If you have a serious sweet tooth but want to keep things plant-based, this Vegan Butterfingers Recipe is about to become one of your all-time favorites. Imagine crispy, crunchy layers infused with golden syrup and peanut butter, all surrounded by a silky coating of vegan chocolate — it’s a dreamy treat that balances both texture and rich flavor beautifully. Whether you’re enjoying it as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or sharing with friends, these homemade vegan butterfingers bring that nostalgic candy bar experience with a wholesome twist that’s surprisingly simple to make from scratch.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays a crucial role, combining to create the delightful taste, texture, and color that make this Vegan Butterfingers Recipe so irresistible. The list is straightforward, highlighting pantry staples that come together in perfect harmony.
- Vegan cornflakes (42 g): Adds crispiness and a subtle crunch that replicates the classic butterfinger texture.
- Organic caster sugar (170 g): Provides sweetness and helps form the sticky honeycomb base.
- Golden syrup (100 g): Brings a rich, caramel-like flavor that deepens the candy’s complexity.
- Water (50 ml): Helps dissolve the sugar and creates the perfect syrup consistency.
- Baking soda (7.5 g): Reacts with the syrup to give the signature light and airy honeycomb texture.
- Vanilla extract (5 ml): Enhances the overall flavor with floral sweetness and warmth.
- Smooth peanut butter (260 g): Delivers creamy, nutty goodness that forms the heart of the bars.
- Vegan chocolate (250 g): Enrobes the bars with a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth finish.
How to Make Vegan Butterfingers Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Equipment and Ingredients
Before diving in, get everything ready to ensure the process flows smoothly. Have your ingredients measured, an 8-inch square pan lined with parchment paper, and your food processor or blender at hand since timing is everything once the honeycomb comes together.
Step 2: Blitz the Cornflakes
Pop those vegan cornflakes into your food processor and pulse them down until they’re a medium-fine crumb. This texture is essential to ensure the right crunch-to-chew ratio in the final bars, mimicking that classic butterfinger bite perfectly.
Step 3: Make the Sugar Syrup
In a medium to large saucepan, combine sugar, golden syrup, and water. Heat on medium, stirring gently until the sugar dissolves completely. Here’s a key tip: stop stirring once it’s dissolved—continuing can cause crystallization which ruins the texture you’re aiming for. Now crank the heat to medium-high and carefully monitor with a candy thermometer until it reaches 149°C (300°F). This stage usually takes about 15 minutes so patience is your best ally!
Step 4: Prepare the Peanut Butter Mixture
While the syrup heats up, warm the smooth peanut butter over a double boiler, whisking until silky and lump-free. Fold in the crushed cornflakes gently to coat them, ensuring every bite stays crispy yet creamy.
Step 5: Combine Baking Soda and Vanilla
In a small bowl, stir together the baking soda and vanilla extract. This mixture will soon be whisked into the molten syrup, causing a magical reaction that aerates the candy.
Step 6: Make the Honeycomb Mixture
Once the syrup hits 149°C, add the baking soda-vanilla mixture swiftly but carefully whisking for a few seconds. Remember, this syrup is extremely hot, so caution is key. Immediately pour this foamy, bubbling mixture into the peanut butter and cornflake bowl, folding gently until just combined. Over-mixing can deflate the airy texture, so handle with care.
Step 7: Set the Base
Transfer your mixture to the lined pan and press it down evenly, using a spatula or even the flat bottom of a glass. Leave it to set at room temperature undisturbed for two hours — this is when it firms up into the perfect crunchy core.
Step 8: Cut and Chocolate Coat the Bars
Once fully set, lift the butterfinger slab out of the pan and carefully slice into bars using a sharp knife. Melt the vegan chocolate over a double boiler and dip each bar in, using two forks to coat it thoroughly. Place the coated bars on parchment and allow them to set at room temperature for another 1 to 2 hours.
Step 9: Enjoy and Store
Your Vegan Butterfingers Recipe bars are now ready to enjoy once the chocolate has solidified. Store any leftovers carefully to maintain that perfect texture and flavor.
How to Serve Vegan Butterfingers Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of crushed roasted peanuts or a light dusting of fine sea salt on top of the chocolate before it sets adds a playful balance to the rich sweetness and intensifies the peanut flavors. A few cacao nibs are another fun option for an elegant crunch.
Side Dishes
Serve these bars alongside a comforting cup of almond milk or your favorite dairy-free latte for an indulgent treat that satisfies any afternoon craving. For gatherings, pair them with fresh fruit skewers or a vegan ice cream sundae to elevate the dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Wrap individual bars in colorful parchment or cellophane tied with twine to create charming, gift-ready treats. Alternatively, cut the bars into bite-sized bites and arrange them on a decorative plate or tiered dessert stand — they’re perfect finger food for parties and cozy get-togethers alike.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
These vegan butterfinger bars don’t like heat, cold, or moisture, so store them in an airtight container at room temperature to keep that crunch intact. They typically last a week or two if you can resist nibbling away all at once.
