2 ingredient dairy-free chocolate ganache for that final layer so you get a smooth fudge-like texture when you bite in instead of shards and chocolate shatter. Easy and worth it, I promise!
All you need is dairy-free semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips and coconut milk. (I have made it with almond milk before, and it does work but won’t be as rich.) Heat the milk until hot but not quite boiling, pour over the chocolate, cover with foil and wait 5 minutes, then whisk until fully melted. It should be shiny and silky and easy to spread over top of the chilled caramel layer.
More Homemade Healthier Halloween Candy Recipes You’ll Love
- Vegan Paleo Kit Kat Bars
- Copycat 100 Grand Bars
- Homemade Peppermint Patties
- Spooky Buckeye Eyeballs
- Homemade Butterfingers
Homemade Twix Cups
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chilling Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 8 minutes
- Yield: 24 mini cups 1x
- Category: candy
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Description
The delicious caramel + shortbread + chocolate flavors of a Twix bar in a homemade bite. Try this easy, vegan, grain-free recipe for a healthier halloween treat!
Ingredients
Shortbread
- 3/4 cup (84g) almond flour
- 3 tbsp cup (22g) coconut flour
- 3 tbsp (60g) maple syrup
- 3 tbsp (40g) coconut cream*
- 1/4 tsp salt
Caramel
- 1/4 cup (65g) nut/seed butter
- 1/4 cup (80g) maple syrup
- 2 tbsp (25g) coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate
- 6oz dairy-free chocolate
- 1/4 cup (55g) coconut milk or cream
Flakey salt for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a mini muffin pan with 24 paper liners.
- Combine all of the shortbread ingredients in a bowl and mix to form a dough. Spoon and firmly press a small bit of dough (about 2 tsp) into each muffin cup.
- Bake for 8 minutes at 350°F, the edges should be lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
- Whisk together the caramel ingredients. Spoon about 1 tablespoon on top of each shortbread crust. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Heat the heavy coconut cream for one minute on high. Pour over top of the chocolate in a bowl, and rest for five minutes. Then stir until melted and smooth.
- Spoon a layer of chocolate on top of each caramel layer, spreading to cover completely.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or freeze for at least 1).
- Keep in the refrigerator for a softer/gooeier experience, or freezer for more of a firmer bite.
Notes
*Can substitute with 4 tbsp melted coconut oil.
Keywords: gluten free, grain free, healthy, dairy free, easy, halloween, candy, chocolate, caramel, shortbread
I’m a sucker for those layers especially when nut butter is involved! Packaged candy bars will never satisfy the same way these homemade confections do!
★★★★★
Totally agree! It’s seriously such a good trifecta of flavors and salty sweet textures😋