Homemade copycat Nestle crunch bars on a white cutting board.
All Things Chocolate

Homemade Crunch Bars

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That classic crunch from Nestle crunch bars is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Did you know you can make your own homemade crunch bars?

I love all things chocolate especially chocolate with texture and crunch. This homemade crunch bar recipe is so incredibly easy to make using only 2 basic ingredients.

And the awesome thing is you can use your favorite kind of chocolate, so there is a variety of crunch bars you can make. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather the ingredients

Different kinds of chocolate in bowls with rice krispies and a crunch bar in its wrapper.

In order to make these homemade crunch bars you need to basic ingredients:

  • Chocolate – You can use whatever kind of chocolate that you like to make all kinds of flavors of crunch bar.
  • Rice Krispies – Rice Krispies or generic crisped rice is used to get that classic texture and crunch in the chocolate bar.

Tools

Step 2: How to make homemade crunch bars

Melted milk chocolate in glass bowl on a wooden table.

To begin you need to melt the chocolate. What kind of chocolate do you want to use? What kind of crunch bar do you want to make? Do you want a classic milk chocolate crunch bar? Go for it.

Maybe you want a semi-sweet crunch bar, use semi-sweet chocolate chips and go fo it! Or how about a Lindt 78% cocoa dark chocolate crunch bar? Go for it!

You get the idea, there are so many combinations and flavors that you can try out. Candy melts also work great especially if you will be leaving them out at room temperature.

Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and melt the chocolate in the microwave using the defrost setting for 45 seconds and then stir, 45 seconds, then stir, etc. until melted. Or on high for 25 seconds then stir, etc.

Milk chocolate in a glass bowl on top of a small black pot.

Or if you don’t want to use a microwave you can melt the chocolate with the double boiler method. Place a medium bowl of chocolate on top of a small pot with about 1 cup of water.

Set the heat to medium and as the water heats up the steam will heat the bottom of the bowl and gently melted the chocolate.

So there are a few options you can use to melt the chocolate.

Note: I don’t usually temper the chocolate because I just store the candy bars in the fridge. But you can temper the chocolate if you like.

Step 3: Getting that classic crunch bar crunch

Bowl of rice krispies being poured into melted milk chocolate to make homemade crunch bars

How do we get that classic crunch with the homemade crunch bars? With crisped rice cereal or Rice Krispies. I find a 1 to 1 ratio of Rice Krispies to chocolate works great. But it doesn’t have to be exact.

If you like more crisped rice add more, if you want a higher ratio of chocolate then use less crisped rice. It is totally up to you.

Add the Rice Krispies cereal to the melted chocolate and then fold and stir gently until evenly covered. Don’t stir to hard otherwise you may damage the cereal.

Step 4: Homemade crunch bar pan

Homemade crunch bars being formed with a silicone candy bar pan.

In order to get a nice candy bar shape I like to use either a candy bar pan or my granola bar pan. Scoop in the chocolate candy bar mixture evenly into the cavities of the pan. With this amount I can get 4 good sized candy bars or about 5 thinner ones.

12 homemade crunch bars in a silicone candy bar mold ready to go into the fridge.

Once you are done filling them up, smooth out the top a bit with the back of the spoon or a small narrow spatula. Give the pan a good tap on the table to settle the chocolate and the crisped rice.

The above picture has 3 batches with three different flavors. I used an almond blueberry chocolate bar on the left, a Symphony milk chocolate bar in the middle, and semi-sweet chocolate chips on the right.

 Alternatively if you don’t have the candy bar molds, you can just scoop out the crunch bar mixture onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and shape them into bar shapes, or leave as mounds. The may not look pretty, but they will taste the same!

Place the homemade crunch bars in the fridge and allow the chocolate to set for about 30 minutes.

Step 5: Enjoy those crunch bars!

Chilled homemade crunch bars in a clear silicone candy bar pan.

Once the chocolate has set it is time to eat those homemade crunch bars. Tug or squeeze on the sides of the silicone mold and push up on the bottom to release the candy bar.

Hand holding a homemade chocolate crunch bar.

The bottoms are really smooth and then you can see the texture on top. If you had a mold with a design, then that would show up as well, just like a classic store-bought Nestle crunch bar.

Handy holding a crunch bar with a bite taken out of it.

Take a bit and hear the crunch and see the texture on the inside. So yummy! The Symphony milk chocolate ones taste almost identical to the store-bought ones, although I like the homemade crunch bars a little bit more.

Homemade crunch bar vs Nestle Crunch bar

Hand holding a Nestle crunch bar with a bite out of it next to a homemade crunch bar on a white cutting board.

