Homemade Kind Nut Bars
These Homemade Kind Nut Bars make snacking fun! They’re crunchy, chewy and satisfying, and while dipping them in dark chocolate is optional, it’s highly recommended. These nut bars are easily customizable with your favorite nuts and they come together in about 30 minutes!
I am a snacker through and through, so I try to avoid packaged snacks as much as possible and make my own. After all, homemade is always best!
I’ve loved Costco Nut Bars and KIND bars for years, and one day I thought it would be fun to try making them at home.
Through trial and error, I created these Homemade KIND Nut Bars, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!
These bars are crunchy and chewy, dipped in dark chocolate, and they include just a few simple ingredients.
The best part about making them yourself is that you’ll save money (KIND bars are a minimum of $2 apiece on sale), and you can customize them with your favorite nuts and add-ins. Not to mention that you control the quality of the ingredients as well!
This is a snack that’s right up there with my favorite no bake peanut butter bars and banana peanut butter oatmeal bars.
They’re wholesome, absolutely delicious and they double as a treat! 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe
- If you love dark chocolate Kind bars, you’ll flip for these! Plus you get to customize them with your favorite nuts to make them your own.
- They’re irresistibly crunchy and chewy, and dipping them in dark chocolate is optional but highly recommended.
- They take just 10 minutes to prep and they bake up in 10-15 minutes.
- It’s much more cost effective to make homemade KIND bars, so you’ll save money!
Recipe ingredients
- Nuts. You’ll need 4 cups of nuts for this recipe, and any combination will do just fine. I recommend using raw whole nuts if possible as they toast in the oven as they bake. I used unsalted dry roasted peanuts that I purchased from the bulk bin in my supermarket. If desired, sub part of the nuts with puffed rice cereal, dried fruit or a combination of both.
- Sweeteners. I’ve used a combination of brown rice syrup and honey for the perfect flavor and sticky consistency that’s needed to bind the nut bars together.
- Coconut oil. A small amount is used to soften the chocolate for the perfect drizzling consistency.
- Dark chocolate chips. Sub with semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or omit entirely if you prefer not to dip the bars in chocolate. This recipe works perfectly with dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Sea salt. A few sprinkles of flaky sea salt enhances the flavors nicely.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make homemade kind bars
I found out how easy it was to make homemade Kind bars one day when I grew tired of paying the high prices. They are $2.00 or more in some stores, and I do love controlling my ingredients as well!
With this recipe, I can customize my nut bars with my favorite nuts or add-in’s, and dip them in my favorite dark chocolate as well.
Dipping the nut bars in dark chocolate is totally optional but highly recommended. If you’re not a fan of dark chocolate, you can use semi-sweet or even milk chocolate.
Pro tip: Customize bars using any combination of nuts, or sub 1/2 cup of the nuts with puffed rice cereal.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
Prepare the bars
- Combine the nuts in a large bowl.
- Place the honey, brown rice syrup and salt in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds or until hot.
- Pour the mixture over the nuts and stir well to coat.
- Pour the nut mixture into the prepared baking sheet, and press down evenly using a wooden spoon, rubber scraper or parchment paper as the mixture is sticky.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden and bubbly, checking for doneness after 10 minutes.Remove from heat and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Cut into bars.
Dip the bars in dark chocolate
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl and heat at 50% power in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir and repeat in 30 second increments, stirring well each time, until the chocolate has melted.
- Dip the bars into the chocolate to submerge the bottom, then place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle the remaining chocolate over the top of the bars and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if using.
- Let stand at room temperature until set.
Recipe FAQs
The nut bars include a variety of nuts, honey and brown rice syrup, and if you wish to dip them in dark chocolate, you’ll also need dark chocolate chips and coconut oil.
You can customize this recipe a number of ways including swapping out 1/2 cup of nuts with the following: puffed rice cereal, dried fruit, shredded coconut, or sunflower seeds or pepitas. You can also add a tablespoon of chia seeds or flax seed meal for added nutrition, or add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or vanilla for extra flavor.
Instead of dark chocolate chips, you can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate or white chocolate, or omit the chocolate altogether as desired.
It’s essential to use sticky sweeteners such as honey, brown rice syrup or maple syrup to help hold the nuts together.
This recipe includes a combination of half honey and half brown rice syrup for depth of flavor.
The nuts bars should be baked in order to toast the nuts and give them a firm, crispy texture.
Use sticky sweeteners such as honey, brown rice syrup or maple syrup to help the bars adhere, then pack the bars into the pan and bake.
It’s essential that the mixture has cooled completely before cutting into bars, and be sure to use sharp knife.
Customization ideas
The sky is the limit on the number of ways that you can customize this nut bars recipe. Below are some ideas for inspiration:
- Use your favorite nuts or seeds. Pecans, peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts or pistachios are all great options. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are fabulous as well.
- Binder. Brown rice syrup, honey and maple syrup are nice options. They’re nice and sticky and help hold the bars together. Use one or a combination for a variety of flavor. A 1/4 cup of nut butter can also help bind the bars together as well.
- Add-ins. Consider swapping the nuts out with 1/2 cup or so of puffed rice cereal, dried fruit, unsweetened shredded coconut. You can also add a tablespoon or two of flax seed meal or chia seeds.
- Flavor enhancers. Add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract or ground cinnamon.
