Back in college, my roommate Jenn and I put away some Nutty Buddy bars (chocolate peanut butter cookie bars). This highly processed “treat” is not something you might wonder if it would pass the real food test…clearly, anything by Little Debbie does not! So I have not had one in a while. I think the ingredients say it all…
But boy, do I remember exactly how they taste. And the other day Jenn said to me, ”When are you going to come up with a Copycat Nutty Buddy Bars recipe so we can make them at home?” It honestly had not occurred to create a homemade version, but I was up for the challenge. And, while the result is not exactly like the original (I am not about to whip up some wafers from scratch), these homemade nutty bars are pretty reminiscent of what used to be my favorite packaged dessert! Let me know if you agree in the comments. :)
Copycat Nutty Buddy Bars
Ingredients
- 24 Triscuit (or similar) crackers
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, we buy natural peanut butter made with 1 ingredient, peanuts!
- 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions
-
Spread peanut butter on top of each cracker then double them up (one on top of another) to make 12 double-decker stacks.
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In a small pot over very low heat, melt the chocolate chips and heavy cream together. Continuously stir until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. You can also use a double boiler, but if you keep a close eye and stir frequently, I don't think it's necessary.
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Line a baking sheet or cutting board with parchment or wax paper. One by one dip each cracker stack in the melted chocolate and spoon over top. Take out of the chocolate, scrape the excess off the bottom (with the spoon), and place on the prepared sheet. Repeat until done.
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Place in the entire thing in the freezer until chocolate sets, 1 to 2 hours, and serve. Keep cold.
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
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Hayley Gardner
May 21, 2018 at 9:05 pmHi Lisa! I am such a lover of your blog and cookbooks! Your blog literally changed my life! I was SO SO excited to see this post as I use to love those treats. I do have a question regarding this recipe. Not sure if you are aware but the packaging of Triscuits has BHT in it, a preservative. When I first began this journey of eliminating processed foods and preservatives from my diet BHT was one of the things I learned about. It is a terrible preservative that has been linked to cancer. So my question is are you using a different type of cracker or the actual Triscuit brand and if so do you know something about BHT that I don’t as I would love to know because many of the kellogg brands have BHT in their packaging and due to popular demand they are in the process of eliminating it from their packaging. Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and I appreciate all you do!
Bethany Thomson, RDN, CLT
May 23, 2018 at 1:25 pmHi, Hayley, I think a slightly improved option may be the Back to Nature brand crackers that are similar to Triscuits. I am also wondering if a Wasa cracker ( made from rye) may be substituted for some people who cannot eat wheat. I might add a little extra salt in there to compensate for the unsalted nature of Wasa crackers.
Shannon
May 23, 2018 at 9:33 pmI’m holding a box of Trisciots right now that I purchased about a week ago. There are only 3 ingredients listed. Whole Grain Wheat, canola oil and sea salt. I don’t see where it says BHT is listed.
Hayley
May 23, 2018 at 11:48 pmIt is listed under the ingredients in small letters. I was grocery shopping on Tuesday and went to purchase them so I could try this recipe and double checked and spotted “contains BHT in packaging to preserve freshness” listed under the ingredients. I guess the organic option doesn’t have it so I’ll have to look for those as they were not available at my local grocery store. Thank you!
Lisa
May 25, 2018 at 10:55 amI agree – Triscuits are not ideal not only for the possible BHT, but the refined oil as well. I do also buy the Back to Nature brand as another option and Whole Foods has a store brand that is similar as well. I do like that they are 100% whole-grain!
Erin
May 23, 2018 at 12:28 pmI am wondering the exact same thing! Thank you for posting this question!
Alex
May 23, 2018 at 1:17 pmIt is a great idea to replicate those delicious heavenly treats. :-)
I also would like to think if an alternative to triscuits. Something more delicate. Maybe a rice based water would work. Vanilla in the wafer seems like a flavor that would help resemble the original.
But the texture of them is the key thing that appeals to me, so I will try to think of a less dense and more simple water than the Triscuits.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Claire Humphreys
May 23, 2018 at 2:17 pmI’m in the Uk and have no idea what a triscuit is! Anyone translate for me?!
April Heimerle
May 23, 2018 at 2:49 pmLol! It’s just a small square shaped shredded wheat “cracker” (as we call them here). Triscuit is the brand name. (I think they’re made by Nabisco?) They have several flavors, depending on the seasoning powder, with plain being the only type I’ve seen mentioned on this site. However, you’re not missing much as the commentors before suggested…they have preservatives in their packaging.
Michelle
May 23, 2018 at 8:54 pmSo yummy and so addicting!
Michelle
May 23, 2018 at 9:51 pmOrganic Triscuits are available, and as far as I can tell, they don’t contain BHT in the packaging.
Brandyb
May 25, 2018 at 8:47 amThese are SO GOOD! I wasn’t sure about using triscuits but i was pleasantly surprised. The texture is what makes them special!
Great recipe, thanks for sharing!
Lisa
May 25, 2018 at 10:54 amI agree – the outcome was a pleasant surprise for me as well! Glad you enjoyed them. :)
Christie F.
May 28, 2018 at 11:36 pmI wonder if there might be some kind o waffle f ice cream cone made of healthy ingredients that could be used instead of Triscuits…
[email protected]
May 29, 2018 at 8:13 pmSO easy and SO much like a Nutty Buddy! Definitely a close imitation and I wouldn’t change anything about this recipe. Not to mention feeling no guilt after eating them! Thank you so much for this reward after making such a lifestyle change.
Linda Sutter
May 30, 2018 at 9:20 amMy grandson (5 1/2) and I made these this weekend! Our chocolate was a little stiff, even after a bit more cream and some coconut oil, but we loved them! They were not as pretty as Lisa’s (most of the chocolate was on top) but the taste/texture was very appealing! He said we should make them again!
Carolann
June 5, 2018 at 3:03 pmThese are absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing this fun recipe!
dannie
June 11, 2018 at 4:51 amThis is a nice snack to take when reading a book or you are just relaxed watching a movie.
Stephanie
June 24, 2018 at 3:54 pmI wasn’t sure if I would like these. I thought they might might be sweet enough, and thought about adding honey to the peanut butter. I’m so glad I made them exactly as posted. No need for extra sweetner. They were just right. I used organic dark chocolate chips.
Heidi
August 29, 2018 at 11:42 amI know that Triscuit crackers only have 3 ingredients and those ingredients are all real food, but what about the BHT preservative that they pump into it “to preserve freshness” according to their box?
Doesn’t adding a possible carcinogen preservative kick it out of your real food guidelines?
Heidi
August 29, 2018 at 12:06 pmNever mind, I see that you addressed this earlier in the thread. I’m sad to say I will not be buying triscuits, but hope to try this recipe with a similar cracker that doesn’t contain BHT.
Lori
September 6, 2018 at 10:31 pmHeidi, I don’t have a box in front of me but Whole Foods has a Triscuit dupe that might work.
Kelly
September 12, 2018 at 7:40 pmI made these over the weekend and they are awesome!! Love your recipes.
Lisa
October 8, 2018 at 10:15 pmAmazingly delicious! Definitely a worthy contender!