Pin It A playful, colorful treat featuring chewy homemade gummies, crispy freeze-dried candies, and a wholesome oat base. This mash-up is perfect for snack lovers and candy fans alike.
I love making these snack bars for parties, especially when friends bring their favorite freeze-dried candies to add. The variety always makes for exciting, shareable treats.
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 3 tbsp
- Freeze-dried fruit (strawberries, raspberries), lightly crushed: 1 cup
- Freeze-dried candy (Skittles, marshmallows, or similar), crushed or chopped: 1 cup
Instructions
- Prepare Pan:
- Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix Base:
- In a large bowl, combine oats, almond butter, honey, melted butter, vanilla, and salt until well mixed. Press into the pan and refrigerate.
- Make Gummies:
- Pour juice into a small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over and let sit for 5 minutes. Gently heat and stir until dissolved, then add honey. Pour into a parchment-lined dish and chill 45 60 minutes until set.
- Cut Gummies:
- Once set, cut gummies into small cubes.
- Add Toppings:
- Remove oat base from fridge and sprinkle gummies, freeze-dried fruits, and candies evenly over. Press gently.
- Final Chill:
- Chill the pan for 10 15 minutes to set.
- Slice Bars:
- Use parchment to lift out. Cut into bars.
Pin It My little cousins adore assembling their own bars, picking out candy pieces to personalize each one. It turns snack time into a fun family activity.
Required Tools
8x8-inch baking pan, parchment paper, mixing bowls, saucepan, spatula, knife
Allergen Information
Contains nuts and dairy; seed butter and coconut oil make it nut-free and dairy-free. Not suitable for vegans or infants under 1 year due to gelatin and honey.
Nutritional Information
Each bar contains about 170 calories, 7 g fat, 25 g carbs, and 3 g protein.
Pin It These snack bars are sure to brighten up your snack tray. Share and enjoy the playful flavors any time you crave a whimsical treat.
Recipe FAQs
- → Can I use store-bought gummies instead of homemade?
Yes, you can substitute with store-bought gummies, but homemade provides fresher flavor and customizable shapes.
- → What alternatives work for nut allergies in the oat base?
Swap almond butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini for a nut-free option without losing creaminess.
- → How do I make these bars dairy-free?
Replace butter with coconut oil in the oat base to keep the bars entirely dairy-free and still delicious.
- → Are these bars suitable for vegans?
Use agar-agar instead of gelatin and choose maple syrup for a vegan-friendly bar. Check candy ingredients for vegan compliance.
- → What’s the best way to store the bars?
Keep the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week for best freshness and texture.
- → Can I add seeds or nuts for extra crunch?
Yes! Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chopped nuts work well for added crunch and flavor in the base.