Freezing
If you want to store them longer, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container. They freeze well for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving to avoid condensation softening the bars.
Reheating
Since these bars are best enjoyed cold or at room temperature, reheating isn’t necessary or recommended. To refresh any slight softening, simply leave them out a bit longer to firm back up before digging in.
FAQs
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth?
You absolutely can! Using crunchy peanut butter will add even more texture, but keep in mind it may slightly change the consistency and bite of the bars.
Is golden syrup necessary or can I substitute it?
Golden syrup provides a unique caramel flavor and ideal consistency. If unavailable, light corn syrup or a mild maple syrup can be used, but the flavor and texture might vary slightly.
What type of chocolate works best for coating?
A good-quality vegan chocolate bar or chips that melt smoothly are best. Look for options without added flavors or nuts for that classic butterfinger finish.
How does baking soda affect the texture?
Baking soda reacts with the hot syrup to create tiny air bubbles, giving the honeycomb center a light, airy crunch essential to recreating the butterfinger’s signature texture.
Can I make this recipe nut-free?
While peanut butter is central to this recipe’s flavor, you could experiment with seed butters like sunflower seed butter if nut allergies are a concern, but the taste and texture will be different.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about whipping up a batch of Vegan Butterfingers Recipe bars at home. The combination of crunchy honeycomb, creamy peanut butter, and rich chocolate is pure bliss, made even better by the fact it’s 100% plant-based. I can’t wait for you to give this recipe a try and watch these bars disappear with smiles all around. Trust me, once you taste them, these vegan butterfingers will become a staple treat you’ll want to share again and again.
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Vegan Butterfingers Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This vegan Butterfingers recipe creates crunchy, peanut buttery bars coated in smooth vegan chocolate. Made without dairy or animal products, it uses crushed cornflakes for texture and a caramelized golden syrup sugar base cooked to the perfect hard crack stage for a satisfying bite. The mixture sets at room temperature before being dipped in melted chocolate for decadent homemade candy bars that are perfect for vegans and anyone craving a nostalgic sweet treat.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 42 g vegan cornflakes
- 170 g organic caster sugar
- 7.5 g baking soda
Wet Ingredients
- 100 g golden syrup (see notes)
- 50 ml water
- 5 ml vanilla extract
- 260 g smooth peanut butter
- 250 g vegan chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare Equipment and Ingredients: Gather all necessary equipment and measure ingredients precisely to ensure a smooth, quick cooking process when the honeycomb mixture is ready.
- Line Pan: Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper and set aside to prepare for setting the butterfinger mixture.
- Process Cornflakes: Place the vegan cornflakes in a food processor and blitz until they become a medium-fine crumb, adding a crunchy texture to the bars.
- Make Sugar Syrup: Combine caster sugar, golden syrup, and water in a medium-large saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring to avoid crystallization.
- Cook Syrup to Hard Crack Stage: Increase heat to medium-high and attach a candy thermometer. Cook the syrup until it reaches 149°C (300°F), approximately 15 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Heat Peanut Butter and Mix with Cornflakes: Place the peanut butter in a heat-resistant bowl over a double boiler. Whisk until smooth, then fold in the crushed cornflakes gently.
- Prepare Baking Soda Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the baking soda and vanilla extract, ensuring they are well mixed.
- Add Baking Soda Mixture to Syrup: When the syrup reaches the target temperature, quickly whisk in the baking soda-vanilla mixture carefully, as the mixture will bubble and be extremely hot.
- Combine Syrup with Peanut Butter Mix: Pour the hot syrup into the peanut butter and cornflakes mixture. Fold carefully until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain texture.
- Set Mixture in Pan: Transfer the mixture into the lined pan, pressing evenly using a spatula or flat-bottomed glass. Allow it to set at room temperature for 2 hours.
- Cut into Bars: After setting, remove the solid butterfinger block from the pan and carefully cut into bars with a sharp knife.
- Melt Chocolate and Coat Bars: Melt the vegan chocolate over a double boiler. Dip each bar into the melted chocolate using two forks to coat evenly. Place coated bars on parchment paper and allow to fully set at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
- Storage: Store the finished bars in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid heat, cold, and moisture. They will keep fresh for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
- If golden syrup is unavailable, you can substitute with light corn syrup or a mixture of light molasses and corn syrup for similar texture and flavor.
- Ensure not to stir the sugar syrup after it begins boiling to prevent crystallization and grainy texture.
- Use a candy thermometer for accurate temperature control when cooking the sugar syrup to achieve the hard crack stage.
- Work quickly when mixing the baking soda and syrup as the reaction happens fast and the mixture can bubble vigorously.
- These bars are sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, so proper storage is essential for maintaining their crunch and chocolate coating.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Candy, Dessert, Candy Bars
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
