Name: Homemade Kudos Bars (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups gluten-free brown rice crisp cereal; 1 cup gluten-free quick-cooking oats (not whole oats); ½ teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons coconut oil (use refined for no coconut flavor); ⅓ cup pure maple syrup; ⅓ cup creamy almond butter (or nut or seed butter of choice, runny works best); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 cup non-dairy chocolate chips; ¼ cup dye-free, vegan chocolate candies (such as these rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips)

Enjoy a throwback to the classic nostalgic treat with these homemade Kudos bars - only made with wholesome, healthier ingredients! Chewy, crispy and coated with chocolate, they're easy (and fun) to make and every bite is simply irresistible.

Homemade Kudos bars arranged on a white marble background with a bowl of rainbow colored chocolate candies.

If you grew up in the '90s, you probably remember the joy of opening your brown bag lunch and finding a Kudos brand snack bar nestled inside. These chewy chocolate-coated granola bars were the perfect combination of crispy, sweet and indulgent, bridging the gap between a granola bar and a full-blown dessert.

While they were marketed as a snack, they had all the hallmarks of a dessert, from the glossy chocolate bottom to the crunchy mix-ins which included crushed peanuts or colorful mini M&Ms. The original Kudos bars were announced to have been discontinued in 2017, but that doesn't mean we can't bring them back - with a healthier twist!

Homemade Kudos bars on a sheet of white parchment paper.

This homemade version of the mini M&M Kudos bar has everything you loved about the original but with better-for-you ingredients. Instead of corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and preservatives, we're using wholesome, clean ingredients such as brown rice cereal, quick-cooking oats, maple syrup and runny almond butter. A rich chocolate layer on the bottom of each bar ensures that the first bite melts in your mouth, while the crispy-chewy center and crunchy chocolate candies on top make for the ultimate nostalgic treat. It's like a rice krispie treat meets a candy bar!

One of my favorite parts of making these bars has been sharing them with my kids. Watching their excitement as they take their first bite, just as I did years ago, proves that some treats truly transcend time. These bars are perfect for a lunchbox, an afternoon pick-me-up, or even a post-dinner snack. Plus, they're naturally vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free, so you can enjoy all the flavor and actually feel good about it.

Homemade Kudos bars on a narrow white wooden cutting board.

Why You'll Love these Homemade Kudos Bars

Chewy, crispy and chocolatey
Clean ingredients - made with whole grains and gluten-free oats
Naturally sweetened
Easy recipe - no baking required, just a simple stovetop step for the perfect texture
Kid-approved nutritious snack
Customizable - use any nut or seed butter and your favorite chocolate candies on top!

A homemade Kudos bar propped up vertically against a stack of 3 other bars with a white background.

What Separates These Bars from Other No-Bake Granola Bars

While no-bake granola bars are typically made by simply mixing raw ingredients and chilling them, these Kudos bars take an extra step that makes a big difference in texture and stability. Cooking the coconut oil, maple syrup and almond butter together ensures the mixture reaches what's known as the "soft ball stage" in candy making, creating a stickier, more cohesive texture that holds up much better at room temperature. Unlike raw no-bake bars that soften and fall apart after about 30 minutes out of the freezer, these bars stay firm and chewy.

Another key difference is the layered chocolate coating and drizzle, which gives these bars the nostalgic look and feel of classic Kudos granola bars. The chocolate drizzle isn't just decorative - it also acts as a glue to hold the chocolate candies in place, adding an extra layer of fun and crunch. This step transforms them from a simple snack into a true childhood-inspired treat!

A hand holding a homemade Kudos bar with other Kudos bars out of focus on a white background.

