Homemade Kind Nut Bars are a delicious snack option if you are looking for something a little more nutritious than the store bought version, but still delicious and filling. These nut bars are made with simple and wholesome ingredients, such as nuts and seeds and are free from refined sugar and artificial additives. We have added a little drizzle of dark chocolate to ours too.
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Making your own Kind Bars at home is a great way to ensure that you are getting a snack that is both delicious and healthy. Both high in protein and fibre, this is a nutritious snack.
By making your own nut bars, you can control the ingredients and adjust the recipe to suit your taste preferences. Plus, making your own snacks is often more cost-effective than buying pre-packaged options.
Whether you are looking for a quick and easy snack to grab on the go or a healthy treat to enjoy after a workout, these homemade Kind Bars are a great option. You can experiment with different flavours and ingredients to find the perfect combination for you. These are sweet and salty and deliciously sticky.
Looking for other nutty recipes to make? Why not try our simple Homemade Almond Butter, festive Cinnamon Roasted Almonds or our delicious No Bake Chocolate Energy Balls?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Mixed nuts - We used almonds, pecans and cashews. But peanuts are a popular addition too.
- Mixed seeds - We added pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
- Honey - We used this to sweeten the bars. You could swap it for maple syrup if you prefer.
- Almond butter - This is the binding ingredient. Any nut butter will work though.
- Salt - A pinch of salt really brings out all the flavours.
- Dark chocolate - This is optional, but we like to melt some dark chocolate (refined sugar free) and then drizzle it over the finished bars.
Variations
Nuts - This is where all the crunch and the protein comes from. Pretty much any nuts go here. We like almonds, peanuts, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts or walnuts.
Sweetener - Honey, maple syrup, agave nectar or coconut sugar will all work.
Binding agents - You want something that is going to bind all the ingredients together. We like peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or coconut oil.
Seeds - These add crunch along with the nuts. We like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds or chia seeds.
Cereal - If you want to bulk these out, as nuts can be expensive, then you can use a puffed rice cereal like Rice Krispies.
How to Make Kind Bars
Prep: Preheat your oven to 180°C/160°C(fan)/350°F/Gas 4.
- Step 1: Spread the mixed nuts on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly toasted.
- Step 2: In a small saucepan, heat the honey and almond butter over low heat until melted and well combined.
- Step 3: In a large bowl, mix the toasted nuts (a) with the seeds and salt (b).
- Step 4: Pour the honey and almond butter mixture over the nut and seed mixture (a) and stir until well combined (b).
- Step 5: Line a 10x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper and press the mixture into the dish. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
- Step 6: Melt the chocolate and drizzle over the set mixture (a). Refrigerate for a further 10 minutes. Cut the mixture into bars (b) and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Storage
Store: Firstly, it's important to store the bars in an airtight container or bag. This will help to keep out any moisture and prevent the bars from going stale. A resealable plastic bag or airtight container with a lid are both good options.
It's also a good idea to store the bars in the refrigerator, especially if you live in a warm or humid climate. This will help to extend their shelf life and prevent them from melting or becoming too soft. To make sure the bars don't stick to each other, place a piece of parchment paper between bars, or individually wrap them in plastic film.
Freeze: If you're planning on storing the bars for an extended period of time, you may want to consider freezing them. Homemade Kind nut bars can be frozen for up to three months, and they'll thaw quickly at room temperature when you're ready to eat them.
When it comes to serving the bars, it's best to let them come to room temperature before eating. This will help to bring out their full flavour and texture, as fridge cold they will be quite brittle.
Dannii's Top Tips
- For some extra flavour, add a little vanilla extract, as it adds a nice warmth to these chocolate nut bars.
- You can add some shredded coconut for a nice addition of flavour.
- Once the nut butter and honey have melted and been stirred into the nuts, it's important that you work quickly, so the mixture doesn't have time to set and harden before you've even had the chance to spread it in the pan.
