Homemade Nestle Crunch Bars Recipe (3 Ingredients, Gluten-Free)
These homemade Nestle Crunch bars are crispy rice cereal stirred into melted chocolate and chilled until firm. They taste just like the real thing, they’re gluten-free, and they take 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes of hands-on work.
These take three ingredients and about five minutes of actual work, and they taste like the Nestle Crunch bar I used to dig out of the Halloween bucket first.
Homemade Nestle Crunch bars are crispy rice cereal stirred into melted chocolate, then chilled until firm and broken into pieces. That’s the whole thing. They’re gluten-free when you use gluten-free crisp rice, they cost a fraction of the candy aisle, and you almost definitely have what you need in the pantry right now.
I’ve made these on random weeknights, for Valentine’s plates, and once at 10pm because a craving hit and the store was closed. Same three ingredients every time.
If copycat candy is your love language, you’ll also want my Homemade Snickers Chocolate Bars and these Healthy Homemade Twix Bars.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chocolate — milk chocolate gets you closest to the real Nestle Crunch taste. Semi-sweet or dark both work if you want it less sweet.
- Refined coconut oil — a spoonful keeps the chocolate smooth and glossy as it sets. Refined has no coconut taste.
- Crispy rice cereal — this is the crunch. Use gluten-free crisp rice to keep the whole batch gluten-free.
- A pinch of salt — optional, but it cuts the sweetness and makes the chocolate taste more like chocolate.
How to Make Homemade Crunch Bars
- Line your pan. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang so you can lift the bars out later.
- Melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth.
- Stir in the cereal. Add the crisp rice and a pinch of salt, and stir until every piece is coated.
- Spread and chill. Pour the mixture into the pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and refrigerate for at least one hour, until firm.
- Cut and serve. Lift the slab out by the parchment and cut it into bars or pieces with a sharp knife, or snap it apart with your hands.
Tips for the Best Crunch Bars
- No microwave? Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water and stir until smooth.
- Go dark for richer bars. Dark chocolate makes them less sweet and more intense than the milk chocolate original.
- Spread thin for a snappier bar. Use a bigger pan or a cookie sheet if you want them on the thinner, crispier side.
Storing and Freezing
Let the bars set fully, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. They hold their snap best cold.
You can also freeze them: wrap the pieces so they don’t stick together, drop them in a freezer bag, and they keep for 1 to 2 months. Let them sit out for about 15 minutes before eating so they come back to that clean crunch.
Homemade Crunch Bar FAQs
Are these homemade crunch bars gluten-free? They can be. Rice Krispies and some crisp rice cereals contain malt, which has gluten, so use a certified gluten-free crisp rice cereal along with gluten-free chocolate and the whole batch is gluten-free.
Can I make crunch bars without a candy mold? Yes. A parchment-lined pan is all you need. Spread the mixture, chill it, and cut it into bars. A silicone candy bar mold gives you that classic rectangle shape, but it’s optional.
What’s the difference between a crunch bar and a rice krispie treat? A crunch bar is crisp rice coated in chocolate and chilled until firm, with no marshmallow. A rice krispie treat uses melted marshmallow to bind the cereal and stays soft and chewy.
Homemade Nestle Crunch Bars Recipe (3 Ingredients, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 250 g chocolate – can use milk chocolate semi-sweet, or dark.
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Pinch of salt
- 1 ¼ cup Rice Krispies use a gluten-free brand to keep these gluten-free
Instructions
- Begin by lining an 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper or wax paper. This will prevent the chocolate from sticking to the dish and make it easier to remove the bars once they have hardened.
- Next, place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. This will help the chocolate to melt smoothly and prevent it from seizing up.
- Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each interval, until it is completely melted and smooth.
- Once the chocolate is melted, add in the crisp rice cereal and stir until it is well coated.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly using a rubber spatula.
- Place the baking dish in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or until the chocolate has hardened.
- Once the chocolate has hardened, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and use a sharp knife to cut the chocolate into bars or bite-sized pieces. Alternatively you can break apart the chocolate bar with your hands.
- Serve the crunch bar recipe immediately or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.
More Copycat and Chocolate Recipes
- Starbucks Chocolate Cake Pops Copycat Recipe
- Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe (Gluten Free)
- Keto Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Cookies
- Banana Chocolate Chip Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Vegan Gluten-Free Protein Bars with Dark Chocolate
If you make these homemade crunch bars, leave a star rating and a comment below so I know how they turned out. And if you box some up or snap a photo, share it on Instagram or Pinterest and tag @basicswithbails.
About Bailey
I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…