- Chocolate. Dark, semi-sweet, milk or even white chocolate are all great options.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Customize bars using any combination of nuts, or sub 1/2 cup of the nuts with puffed rice cereal.
- All oven temperatures vary, so begin checking for doneness after 10 minutes to ensure the bars aren’t getting too toasty around the edges.
- Dipping the bars in dark chocolate is optional but highly recommended!
- Store nut bars between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Refrigerate during warm weather to ensure that the chocolate doesn’t melt.
More snack recipes you’ll love
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Homemade Kind Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup raw walnut pieces sub with additional almonds or walnuts
- 2 cups dry roasted unsalted peanuts
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown rice syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed quarter sheet pan or 13×9" baking dish with parchment paper.
- Place the nuts in a medium bowl and toss to combine.1 cup raw almonds, 1 cup raw walnut pieces, 2 cups dry roasted unsalted peanuts
- Place the honey, brown rice syrup and salt in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds or until hot. Pour the mixture over the nuts and stir well to coat.1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup brown rice syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pour the nut mixture into the prepared baking sheet, and press down evenly using a wooden spoon, rubber scraper or parchment paper as the mixture is sticky. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden and bubbly, checking for doneness after 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely on a wire rack and cut into bars.
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl and heat at 50% power in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir and repeat in 30 second increments, stirring well each time, until the chocolate has melted.1 cup dark chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- Place the melted chocolate in an oblong dish like a loaf pan and dip the bottom of the bars in the chocolate. Place on parchment paper or waxed paper to set. If the chocolate begins to harden, heat in the microwave at 50% power for 10 seconds. Drizzle remaining chocolate over the bars and let stand at room temperature to set. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: Customize bars using any combination of nuts, or sub 1/2 cup of the nuts with puffed rice cereal.
- All oven temperatures vary, so begin checking for doneness after 10 minutes to ensure the bars aren’t getting too toasty around the edges.
- Dipping the bars in dark chocolate is optional but highly recommended!
- Store nut bars between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Refrigerate during warm weather to ensure that the chocolate doesn’t melt.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
61 Comments on “Homemade Kind Nut Bars”
I love how delicious and how EASY these sound to make! I’m craving some right now…
They are both of those things, Aimee! They’re so crunchy, chewy, and chocolatey, they’re irresistible, too. I hope you get to try them!
Ooooh, I’d find these irresistible, too. They look so good and so much cheaper to make them yourself.
They’re a lot cheaper to make, and really easy. I see more of these in our near future!
I love homemade granola bars and coincidentally, I just made some too! I love the chocolate layer you added to these, they look perfect.
I saw your granola bars, Nik, and they look delicious with that molasses! I never have enough great granola bar recipes.
KIND Bars are my favorite bars to buy. I love how they are loaded with nuts! Yours look even more fabulous!
Thank you so much! These really do taste like them — I’m so happy. KIND bars for a fraction of the price is twice as nice. 🙂
I was craving this after seeing on Insta, and it looks so good Marcie. I am going gaga over all the nuts…can’t wait to try them out. Of course pinning.
Thanks, Ash! Sounds like you’re as crazy about nuts as I am. I cannot stop eating these!
These are perfect, Marcie! I’m loving the fact they are simply homemade…which makes them better than anything! Can’t wait to give these a try…so thank you for trying it 4 times, so we can make them perfect every single time! Pinning. (=
I wanted to make these to save a buck — it’s much more cost effective. I’m happy to help you out, Gloria — hope you can give them a try! Thanks so much for the pin, too.
Oooh, I love KIND bars. These are fabulous! Pinned!
Thanks, Dorothy! I cannot get enough of these.
Anything with chocolate and PB will always get my attention. These look delish Marcie! 🙂
Thanks, Anne! They’re so addicting.
Marcie, these look really good. I’m real bad about eating protein and granola bars during the day and not stopping for a meal. Thanks for linking to Marvelous Mondays, pinned to my MM board and scheduled to share on facebook and twitter.
Sounds like you need a stash of these, Paula! Thanks so much for hosting this great party and for sharing my link! Have a great evening.
These are perfect, Marcie! My boyfriend likes one of the Nature’s Valley bars that is similar to this. I will have to make these homemade bars for him one day! Pinned!
These bars are so chewy and satisfying, especially with all the nuts. Thanks for the pin, Julie, and have a great evening!
If I lived in Spain, I think I could handle having to make my own granola bars — what a trade off! These are different since they’re nut based, but they’re still nice and chewy with some great crunch. I hope you get to try these!
I have no self control either, Jamie, so I needed to do this. My kids love them too, so we’d go broke! 🙂
These looks better than the original! Gonna make these!
Thank you, Tahny! I really worke hard to get these right!
I was wondering what KIND bars are since I’ve never had them. Your attempts on Instagram made me curious and now I can’t wait to try them. They look so good and definitely worth the trials to get the perfect batch. Thanks for sharing with us!
There are so many great flavors of KIND bars, but this combo makes me feel like I’m eating a candy bar! I hope you get to try these.
I’ve actually never had a KIND bar but I definitely want to try this homemade version! These look like something I would love! Sounds like it was worth all the tries to get it just right!
These bars taste like candy bars they’re so good, but they’re really quite healthy! Kind bars are $1.50-2.00 each, so making them homemade is worth the effort. Have a great day, Ashley!