- If you find that your spatula is sticking a bit too much, you can slightly wet it and it should make it easier to work with.
- When cutting the bars, use a good, sharp knife and to push it right down into the bars. Don't use a sawing motion.
- For some added warmth, add a pinch of cinnamon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we wouldn't recommend skipping this step. It really helps to release the oils and flavours.
If this is happening, then the bars haven't been packed down enough. Use a sheet of parchment paper on the bars and then a glass pressed down on it to push it all down.
These are high in calories and sugar, however it is natural sugars and the calories come from the nuts which are super nutritious.
More Snack Bar Recipes
If you've tried this homemade nut bar recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Homemade Kind Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 150 g (1 cups) of Mixed nuts - such as almonds, cashews, and peanuts
- 70 g (0.5 cups) of Mixed seeds - such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
- 4 tablespoons of Honey
- 4 tablespoons of Almond butter
- 40 g (1.5 oz) of Chocolate - dark
- 1 Pinch of Fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/160°C(fan)/350°F/Gas 4.
- Spread 150 g of Mixed nuts on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly toasted.
- In a small saucepan, heat 4 tablespoons of Honey and 4 tablespoons of Almond butter over low heat until melted and well combined.
- In a large bowl, mix the toasted nuts, 70 g of Mixed seeds and 1 Pinch of Fine sea salt together.
- Pour the honey and almond butter mixture over the nut and seed mixture and stir until well combined.
- Line a 10x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper and press the mixture into the dish.
- Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
- Melt 40 g of Chocolate and drizzle over the set mixture. Refrigerate for a further 10 minutes.
- Cut the mixture into bars and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
- For some extra flavour, add a little vanilla extract, as it adds a nice warmth to these chocolate nut bars.
- You can add some shredded coconut for a nice addition of flavour.
- Once the nut butter and honey have melted and been stirred into the nuts, it's important that you work quickly, so the mixture doesn't have time to set and harden before you've even had the chance to spread it in the pan.
- If you find that your spatula is sticking a bit too much, you can slightly wet it and it should make it easier to work with.
- When cutting the bars, use a good, sharp knife and to push it right down into the bars. Don't use a sawing motion.
- For some added warmth, add a pinch of cinnamon.
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
GG says
We absolutely love these. Would you wait for it to cool on the side before refrigeration or straight in pls?
Dannii Martin says
Yes, leave it to cool first. I am so happy you enjoyed these!
Beth says
I found these to be far too rich, would halving the nut butter and honey work?
SY says
Lovely recipe, going to try it! How long will they last? A month?
Dannii Martin says
I would say 2 weeks they would last.
Neha says
These sound way better than kind bars to me. Love that these are made with clean and so less ingredients.
Vanessa says
So yummy! Made some recently to keep in the cooler on a road trip. Was the perfect snack!
Tara says
Such a wonderful and delicious homemade version of the bars! I love all those flavors and how easily they come together.
Beth says
Holy healthy deliciousness, Batman! These actually look and sound better than Kind bars. I cannot wait to make these. They're going to be perfect for when I'm out and about.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Wow, I just tried the Homemade Kind Nut Bars recipe and I am blown away! These bars are the perfect combination of chewy, crunchy, and nutty goodness. The recipe is so easy to follow, and the result is simply delicious.
Sarah James says
Our family loved these nut bars, we used some rice krispies to save using all nuts like you suggested. Will be making them again.
Katherine says
We love Kind bars but they're so expensive. So excited to make them at home from scratch!
Stephanie says
This nut bars recipe is awesome! I made these for the kids' camp lunch boxes and ended up eating a bunch of them myself - guess I will have to make again.
Sangeetha says
These homemade Nut Bars are absolutely amazing! I love that they're a healthier alternative to store-bought options but still packed with deliciousness and filling ingredients. Plus, the fact that they're free from refined sugar and artificial additives is a huge bonus.
Gina says
Goodbye store bought! Homemade is the way to go with these delicious bars!