These Homemade Paleo Twix Bars are easy to make, and everyone goes crazy for them! A buttery shortbread crust is topped with a homemade caramel sauce and covered in a dark chocolate layer sprinkled with sea salt. They are absolutely decadent and a must-make holiday treat. This recipe is perfect for potlucks, and holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
Twix was one of my absolute favorite candy bars growing up. I mean I think it’s only real competition was Reeses peanut butter cups. And really can you even compare caramel & chocolate to chocolate & peanut butter?
It doesn’t seem fair. After that comparison is much like apples to oranges in my mind. They’re both good, but completely different! Even though I loved all those goodies growing up, I can’t even remember the last time I actually had a Twix bar.
That’s probably because my mom used to make something really close to these Homemade Twix bars during the holidays. And we were all lucky enough to indulge in those little bars of greatness.
Her version was even better than the candy, and they were my favorite holiday treat. So this year I decided it was high time to make a gluten free and paleo version.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Almond flour – makes the perfect buttery shortbread crust while keeping these both gluten free and paleo.
- Tapioca starch – combines with the almond flour and helps it to hold together.
- Butter – or coconut oil, avocado oil, or vegan butter can also be used here to make a buttery shortbread crust. I personally would steer away from coconut oil if possible just because it has too much coconut flavor.
- Egg – or your favorite egg substitute works here since it’s a crumbly shortbread crust.
- Coconut sugar – is what makes up the bulk of the caramel layer. There’s no way to reduce the sugar here without giving up the caramel. So I recommend just cutting smaller bars, these are rich!
- Coconut cream – scooped from a the top of a chilled can of coconut milk simmers together with the coconut sugar to make caramel.
- Vanilla extract – just a touch rounds out the rich flavor of the caramel filling.
- Chocolate – chips, chunks, or chocolate bar, just make sure it’s semi-sweet chocolate so it melts smoothly.
- Flaked sea salt – sprinkled over the top of these Twix bars gives them and addictive adult flavor of salty-sweet.
How to make these Paleo Twix Bars recipe step by step
Step 1: Stir together the dry ingredients for the shortbread in a medium bowl before adding the melted butter and egg. The crust mixture will be stiff but easy to pat out by hand.
Step 2: Pat the crust into a parchment lined baking pan making an edge around 1/4-1/2″. Use a fork to prick the bottom to prevent it from bubbling up. Then bake and cool before adding the caramel filling.
Step 3: For the caramel filling, simmer the ingredients together until the caramel has been reduced to 1 cup. Then pour the caramel over the top of the chilled shortbread cookie crust. Chill in the fridge until firm before adding the chocolate layer.
Step 4: Melt the chocolate and avocado oil together over low heat stirring constantly just until the chocolate has melted. Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the chilled caramel layer and tilt the pan to cover all of the caramel.
Step 5: Chill until the chocolate is beginning to set up, about 30 minutes, then sprinkle the sea salt over the top.
Ways to serve this
- With after dinner drinks like coffee to compliment the richness.
- Pass a tray of fresh fruit for dessert, then hand out the Twix Bars as the finale.
- Add a scoop or two of my Vanilla Ice Cream or Coconut Ice Cream.
FAQ’s
In and airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer to enjoy for up to 3 months.
Real whole food ingredients is what makes these healthy twix bars! The caramel filling is also made with a natural sweetener, (coconut sugar) which makes this a healthier, but still very indulgent treat. The shortbread crust is also naturally gluten free thanks to the almond flour in place of the processed white flour.
Storing leftovers
- To store – place any leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week.
- To freeze – place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Tips & Tricks
- Be sure to reduce the caramel to 1 cup, otherwise it won’t fully set up. There’s no nut butter in this recipe like many paleo twix bars. Just pure caramel flavor, but it’s important to make sure the caramel is properly reduced. To make measuring easier, grease the inside of a 1 cup glass measuring cup. Pour the caramel in to check the amount. If it’s not done, pour it back into the pan and reduce some more. It won’t stick to the measuring cup if its greased.
- Use a large wide pot to cook the caramel quickly. I have tried a smaller saucepan and it takes way longer to reduce the caramel and it doesn’t taste quite as good.
- Dietary notes – these twix bars are gluten-free, grain-free, with a dairy-free option below as well. For vegan twix bars, follow the suggestions for dairy-free and use the egg substitute in the crust.
