3 Ingredient Homemade Crunch Bars (Gluten Free)
An EASY recipe for chocolate crunch bars made with just 3 ingredients!
Rich and decadent chocolate enrobes crispy rice cereal for a deliciously crunchy, crispy chocolate treat in the BEST homemade crunch bars! Gluten Free.
When I was little, crunch bars were one of my favorite candy bars. There was that delicious crunch, the chocolate that melted in your mouth, and the sweet, rich creaminess of milk chocolate.
Now that I’m older, I find that making my own homemade crunch bars are actually kind of fun—and bonus: I get to use my favorite chocolate and gluten free rice crisp cereal to customize these chocolate crunch bars to my taste.
Wanna join me? Grab your
favorite chocolate chips and head on over to the kitchen with me to make today’s tasty rice crispy chocolate bars!
What are Chocolate Crunch Bars?
Crunch bars are a store-bought candy made by Nestle. It’s made with 2 ingredients: chocolate and rice crisp cereal. Essentially, it’s a chocolate bar with crispy bits in it to make it crunchy.
Today, we’re making chocolate crunch bars, homemade-style, with 3 simple ingredients.
Homemade Crunch Bars with 3 simple ingredients
- Chocolate Chips – use your favorite chocolate chips to make your own favorite homemade crunch bars.
- Coconut Oil – you can use 1 teaspoon of peanut butter in place of the coconut oil, or skip it altogether!
- Rice Crisp Cereal – you can use that blue box of rice crisp cereal you might have on hand, or try this vegan gluten free rice crisp cereal.
How to Make Homemade Crunch Bars
Line
First, line a square baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper.
Melt
Now, melt chocolate and coconut oil until smooth and well incorporated. You can also substitute the coconut oil with 1 teaspoon of peanut butter, or skip it altogether.
Add Cereal
Add your rice crisp cereal to the melted chocolate mixture. Stir and fold everything together until not one piece of cereal is exposed (aka cover it all in chocolate!!). Pour this mixture into the prepped pan and smooth it into an even layer.
Set & Enjoy
Allow the chocolate crunch bars to set at room temperature or chill until firm. Then, slice and enjoy the best homemade crunch bars!
How to Store Chocolate Crunch Bars
- Storing Instructions: Store chocolate crunch bars in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. Best if stored in the refrigerator.
- Freezing Instructions: If storing your crunch bars in the freezer, allow to thaw for about 10 minutes before enjoying. In the freezer, homemade crunch bars can keep for 1-2 months.
Are Crunch Bars Gluten Free?
Store-bought Crunch Bars are not gluten free [1], as confirmed by the official crunch bar website [2]. For allergens, under wheat, the Crunch Bar website lists “Wheat: may contain wheat.”
Today’s homemade crunch bar recipe is gluten free if you use this vegan gluten free brown rice crisp cereal.
q&a for homemade crunch bar recipe
- Where do I find gluten free brown rice crisp cereal?
I get this question all the time! Click here for the exact vegan gluten free brown rice crisp cereal that I use.
- What vegan chocolate chips do you use?
If you’re looking high and low for vegan chocolate chips, try these super tasty vegan chocolate chips.
- Where can I find refined sugar-free chocolate to make my homemade crunch bars?
When I want to make sure my chocolate candy recipes are refined sugar-free, I chop up this chocolate bar and use it in place of the usual chocolate chips.
- How do I make these homemade crunch bars low-carb or lower in carbs?
Use these chocolate chips. They’re super tasty & practically sugar-free.
Crispy, crunchy, decadent: chocolate crunch bars made with just 3 ingredients for the best homemade crunch bars ever!
What’s your favorite candy this time of year? Let me know in the comments below, or let me know what you think of today’s chocolate crunch bar recipe! I can’t wait. ‘Til our next chocolate adventure…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
Delicious Chocolate Recipes and more!
- Chocolate Coconut Candy Clusters
- 3 Ingredient Rice Crispy Treats
- 5 Ingredient Coconut Chocolate Bars
- Vegan Hershey Kisses
- Brownie Cookies
3 Ingredient Homemade Crunch Bars (Gluten Free)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 18 bars 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
An EASY recipe for chocolate crunch bars made with just 3 ingredients! Rich and decadent chocolate enrobes crispy rice cereal for a deliciously crunchy, crispy chocolate treat in the BEST homemade crunch bars! Gluten Free.
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Or, use this break-apart candy mold. Set aside at room temperature.
- Melt the chocolate using the double boiler method, or do the following: add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium, microwave-safe bowl (large enough to add cereal later). Heat in 20-second increments until softened and melty. Stir in between heating increments, until smooth.
- Add cereal to melted chocolate. Here is the vegan gluten free brown rice crisp cereal I use. Using a rubber spatula, stir and fold until well incorporated. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking pan. Using the spatula, smooth into an even layer. Tap the pan a few times to help even out the mixture.
