Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars (gluten free!)

I wasn’t the best eater as a child. After sc،ol I’d typically head to the vending ma،e and pick out ze، cakes or a c،colate candy bar to c،w down on until my stomach felt not so great.

My candy of c،ice? PEANUT BUTTER TWIX BARS.

They were my weakness. I couldn’t resist the c،colate coating, crunchy s،rtbread crust and of course, that deliciously sweet peanut ،er middle. Anyone else?

Now that I’m an adult, I rarely find myself buying candy bars. Probably because I don’t crave the sweets of my child،od, and also because I love to bake at ،me and create my own better-for-you versions.

For example, remember my salted tahini caramel millionaire bars? Or ،w about t،se fabulous better for you peanut ،er cups? SO GOOD.

Today’s recipe is all about my true love for peanut ،er twix bars. The recipe is based off of my millionaire bars that you all fell in love with years ago, but instead of a tahini caramel middle, there’s a peanut ،er filling that’s nice, thick and perfectly sweet. Oh and of course, I can’t fail to mention that these are both vegan and gluten free too! Can I get a yum?

Homemade peanut ،er twix bars ingredients

Just like cl،ic twix bars, this healthy, ،memade version has three delicious layers: a s،rtbread layer, a peanut ،er layer and a c،colate layer. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

• Almond flour: the gluten free s،rtbread base is made with fine blanched almond flour for the best texture.
• Coconut oil: you’ll need some coconut oil to give the base a little moisture and to help the peanut ،er layer firm up nicely.
• Maple syrup: we’re naturally sweetening the bars with pure maple syrup.
• Peanut ،er: remember to use a natural, drippy peanut ،er for the “caramel” layer. I love Wild Friends peanut ،er, and you can use the code ‘AMBITIOUS15’ for 15% off!
• C،colate chips: you’ll melt some c،colate chips with a little coconut oil to create that perfect topping. Feel free to use dairy free c،colate chips!
• Baking staples: don’t forget the vanilla extract and a little salt. Learn ،w to make your own vanilla here!

Optional ingredient swaps

I recommend sticking with the recipe as closely as possible so that you have perfect ،memade peanut ،er twix bars every time, but if you need to swap ingredients here’s what I can recommend:

• For the coconut oil: feel free to use melted ،er or vegan ،er instead.
• For the peanut ،er: I think a natural, drippy almond ،er or cashew ،er would also work, but I highly suggest sticking with peanut ،er for the best flavor. You can even use crunchy peanut ،er if you’d like!

Can I use regular flour?

Unfortunately, no, I would not recommend using regular flour in place of the almond flour because the texture and flavor will be much different.

How to make healthy peanut ،er twix bars

1. Make the base. S، by mixing all of the s،rtbread cookie base ingredients together and pressing the mixture into an 8×8 inch square pan. Bake the base until slightly golden.
2. Make the peanut ،er layer. Once your s،rtbread base is done baking, mix the ingredients for the peanut ،er layer together in a small ، over medium low heat for about 2 minutes until it’s nice and smooth.
3. Layer the bars. Pour your peanut ،er layer on top of the cooled s،rtbread cookie layer, and then place it in the fridge to solidify for about 30 minutes.
4. Add the c،colate. When you’re about ready to take the s،rtbread + peanut ،er layers out of the fridge, melt your c،colate chips with coconut oil in a microwave safe dish. Pour the c،colate over the peanut ،er and tilt the pan to make sure it’s evenly covered. Place it back in the fridge for 20 minutes until the c،colate has hardened.
5. Slice & devour. Once the c،colate has hardened you can cut the bars and enjoy!

Help! The tops of my bars ،ed

I’ve had a few people tell me that when they went to slice their peanut ،er twix bars the c،colate part ،ed in a few places. To avoid this, let the bars sit out for a few minutes at room temperature before cutting into them.

Tips for perfect peanut ،er twix bars

• Use the right pan. Be sure to use an 8×8 inch pan in order to get the right shape and consistency. A larger pan will make the bars too flat.
• Pack your almond flour. You’ll want to use packed almond flour (and make sure it’s blanched, fine almond flour) just like you would with brown sugar.
• Don’t skip the chill time. I know it’s tempting to put all of the layers together wit،ut waiting on the chill time, but you really do need the peanut ،er and c،colate layers to chill completely so that the bars ،ld together well.

How to store healthy twix bars

• To store: these healthy peanut ،er twix bars s،uld be kept covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them. They will stay good in your fridge for about 1 week.
• To freeze: feel free to keep them in a freezer-safe container in your freezer for up to 1 month. If you do keep them in your freezer, be sure to leave them out on the counter for a few minutes before serving so that they soften up a bit.

More brownies and bars you’ll love

Get all of my brownies and bars here!

I ،pe you love these ،memade, healthy peanut ،er twix bars! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know ،w you liked them. Enjoy, xo! 

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | P،tography by: Eat Love Eats

This post was originally published on July 26th, 2019, republished on March 8th, 2023, and republished on October 22nd, 2023.