I really hope you enjoy these Paleo Twix Bars! If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
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Paleo Twix Bars
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 – 1“x4” bars 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These homemade twix bars are just like the ones my mom always made during the holidays, and they’re a guaranteed crowd pleaser! They’re made with real whole food ingredients and even the caramel filling is made without refined sugar. These are definitely an indulgent treat, but made with much healthier ingredients than the traditional candy bar. As a bonus they’re naturally gluten free with a dairy free and vegan option as well.
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust:
1 1/4 cup fine almond flour, + 1/4 cup additional, see notes
2 Tablespoons tapioca starch
1/4 Teaspoon sea salt
1 egg, or egg subtitute
1/4 cup or 4 Tablespoons melted ghee, salted butter, avocado oil, vegan butter, or coconut oil for dairy free
Caramel Layer:
1 cup of coconut cream from 1 can full fat coconut milk, refrigerated, see notes
1 cup coconut sugar
1/4 Teaspoon sea salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Layer:
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, I use the Enjoy Life (allergy friendly)
2 Tablespoons avocado oil, or coconut oil
Flaked sea salt for sprinkling over the top
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Then lightly grease an 8″ baking pan. Cut 2 strips of parchment paper the width of the baking pan, then place them into the pan crosswise.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, tapioca starch, sea salt, egg, and melted ghee/butter until a stiff dough forms. Add the additional 1/4 cup almond flour only if the dough looks a bit loose still.
Pat the dough evenly into the prepared pan, making a rim around the edges between 1/4″- 1/2″. Prick the crust with a fork and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Let the crust cool to warm or room temperature before pouring the caramel layer on.
Once the crust has cooled, make the caramel layer. Start by scooping the hardened coconut cream from the surface of the can, this will measure 1 cup. Set aside the liquid to another use like a smoothie.
Add the hardened coconut cream to a large wide pot, about 9″ diameter, along with the coconut sugar and sea salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce and simmer until thickened, for about 10 minutes. Remove the caramel from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
You will have 1 cup of caramel sauce after it’s reduced. If the caramel sauce hasn’t been reduced enough, the caramel layer will be soft, even after refrigeration. To easily measure, lightly grease a glass measuring cup, this way the caramel won’t stick to it.
Pour the caramel layer over the cooled crust, then refrigerate until it’s firm, about 1 hour.
For the chocolate layer, melt the chocolate chips and avocado/coconut oil together in a double boiler, stirring constantly until melted. Pour the chocolate layer evenly over the hardened caramel layer, then refrigerate again until it’s firming up, about 30 minutes.
When you can see the chocolate layer is no longer glossy, it’s time to sprinkle on the flaked sea salt. If you add the sea salt too soon, it will sink into the chocolate. This is only an aesthetic thing and if it happens they still taste the same.
Refrigerate again until completely set up, an additional 1-2 hours. Cut into bars and serve chilled for the cleanest looking slices.
Notes
You may need the additional 1/4 cup of almond flour and you may not. This is because the size of eggs varies a lot and you want the shortbread dough to be quite stiff like the photos. So if it’s looking too loose, try adding the extra 1/4 cup.
The reason the can of coconut coconut milk needs to be refrigerated is so the cream will float to the top and harden. You want this separation to happen because you only need the cream for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Homemade Twix Bars, Paleo Twix Bars, Homemade Twix Bar Recipe, Gluten Free Twix Bar
This post was originally published in 2019, but has been updated in 2021 with more tips, information, and new photos.
These look sooooo good, I’m definitely going to make them . . . I secretly LOVE TWIX candy, but this seems like a better option 😉
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I hope you enjoy them, I’m crazy about Twix too!
These are the best! Love that I can enjoy delicious paleo Twix bars!
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Thanks, hope you enjoy them!
Sign. Me. Up. I could probably eat any 3 of these layers by themselves but layer them up like this and I will be a very, very happy camper.
★★★★★
Me too, all 3 layers are my favorite flavors!
You had me at Twix! So good!
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Thanks, me too, love Twix! 🙂
Oh. my. goodness. I’m drooling all over my laptop now… These look amazing!
★★★★★
Thanks so much!
Oh boy do I know a boy who is going to love some homemade twix!
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I sure hope he enjoys these!