- Allow to set at room temperature until firm. Or, for a quick fix, follow freezing instructions. Transfer this pan into the freezer. Freeze for 10-15 minutes. Remove from freezer and allow to thaw for 10-15 minutes. Slice into 18 rectangular bars (3 rows by 6 columns). Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
Also try the peppermint version: 4 Ingredient Peppermint Chocolate Crunch Bars.
More Crispy & Chocolate Recipes
Notes
*Don’t have coconut oil? It’s totally fine to skip it!
Where to Buy Ingredients: Vegan Chocolate Chips or Paleo Gems | Brown Rice Crisp Cereal | Coconut Oil
Note: For pretty candy bars with smooth edges, pour your chocolate crunch mixture into this break-apart candy bar mold.
Storing Instructions: Store in an airtight container for 1 week (at room temperature), 1-2 weeks (in the refrigerator), up to 1 month (in the freezer). Best if stored in the refrigerator.
Freezing Instructions: If storing in the freezer, allow to thaw for 10-20 minutes before enjoying.
Suggested Tools: Glass Mixing Bowls | Break-Apart Candy Bar Mold | My Favorite Knife
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snacks
- Method: Freeze
- Cuisine: American
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Did you make this recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it!
These look so easy and delicious. Def going to try 🙂
Thanks Jaime! Enjoy. 🙂
Yum!! these came out great! I used stevia sweetened chocolate chips to keep them low sugar and the crisps/chocolate ratio was perfect. Thank you 🙂
Woohoo! So happy to hear you enjoyed them Alison! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. ☺️
Oh my gosh, pinning and trying soon!
Just a warning if you have to eat gluten free – do not substitute plain Kellog’s Rice Krispies in this recipe. Kellog’s Rice Krispies are made with barley malt, which contains gluten. The brown rice puffed rice cereal linked to in the recipe is OK though 🙂
Awesome, can’t wait to hear what you think! 🙂 Thanks for the tip on Kellogg’s. 🙂
Love these! So easy to make and they are a hit with vegans and carnivores alike. I add walnuts and sprinkle raw coconut on top too 🙂
That’s so wonderful to hear, Laura! 🙂 You KNOW you’ve got a winner when vegans and carnivores alike give you their seal of approval. I’ve got to try it with coconut and walnuts! 🙂
Hi. It looks yammy.
Can you please convert the chocolate amount to grams? I have bars of chocolate and not chips. Thank you.
Iris
Hi! I would love to try out this recipe but i have one question – can i substitute coconut oil with something else? I recently found out I’m allergic to coconut. Is olive oil gonna work? (can’t have butter either)
Hi Kasia! I’m not totally sure, but try just 1 teaspoon or even 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil (it will affect the taste a bit). It should be okay. 😉 Can’t wait to hear how these turn out!
Please oh please oh please make fruit and nut bars. They are totally my kriptonite! My husband’s too. I buy one for me and one for him and unless I hide mine, he will devour his and then move ever so slyly on to MINE! ♡ Believe me he will be chowing down on mine and I will sulkingly be glaring daggers at him once I realize what’s going on.
So officially, I’m not the only one who likes them? Woohoo!! Haha. I’ve been craving them since forever! Lol on having to hide yours–my sister Penny has to do the exact same thing with her husband. Okay, let me make a note to share a fruit & nut chocolate bar recipe for the holidays (yep, we plan waaay far in advance ’round these parts). No more daggers-glaring for you! . Hugs! <3
You have no idea! I am running out of places to hide them! And thank you so much in advance! I can’t wait to try them!
I am so glad I stumbled upon this! Making these treats for Mother’s Day! Do you use dark, semisweet or milk chocolate chips?
Hi Amber! I’m so glad you did too! I used semisweet chocolate, but you can use whatever you prefer. 🙂 Hope you had an awesome Mother’s Day!
Hello! I am a vegetarian trying to make a dessert for a vegan friend. Would you be so kind as to share what brands you specifically used for the vegan chocolate chips & vegan gluten free brown rice crisp cereal?
Appreciate your help! Found this recipe through Pinterest 🙂
Hi JP! I actually switch back and forth between tons of different vegan chocolates. Here are a few that I like, some that happen to be “accidentally” vegan and affordable: Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Chips (or Extra Dark if your friend enjoys dark chocolate), Trader Joe’s Semisweet Chocolate Chips. But if your friend has a dairy allergy, I’d definitely recommend going for Enjoy Life. Also, here’s a guide with a few others: http://namelymarly.com/dairy-free-chocolate-chip-guide/
I love all the candy stuff you do but crunch bars always have a special place in my tummy! I’m one of those people who shared the peppermint ones and it hit a cord with people BIG time. There’s just something so satisfying about the crunchy rice and chocolate.