Now for a little comparison between the two candy bars. The Nestle one is a little wider but also thinner than the homemade one, although that really has to do with the pan I used. The crisped rice is a little different but taste pretty close to the same. Same great crunch!

Bottom line if you love eating chocolate candy bars and love the classic crunch bars, try making them at home and see what you think. I love them!

How long will homemade crunch bars last?

I store them in the fridge where they will keep for 2 to 3 weeks. You may also freeze them for several months.

Homemade copycat Nestle crunch bars on a white cutting board.
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5 from 11 votes

Homemade Crunch Bars

These homemade crunch bars taste identical to the Nestle Crunch bars although I think the homemade ones are better. Plus you can make all kinds of different kinds of crunch bars with different chocolate. 🙂 You only need two ingredients! They are super easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Chilling Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Candy, Dessert, Desserts
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate, crispy, crunchy, easy, smooth
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 163kcal
Author: Matt Taylor

Equipment

  • Silicone Granola Bar pan or Candy Bar pan
  • Bowls
  • spoon
  • Silicone Mat or parchment paper (optional, if you don't have the candy bar mold)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of chocolate doesn’t have to be exact (chocolate bars, chocolate chips, candy melts) (110g)
  • 1/2 cup Rice Krispies or Crisped Rice doesn’t have to be exact (13g)

Instructions

  • Begin by melting your favorite kind of chocolate. You can melt it in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl using the defrost mode for 45 seconds then stir the chocolate, then defrost for 45 seconds, until melted. Or use the standard high setting for 25 seconds, stirring in between.
  • You may also use the double boiler method. Place the bowl of chocolate on top of a small pot with water in the bottom. Set the burner to medium heat and as the water heats up the steam will warm the bottom of the bowl gently melting the chocolate.
  • Gently mix together the crisped rice (Rice Krispies) in the bowl of melted chocolate. Fold and stir gently until all incorporated.
  • Evenly spoon the crunch bar mixture into your candy bar molds, making them as thick as you like. I like them fairly thin about 1/4 of an inch. Smooth out the top a bit with the back of the spoon or narrow spatula. Then chill them in the fridge for 30 minutes.
    If you don't have a candy bar mold, just spoon the chocolate mixture onto a sheet pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and shape them how you like.
  • Once they are chilled and the chocolate has set. Remove one from the mold and eat it! Notice that classic crunch. Enjoy!
  • Store them in the pan in the fridge, or remove them and store them in a single layer in a plastic bag. You can individually wrap them in parchment paper as well if you like.

Video

How to Make Chocolate Crunch Bars | Nestle Crunch Bar Copycat Recipe

Notes

The nutritional facts will vary depending on the type of chocolate you use.
List of nutritional facts for homemade crunch bars
Tried this recipe?Mention @WPRecipeMaker or tag #wprecipemaker!

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal

Do you like this recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it.  If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

Here are a few more recipes you may like:

Red Velvet Cake

Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Homemade Kit Kats

Better Than Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Easy Homemade Fudge

Homemade crunch bars pin for Pinterest
(Pin it!)

26 Comments

  1. Thank you for this delightful surprise ending to what has not been a very pleasant day.
    I will go to your shop and purchase your book.
    Warm regards, stay safe, Marty Herman

  2. 5 stars
    Wow! I want to make my own Homemade Crunch Bars! It’s way cheaper and it’s nice to make your own chocolates. Kids will be happy for sure.

  3. 5 stars
    Hhaaaa…it is really good to know that these bars can be frozen away for several months because making these requires a very special moment to enjoy them!

  4. 5 stars
    What’s not to love about chocolate & crunchies! Homemade candy is the best

  5. Gervin Khan

    5 stars
    I love this recipe! I will be saving this recipe and will make this on this weekend. Thank you!

  6. 5 stars
    I never would have thought to make these. It would be a fun activity to do with my boys. And I’m sure they won’t last long around here, lol!

  7. 5 stars
    Oh how fab! The kids and I will definitely give this a try. We’re excited!

  8. When I was a kid, we actually made these at a birthday party I went to. Something about the homemade version always takes me back to my childhood.

  9. 5 stars
    Your creative approach to making homemade crunch bars, is commendable. The recipe is inviting to try.

  10. katerina @ diethood.com

    5 stars
    Homemade is the BEST! My kids would LOVE these!! YUM!

  11. 5 stars
    I used to eat these all the time, as a kid! They are one of the best candy bars! Excited to make these!

  12. Rachael Yerkes

    5 stars
    These are so much like a store bought crunch bar! it’s so good

  13. Stephanie

    5 stars
    These were fantastic! I had my kids help me with this recipe and they couldn’t stop telling their friends about it! They thought they were such big shots for making homemade candy bars.

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