Indulge Guilt-Free with These Irresistible Paleo Candy Recipes That Will Blow Your Mind!

For those following a paleo diet, the allure of candy can be a challenging temptation. The paleo diet, which emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, often clashes with the typical ingredients found in most commercially produced candy bars. However, this doesn't mean you have to completely deprive yourself of sweet treats. The solution? Exploring the world of paleo-friendly candy recipes. These recipes offer a way to satisfy your sweet cravings while staying true to your dietary choices.

Most candy bars are a complete no-go if you’re paleo, but that doesn’t mean the cravings go away. So the usual thing to do when you need a sugar fix is to research paleo versions of non-paleo treats.

The Appeal of Homemade Paleo Candies

One of the primary advantages of making your own paleo candies is the ability to control the ingredients. This ensures that you avoid refined sugars, artificial additives, and other non-paleo components commonly found in store-bought candies. By using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup and incorporating wholesome ingredients like nuts, seeds, and coconut, you can create treats that are both delicious and nourishing.

Addressing the Time Factor

A common concern with homemade treats is the time and effort required to prepare them. Many paleo candy recipes can be complicated. However, there are also numerous recipes that are quick, easy, and practical for everyday enjoyment. The "No Bake Paleo Candy Bars" recipe, for example, is designed for minimal fuss and preparation time.

Featured Paleo Candy Recipes

Let's explore some specific paleo candy recipes that cater to various tastes and preferences:

Read also: Paleo Granola Recipes

No-Bake Paleo Candy Bars

This recipe emphasizes simplicity and speed. It involves melting together paleo-friendly ingredients, combining them with nuts and coconut, and allowing the mixture to set.

Ingredients: Paleo chocolate chips, olive oil, almond butter, honey, coconut flakes, nuts, and cinnamon.
Preparation: Melt the chocolate chips, olive oil, almond butter, and honey in a saucepan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, then let the mixture set.

3-Ingredient Paleo Candy Bars

These easy homemade Paleo Candy Bar bites are perfect when you want a sweet treat.

Slice the dates lengthwise and remove the pits. Place on a parchment-lined sheet
Fill each date with cashew butter, about 1/2 tsp each.
Temper the chocolate. For easy tempering, place 2/3 of the chocolate in a glass bowl. Microwave on 50% power for 60-second intervals. Stirring after each interval, until the chocolate is melted and temperature is 110F. "Seed" the melted chocolate with the remaining chocolate chips, stirring in a little a time, making sure that the added chocolate is fully melted before adding more. Repeat until all the chocolate is used. Once the chocolate has cooled to 90F, you can start coating the dates.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cashew butter to seal it in, then coat the entire date with chocolate. Using a fork, lift the date from the chocolate and allow the excess chocolate to drizzle off. Scrape any remaining chocolate from the bottom of the fork before transferring the date to your parchment-lined sheet.
Sprinkle with the chopped cashews and flaky salt, if desired.

Coconut Almond Bars

These bars combine the flavors of coconut and almond with a chocolate glaze.

Ingredients: Shredded coconut, coconut oil, raw honey, vanilla extract, almonds, chocolate chips, and additional coconut oil for the glaze.
Preparation: Process the coconut, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Press into a pan, add almonds, and refrigerate. Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil for the glaze and dip the bars.

Homemade Chocolate Candy

This recipe uses wholesome superfood ingredients to create a rich and decadent chocolate treat that is gluten-free, paleo, and vegan.

Ingredients: Cacao butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, cacao powder, and vanilla.
Preparation: Melt cacao butter in a double boiler, then add coconut oil, maple syrup, cacao powder, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and pour into molds.

A Collection of Healthier Homemade Candy Recipes

Here is a collection of recipes that are gluten-free and refined sugar-free! Bonus - most of them are also pretty quick and easy to whip up.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups: A classic treat made healthier.
Paleo Gummy Bears: Easy to make and paleo-friendly.
Homemade Twix Bars: A popular recipe that is gluten-free, paleo, and vegan.
Paleo Almond Joy: Only five ingredients are needed to make this vegan recipe.
Raw Snickers Bars: A raw and vegan recipe loaded with healthy ingredients.
Easy Vegan Chocolate Truffles: Made with only four ingredients and are paleo-friendly with a nut-free option.
Pumpkin Spice Twix Bars: A warm, pumpkin-spiced twist on a classic candy favorite.
Chocolate Peanut Butter & Jelly Cups: A twist on the traditional peanut butter cup.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Bars: Easy to make and a healthier candy bar option.
Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Fudge: An easy-to-make, no-cooking-necessary treat.
Homemade Kit Kat Bars: A healthier version of the classic Kit Kat bar.
Chocolate Peppermint Cups: These have a coconut butter peppermint filling, surrounded by homemade dark chocolate.
Paleo Chocolate: Use a chocolate bar mold to make your own chocolate bars with this recipe!
No-Bake Snickers Bars: A healthier version of the classic candy with no baking required.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cups: A twist on the peanut butter cup with a peanut butter caramel filling.
Raw Chocolate Truffles: Easy to make in your blender or food processor.
Homemade Vegan Rolos: Features a delicious caramel filling.
Toasted Coconut Butter Cups: Made with just four simple ingredients.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles: Decadent, delicious, and made with just four super simple + clean ingredients.

