Pin A playful, colorful treat featuring chewy homemade gummies, crispy freeze-dried candies, and a wholesome oat base is perfect for snack lovers and candy fans alike. These DIY Snack Bars combine fun textures and flavors in every bite for a cheerful pick-me-up any time of day.
This recipe was inspired by a family candy night when we experimented with freeze-drying treats and homemade gummies. Everyone loved stacking the sweet cubes and crunchy bits onto the hearty oat base, making snack time extra special.
Ingredients
- Rolled oats: 2 cups
- Almond butter or peanut butter: 1/2 cup
- Honey or maple syrup: 1/3 cup
- Unsalted butter, melted: 1/4 cup
- Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp
- Salt: Pinch
- 100% fruit juice (apple, berry, or orange): 1 cup
- Unflavored gelatin: 2 tbsp
- Honey or agave syrup: 2 or 3 tbsp
- Freeze-dried fruit (strawberries, raspberries): 1 cup, lightly crushed
- Freeze-dried candy (Skittles, marshmallows, similar): 1 cup, crushed or chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan:
- Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make the Base:
- Mix oats, almond butter, honey, melted butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl until well combined. Press evenly into prepared pan. Refrigerate while making gummies.
- Make Gummies:
- Pour fruit juice into a saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over juice and let sit for 5 minutes. Warm gently over low heat, stirring till gelatin dissolves. Add honey, stir, and pour into parchment-lined baking dish. Chill for 45 to 60 minutes.
- Cube the Gummies:
- Cut set gummies into small cubes.
- Add Toppings:
- Remove oat base from fridge. Top with gummy cubes, freeze-dried fruit, and freeze-dried candy. Press toppings gently.
- Chill and Cut:
- Chill assembled pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Lift out and cut into bars.
Pin We love bringing a tray of these mash-up snack bars to movie night. Everyone gets to pick their favorite toppings, and it quickly turns into a fun, tasty tradition for our family evenings.
Required Tools
You will need an 8x8 inch baking pan, parchment paper, mixing bowls, a saucepan, a spatula, and a knife to prepare and assemble these bars.
Allergen Information
Contains nuts and dairy. You can use seed butter and coconut oil for allergy-friendly swaps. Gelatin is present, so this treat is not vegan, and honey should be avoided for infants under 1 year.
Nutritional Information (per bar)
Each snack bar contains approximately 170 calories, 7 g fat, 25 g carbohydrates, and 3 g protein.
Pin Cut snack bars into fun shapes for parties, or wrap them for grab-and-go treats. Enjoy your creation and make each bite memorable!
Recipe FAQ
- → How do I customize the gummies flavor?
Swap out the fruit juice for berry, apple, orange or any favorites to create unique flavor combinations and colors.
- → Can I make these bars nut-free?
Use sunflower seed butter or another seed butter instead of almond butter for a nut-free version of the bars.
- → What freeze-dried toppings work best?
Try freeze-dried strawberries, raspberries, marshmallows, or colorful candies for crunch and bright flavor.
- → How do I achieve an extra crunchy texture?
Add chopped nuts or seeds to the oat base before pressing into the pan for more crunch and nutrition.
- → Is this suitable for vegans?
Traditional gummies use gelatin, which isn't vegan. Try agar powder or pectin for a plant-based alternative.
- → Can I store the snack bars for later?
Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and texture.