Crunch bars–there’s just something about them… 😉 Thank you for sharing my peppermint crunch bars! Hugs!
I LOVE crunch bars, and I’m so glad to see another one on your blog! These look absolutely delicious, and so crunchy! Gorgeous! 🙂 xo
Yay!! There always room for more crunch bars, right? 😉 Thanks Marsha!
I am not a candy lover but I can’t resist crunch bars! And the more chocolatey the better! Thank you for this recipe, easy and fast and oh so glorious! P.s. Pinned! PP.SS. I seriously think you should open a candy shop (you’re treats are amazing!) and let your mom print out the business cards!! 😉
There’s something about crunch bars that put them in a class of their own! The more chocolate the better–always! 🙂 Thanks for pinning! Don’t let my mom hear you saying that! Lolol. 😉
I’m with you–crunch bars are one of my favorite candy!
Woot woot! Hope you get to try and just love ’em Joyce. 🙂
Demeter you are the candy queen! And the fact that it’s all vegan and still totally swoon-worthy makes it even better! I’ve been eyeing those almond butter fudge cup, as I’m totally obsessed with almond butter, but these may be right up there on my must-try list! Love the idea of taking a super successful, beloved recipe and making a “plain,” year round appropriate version! These look amazing.
Aw, thanks Sara! 🙂 I hope you get to try both! Each one definitely satisfies a different sweet tooth. 😉 Now we can enjoy these babies all year long. Hugs! xo
The crunch bar flavor order matters not, as long as all the delicious crispy-studded chocolate treats make it here one way or another!! Because as you know it’s my fave chocolate bar. And as you know I’m going to need you to send me an entire batch. Or two. And some funny business cards as well please, because whats snack time without laughs to go with.?? Luckily PB cups aren’t technically a chocolate “bar” because I love them a whole, whole lot too so throw a batch of those in will ya.? Between the BB no-bake directory and the BB candy directory you are just going to have organized listings of ALLLL the most delicious things pretty soon. Never ever stop talking to yourself, and never ever stop making candy, kay?❤️❤️ xo
Woot woot! As long as I have mah bestie’s approval, that’s all I need. 😉 Alright, two batches of crunch bars and a whole lotta zany business cards, coming right up! I will most certainly throw in PB cups and any other cups I may have made straight into your care package. 😉 Let’s get all the directories together (yours and mine) and let’s just make all the things. It will be SO tasty. LOLOL. Never! xoxox <3 <3
Candy shop yes! You have so many delicious and creative sweets. It would be a hit for sure!
Time to start drawing up a business plan… or just make and eat more candy. Lol. 😉 Thanks Karen!
I saw these on insta and man oh man, these look insane! I love crunch bars so much! Just something about the texture with chocolate, pinning these babies!
Oh yeah! Insta for the win. 😉 Thanks for pinning! Enjoy! 🙂
You are most DEFINITELY the candy queen, mi-lady! And I would just like to note that these are no bake, so are are STILL the beaming no baker… and obviously that makes me super happy! 😉 These crunch bars look WAY better than the kind in the store, Demeter! Gimme all the dang crunch! These would make a great gift for Valentine’s day! I’m thinking I absolutely MUST make these for Boy. And since they are only 3 ingredients, made in ONE bowl, no bake, and just a BREEZE to whip together, I have ZERO excuse not to! Pinned of course! Cheers, lovely! xoxoxoxox
Woot woot! That’s what I like to hear! 😉 Actually, being the queen of anything edible is always awesome, right? Lol. Yes and more yes’s on making these for Boy. 🙂 I hope you two have an awesome V-Day. Thanks for pinning, muah! xoxoxo
Demeter! These look fantastic! And vegan chocolate chips = guilt free right? 😉
So – I gotta say, your mom sure is onto something – and am not just talking bout business cards – lady – I think that Beaming Baker Candy Shop is a genius idea – I’d shop at it for sure! And – it could even be virtual – depending on the rules in your state, you could maybe start a cottage food business – and BOOM! Anyway – that’s me day dreaming for ya!
Happy Monday, sweet friend!
So guilt-free! 😉 All things in moderations, right? 😉 Lol. It’s only a matter of time before the candy shop opens. You’ll be one of the first people to receive a carefully-picked business card by my mom. Haha. Happy Monday, Shashi! <3
Three ingredient crunch bars?! Sign me UP! I’m definitely a huge fan of reese’s, but nestle crunch bars hold a special place in my heart, too, and this is what these remind me of! Love ho easy this is, Demeter! I really don’t think you could find an easier (or more delicious!) recipe than this. Wish I had this ENTIRE batch right now! PInned, of course! Happy Monday to you!
YEP! 😉 You’re on the list! Lol. It’s clear that we’re both big fans of candy! Thanks so much for your sweet comments. Hope you have an awesome week, Gayle. 🙂