Paleo Halloween Candy Recipes

For those looking for paleo-friendly options during Halloween, there are several recipes to consider:

Paleo Caramels with Turmeric & Cinnamon: Made with dates, flavored with turmeric, cinnamon, and vanilla, and coated in dark chocolate.
Healthy Kit Kat Recipe: A gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly copycat recipe.
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups: A fall-flavored twist on the classic Reese's peanut butter cups.
Easy Mounds Bars Recipe: A healthy spin on the classic mounds candy bars with a shredded coconut and coconut cream filling.
Homemade 100 Grand Bars: A paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free version of the original 100 grand candy bars.
Homemade Paleo Sunbutter Cups: A great low-carb dessert option that is also keto, vegan, and free of top allergens.
Healthy Pumpkin Caramels: Paleo-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low in added sugar.
Homemade Peppermint Patties: Made without corn syrup and without sweetened condensed milk.
Honey Caramels Recipe: Made with just 4 ingredients.
Coconut Caramel Bars: Features a thick coconut base topped with chewy caramel and coated in dark chocolate.

Buying Paleo-Friendly Candy

If you prefer to purchase ready-made paleo candy, there are several brands that offer approved treats. These can be enjoyed in moderation or given out on Halloween. Some popular choices include:

Hu Hunks Chocolate Covered Almonds
Hu Gems Minty Chocolate Chips
Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels
That's It Fruit Bars
Evolved Coconut Butter Cups
Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars

The Magic of Paleo Twix Bars

These Paleo Twix Bars contain all the delicious layers of the popular candy, but made with healthy ingredients that will make you feel good! Sweet, delicious, and incredibly easy to make. Smooth, melty chocolate layers with sweet buttery caramel that melts in your mouth, on top a flakey shortbread crust. Combine ingredients for shortbread in a bowl. Mix well until combined- you can also use a food processor to expedite the process! Line bottom of a 6" square cake pan (link to the one I use in post script) with parchment paper. Press shortbread dough into the bottom of the cake pan. Bake on 350F for 20 minutes until golden. Remove and cool. In a food processor or medium bowl, blend ingredients for caramel filling until completely smooth. Pour over shortbread crust. Chill in freezer until firm (about 1 hour). Prepare a double boiler on the stove over low/medium heat. Melt chocolate ingredients together and stir until smooth. Pour chocolate over caramel layer. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes (optional). Chill in the freezer until firm. Slice and serve! Store in freezer.

Homemade Paleo Chocolate

This Easy Homemade Paleo Chocolate is so delicious and so simple to make.

Ingredients: Cacao powder, coconut oil, and honey.

Read also: Paleo Mayonnaise Recipe
Instructions: Place coconut oil, cacao powder, and honey in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until combined. Use a whisk to make sure all lumps are gone. Remove from heat and stir in any additions. Once smooth, pour into molds or onto a tray and place in the freezer for at least an hour to harden. Remove from molds and store in the freezer.

Gooey Sweet Healthy Candy Bars

These gooey sweet healthy candy bars are packed with good for you ingredients like fruit and nuts, but taste 100% like a legit rich chewy candy bar! These paleo and vegan candy bars are gluten free, egg free, dairy-free and free of refined sugar.

Paleo Candy Bars

Made with ingredients like cashews, dates, coconut cream, and really not much else, believe it or not!

First the “nougat”. It has a cashew base and is entirely sweetened with dates. Some almond flour and coconut flour firms it up enough to press into the bottom of a baking dish after chilling. Second, the caramel. I made a traditional date caramel, but added coconut cream and a little bit of nut butter to thicken it. The chocolate. I didn’t make a homemade chocolate shell, but rather melted up some Hu Chocolate - which is completely Paleo - for an easy dipping chocolate. I decided to just dip the bottoms of the bars and drizzle more chocolate over the top.

Making the Bars

I always use a Vitamix for blending up cashews and dates because I find it gets them super creamy. A good food processor should work as well. You’ll layer the nougat and caramel in a parchment lined baking dish (8″ or 9″ works) and sprinkle chopped nuts all over the top. Be patient blending each layer if you want nice creamy nougat and caramel. Make sure to chill long enough. If you have the time, making the bars the day before will work best, since you can chill them overnight in the freezer before cutting. Make sure they’re cold and firm before dipping in chocolate.

Storage

After the chocolate has hardened, these can be stored in either the refrigerator or freezer. I personally prefer the freezer to give you that “frozen snickers” effect!

Instructions

Soak your cashews, grab your dates (and start pitting them!) because it’s time to go! this is the thick part of a separated can of coconut milk.
Line an 8 x 8” baking pan with parchment paper on the bottom and up the sides.
Blend the first 3 ingredients in a high-speed blender like a Vitamix until smooth. This might take several minutes depending on your blender. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the almond flour and coconut flour. Chill for 30 minutes, then press into the bottom of the pan in an even layer.
While the nougat layer chills, make the caramel. Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until very smooth and creamy. Again, this may take several minutes of blending/pulsing depending on your blender. Spread this mixture over the chilled nougat and sprinkle with the nuts, pressing them gently into the caramel layer.
Once set, cut the bars. Remove from the pan and with a very sharp knife, cut into 20 bars or desired size and place on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in increments of 30 seconds, stirring between each one, until melted and smooth. Carefully dip the bottom of each bar in the chocolate and place back on the parchment, then drizzle chocolate over the top of each bar. Refrigerate or freeze 20 minutes so the chocolate hardens, then serve and enjoy! Store leftovers covered in plastic wrap in the freezer or refrigerator.

Key Ingredients and Their Benefits

Cacao Powder: This is not the same as cocoa powder.
Coconut Oil: Strengthens the immune system, helps prevent wrinkles, improves bone health, is rich in lauric acid, helps maintain blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and helps heal infections.

tags: #paleo #diet #candy