Ingredients

Brown rice crisps cereal: I prefer the Real Cereal Company as organic brown rice is the only ingredient, but I also enjoy One Degree Organics which also contains organic coconut sugar and salt. Both of these options are gluten-free.
Quick-cooking oats: These oats provide the best texture for the bars. Rolled oats are thicker and bigger, resulting in a harder bite whereas quick-cooking oats are more delicate and melt into the bar. You almost don't even know it's in there.
Salt
Coconut oil: Feel free to use refined coconut oil to avoid any coconut flavor. Vegan. butter could also work here.
Maple syrup: This is a natural sweetener that keeps the bars refined sugar-free.
Creamy nut or seed butter: Make sure it is runny! I prefer almond butter, but peanut butter, sunflower seed butter and even tahini will work in this recipe. This provides healthy fats and protein while keeping the bar chewy and delicious. The combo with the chocolate is the perfect pairing!
Vanilla extract
Vegan chocolate chips
Vegan chocolate candies: I highly recommend these dye-free rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips!

A close up shot of a homemade Kudos bar with a white marble background.

How to Make these Homemade Kudos Bars

1. Prep the dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the rice crisp cereal, oats and salt. Set aside.

Brown rice cereal and oats in a white bowl with a white marble background.

2. Make the sticky mixture. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the coconut oil, maple syrup and almond butter. Stir continuously for about 5 minutes until the mixture is bubbling and fully combined. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Wet ingredients for the sticky mixture in a saucepan with a white marble background prior to being stirred.

Wet ingredients for the sticky mixture in a saucepan stirred together with a white marble background.

3. Combine. Let the mixture cool slightly for about 2 minutes (long enough to not burn the ingredients but short enough so that it doesn't harden), then pour it over the dry ingredients. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly coated.

Pouring a sticky almond butter mixture overtop oats and rice crisp cereal in a white bowl.

Wet ingredients poured overtop dry ingredients in a white bowl for homemade Kudos bars.

4. Shape and Set. Transfer the mixture to an 8x8-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Press down firmly into an even layer using a spatula. Freeze for 30 minutes to set.

Homemade Kudos bars mixture in a square baking pan lined with parchment paper.

A hand using a spatula to flatten the Kudos bars mixture ina square baking pan.

5. Cut and Coat. Once set, remove from the pan and cut into 12 rectangular bars. Melt 1 cup of chocolate in a shallow bowl in the microwave for 2 minutes (you may need to add 1 teaspoon coconut oil depending on the chocolate chips you use). Dip the bottom third of each bar into the melted chocolate, then place them chocolate-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 10 minutes to set.

Homemade Kudos bars on parchment paper prior to being dipped in chocolate.

A hand dipping the bottom of a homemade Kudos bar into melted chocolate in a shallow bowl.

6. Top and Finish. Flip each bar so the chocolate side is down. Sprinkle chocolate candies on top of each bar, then drizzle with more melted chocolate to help hold them in place. Return to the freezer for another 5 minutes to set.

Homemade Kudos bars arranged on a baking sheet prior to adding candies or chocolate drizzle.

Homemade Kudos bars arranged on a baking sheet topped with rainbow-colored chocolate candies.

7. Enjoy! Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for longer storage. If serving from the freezer, set them out at room temperature for about 15 minutes before eating.

Homemade Kudos bars piled on top of each other.

Recipe Tips

Don't skip the stovetop! Simmering the maple syrup mixture until it reaches a sticky, thickened consistency makes it ideal for binding the ingredients. Initially I tried adding everything together raw but the result was more crumbly and the bars fell apart. This step makes a HUGE difference!

How to melt the chocolate. When I use Hu chocolate gems, simply microwaving them alone for 2 minutes does the job. If using different types of chocolate chips, you may need to add coconut oil (starting with 1 tsp) to help liquify the chocolate.

Use a wide, shallow bowl for the chocolate coating. The bowl must be able to accommodate the full bar so that you can ensure a smooth coating all the way across. Dip the bar so that the chocolate goes about a quarter to a third of the way up.

A hand holding a homemade Kudos bar showing a side view of the bar above other bars aranged on parchment paper.

More Homemade Snack and Candy Bars (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

Homemade Kudos bars arranged on a white marble countertop.

I hope you love these homemade Kudos bars! Here we are getting the same look, feel, texture and taste but with clean ingredients that are actually nutritious as well. Enjoy!