These homemade 100 grand bars are my paleo spin on the original 100 Grand candy bars. They consist of a date caramel filling that's topped with sprouted buckwheat groats and coated in dark chocolate. This homemade candy bar recipe is paleo, vegan, gluten free and nut free.
My favorite candy bar as a kid? 100 Grand Bars all the way!
I have always been a total sucker for caramel, especially as a kid. And there's nothing quite like the texture of gooey caramel with a crispy topping and rich chocolate coating. It's the perfect combination of chewy, crunchy, sweet goodness!
I can't remember the last time I indulged in a real 100 Grand, but I've definitely enjoyed my fair share of these homemade 100 Grand candy bars!
Why You'll Love these 100 Grand Bars
- paleo and vegan friendly - made with simple, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about
- gluten free & grain free - these use sprouted buckwheat groats instead of rice cereal
- dairy free - made with dark chocolate
- refined sugar free - no corn syrup
- soy free
- nut free - this 100 grand bar recipe is nut free. It does contain tahini, but that can easily be swapped for another seed butter like sunbutter.
Ingredients
You can find the full recipe for these vegan 100 grand bars in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of what you'll need:
- dates - I used medjool dates but any variety will work
- tahini - or any nut/seed butter (sunbutter is a great nut free option)
- vanilla extract - for the caramel
- salt - brings out more flavor
- buckwheat groats - I used sprouted buckwheat groats instead of rice cereal. If you don't have access to buckwheat groats, you can use a crunchy cereal instead.
- dark chocolate - to coat the candy bars
- coconut oil - optional for thinning the chocolate coating
How to Make 100 Grand Bars
These 100 grand bars are super easy to make and don't require any baking. You will, however, need a food processor to make the caramel.
Here are the steps:
- Grab an 8x4 inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
- Make the caramel: soak the dates in hot water for 5 minutes to soften.
- Drain the water from the dates, then place them in your food processor. Process the dates, stopping every few seconds to scrape the sides, until they form a paste.
- Add in the tahini, vanilla and salt. Blend the mixture until it forms a thick, sticky caramel.
- Spread the caramel into the lined baking pan.
- Top the caramel with buckwheat groats, then place the bars in the freezer.
- Cut the frozen bars and then dip them in melted chocolate and coconut oil.
- Drizzle the bars with leftover chocolate for decoration.
Tips and Tricks
- Freeze the caramel - it's important to let the caramel fully freeze before cutting into it. This will make it easier to work with when dipping it in melted chocolate.
- Work quickly - when dipping the caramel into the melted chocolate, work quickly since the caramel will start to soften.
- Decorate the bars - drizzling the bars with leftover chocolate gives them a polished look. You may have to warm the chocolate again.
Storage
These gluten free 100 grand candy bars need to be stored in the fridge or freezer. The caramel has a thicker, chewier texture in the freezer and a softer texture straight out of the fridge.
Place the bars in a sealed container or baggie for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer.
FAQ
If buying a 100 Grand Candy Bar at the store, these are the ingredients you'll find on the packaging:
Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Sugar, Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Crisped Rice (Rice Flour, Sugar, Barley Malt, Salt), Coconut Oil, Butter, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor
While 100 Grand Candy Bars do not contain any nuts, they may contain traces of nuts due to processing. My recipe, however, is nut free!
No, conventional 100 Grand Candy Bars contain Barley Malt and "traces of wheat". However, my copycat recipe is gluten free.
More Gluten Free Candy Recipes
Looking for more great gluten free candy bar recipes? Check out these reader favorites:
Homemade 100 Grand Bars (Gluten Free, Vegan, Paleo)
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Freeze Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 candy bars 1x
Description
Homemade 100 grand bars with a date caramel filling, sprouted buckwheat groats topping and dark chocolate coating.
Ingredients
Caramel Filling
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates (about 250 grams or 10-12 Medjool dates)
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Topping
Dark Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Line an 8x4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the pitted dates in a small bowl. Boil water and pour it over dates so that they are fully submerged. Soak the dates for 5 minutes to soften.
- Drain the water, then place the dates in a food processor. Blend the dates, stopping every few seconds to scrape down the sides, until they form a paste.
- Add in the tahini, vanilla and salt. Blend the mixture until forms a thick, sticky caramel.
- Spread the caramel into your lined baking pan.
- Top the caramel with buckwheat groats. Use your hand to press them down so that they sit firmly in the caramel.
- Place the caramel in your freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours. The caramel will harden but will not be completely solid.
- When the caramel is ready, melt the dark chocolate. Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a small saucepan and melt it over low heat, stirring frequently.
- Once the chocolate is melted, turn off the heat and grab the frozen caramel. Cut the caramel into 12 equally sized pieces.
- Dip the caramel, one at a time, into the melted chocolate and then place it on a lined baking sheet to set.
- Drizzle any extra chocolate over the bars for decoration (optional).
Katie
These 100 Grand Bars are perfect if you're looking for a healthier, paleo friendly alternative. Hope you all love them!
hannah
can I use oatmeal instead ? don't have buckwheat or like it . I have quacker oats ( those tall round containers) .and if I do I should use it uncooked yea ?
If not is there something else I can substitute?
thanks!
Katie
Hi! The purpose of the buckwheat groats was to make a 100 Grand bar that's paleo friendly (gluten free and grain free). I suppose oats could work, but they won't have the same texture or taste. I think a better option would be to use rice cereal.
hannah
So I made it using little rice Kristin's which is more what the real bar has.
your Carmel taste Nothing like the real t
Tate more like sticky dates halava taste wise using Tehiina
But def not close in taste or texture .
I'll figure out on my own. this wasn't it .
oh well
Katie
Sorry they didn't do it for you. My version can't be exactly like the real thing since they contain very different ingredients - all paleo and vegan and much healthier than the real deal. Hope you can find something that better suits you!