Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
A hand holding a homemade Kudos bar with other Kudos bars out of focus on a white background.

Homemade Kudos Bars (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Elaine Gordon
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 bars 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

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

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups gluten-free brown rice crisp cereal
  • 1 cup gluten-free quick-cooking oats (not whole oats)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil (use refined for no coconut flavor)
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/3 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
  • 1/4 cup dye-free, vegan chocolate candies (such as these rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips)

Instructions

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

Notes

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!

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.

  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 50
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Stovetop

Find it online: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/homemade-kudos-bars/