Well, well, well, my little sweet tooth warriors, you’re in for a treat today! Forget the store-bought candy bars that sit on the shelf pretending to be the real deal. I’m about to share my (healthy) homemade version of the classic Take 5 candy bar. Yes, you heard that right—Grandma’s got a recipe that’ll have you sneaking back to the kitchen for “just one more” (I see you!).
Let me tell you, I’ve been around long enough to know that life is too short for mediocrity. We’re talking a harmonious blend of Granny's homemade Cinnamon Sugar pretzels, rich and crunchy peanut butter, roasted unsalted peanuts, luscious caramel (well, sorta), and of course, chocolate that’ll make your taste buds bust a move like it's 1985, And the best part? These beauties are healthy-sih and homemade! None of that funny business with processed or artificial ingredients. We’re keeping it real here, folks ;).
Ingredients
Easy as Pie (But Much More Fun!):
- Medjool Dates: Now, if you’ve never had a date, honey, you’re missing out. These little gems are nature’s candy, all sweet and caramel-like. You’ll want to make sure they’re pitted, unless you’re looking to give your food processor a run for its money.
- Peanuts: You can’t have a Take 5 without nuts, can you? Dry roasted unsalted peanuts add the perfect crunch to Granny’s homemade take 5. And if peanuts aren’t your jam (hello, allergies!), swap them out.
- Peanut Butter: The chunkier, the better! (also make a substitution for my allfactic homies to a non-nut substitute.)
- Chocolate: Now, don’t get stingy on the chocolate. The good Chocolate.
- Mini Pretzels:Granny’s Cinnamon Sugar Maple pretzels work perfectly for this recipe! But also experiment with Granny’s S’mores Pretzels to really jazz things up.
The Magic (a.k.a. How to Make 'Em):
- Process Those Dates: Toss your dates into a food processor and give them a whirl until they’re nicely broken up. They should look like a sticky, crumbly mess—exactly what we want!
- Mix the Good Stuff: Add your peanuts, peanut butter, vanilla, and a pinch of salt to the processor. Let it all dance together until you’ve got a crumbly, sticky mixture that smells like heaven.
- Press Away: Now, grab that mini muffin pan. Press about a half-tablespoon of your mixture into the bottom of 16 slots. Don’t get too fussy—they don’t have to be perfect, just delicious.
- Melt That Chocolate: Pop your chocolate and a smidge of coconut oil into a microwave-safe bowl. Nuke it for about 45-60 seconds, then stir until smooth. (Pro tip: The coconut oil makes it extra smooth, but if you’re out, no biggie.)
- Chocolate and Pretzels: Use a half-teaspoon to pour the melted chocolate over each date mixture. Then, quick as a wink, press a mini pretzel into the top before the chocolate hardens.
- Freeze and Pop Out: Stick the whole thing in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, just until the chocolate’s nice and hard. Then, use a knife to pop out each little candy bite. Store them in the fridge (if they last that long) for up to a week.
And there you have it, my dears—Grandma’s homemade Take 5 candy bars! These little bites of heaven will make you the hero of every party, potluck, and midnight snack raid that happens.
Now go on, give 'em a try, and remember—life’s too short for boring treats. So live a little, laugh a lot, and always take 5 to enjoy the little moments!
