These easy no-bake Chocolate Covered Almond Butter Puffed Millet Bars are the perfect breakfast treat or snack! This gluten free, refined sugar free, and vegan recipe has only seven ingredients.
Have you ever heard of puffed millet? I hadn’t up until a few weeks ago, when this post from The Kitchen McCabe landed in my inbox and I spent the rest of the day marveling not only over the gorgeous styling and photos of the bars from Kayley, but also over how darn cute and little the millet puffs were!
I couldn’t get Kayley’s recipe for White Chocolate Dipped Puffed Millet Bars with Strawberries + Pistachios out of my head, so I went on a search through my local grocery stores for puffed millet (found it at a local health food store, but you can order it here) so I could reinterpret her recipe with my own twist. Puffed millet bars were definitely happening. And…ta-da! Here they are :D
But first, let’s talk a little bit about what millet is, because you may be totally clueless about millet like I was. Millet is a small, round gluten-free cereal grain with lots of fiber, calcium, magnesium, and a bunch of other good-for-you nutrients. The tiny grains are often used in bird seed…but they can also be puffed up, like rice, and used in delicious treats like these bars! Which, trust me, are nothing like bird seed.
These bars are sort of reminiscent of Chewy Bars – you know, the chocolate covered kind you would always beg to have in your lunchbox because it was pretty much like having a candy bar, except “healthy,” because it was a granola bar. Except…those bars really aren’t healthy at all and they pretty much are a candy bar with all the sugar and preservatives packed into them.
Luckily, these Chocolate Covered Almond Butter Puffed Millet Bars are an actually-healthy cereal bar that can be devoured as a quick breakfast, popped in a lunchbox as a snack, or even enjoyed for dessert. The bars are made from some of my favorite healthy-but-delicious ingredients: almond butter and coconut butter!
The almond and coconut butters, along with some coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, are tossed with the puffed millet and some toasted sliced almonds to make the bars. After setting up, the bars are cut and dipped in homemade chocolate. This homemade chocolate recipe is my favorite and is seriously so easy: equal parts coconut oil and cocoa powder with maple syrup to taste. You can memorize it!
To dip the bars in the chocolate, I stabbed two toothpicks into the top of the bar and held onto those as I dunked the bar, shook off the excess (carefully), and then placed the bar on the baking sheet, removed the toothpicks, and repeat. It worked incredibly efficiently! A quick sprinkle of toasted sliced almonds before the chocolate was set and voila: we have Chocolate Covered Almond Butter Puffed Millet Bars.
These little treats are naturally gluten-free, refined sugar free, dairy free, AND vegan…so yeah, way healthier than your typical cereal bar, even if they are dipped in chocolate ;) and no baking necessary! You’ll be super happy to have these in the fridge when a mid-day chocolate craving hits or for those mornings when you’re rushing off to work. Enjoy!
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Remember to #bakerita if you try the recipe!
- 2 cups puffed millet
- ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ¼ cup coconut butter, melted
- ¼ cup almond butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- Toasted almond slivers, to garnish (optional)
- Line an 8x8" baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add the puffed millet and sliced almonds to a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the melted coconut butter, almond butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the puffed millet and stir until the puffed millet is fully coated.
- Pour the coated millet mixture into the prepared pan and press down firmly until level. Place the pan in the freezer for at least one hour, until firmed up and solid.
- Once the mixture is firm, slice into 12 bars - I cut the 8x8" square in half, and then made 6 cuts across the bars to make long, narrow bars. Place the bars back into the freezer while you prepare the chocolate coating so the bars don't soften.
- In a container large enough to dip and coat the bars, whisk together the coconut oil, cocoa powder, and maple syrup.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the bars from the freezer and dip them in the chocolate one at a time, coating on both sides, and then scrape off the excess and place on the parchment paper. I stuck two toothpicks into the top of each bar and used those to hold the bars while I dunked them.
- Sprinkle with toasted almond slivers before the chocolate sets.
- Once the chocolate has set, store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for a few weeks.
This recipe is inspired by The Kitchen McCabe's White Chocolate Dipped Puffed Millet Bars with Strawberries + Pistachios
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’ve never had puffed millet before, but now you’re convincing me that I need to try these asap! These bars look SO good, Rachel! I love how you covered them in chocolate, but they’re still on the healthier side. Definitely a perfect breakfast or snack!
Rachel says
Thanks so much, Gayle!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
We almost always have a bag of puffed millet in the pantry and I never cared for it as a breakfast cereal, but in these bars?? I can definitely get behind them loaded up with almond butter and covered in chocolate!
Rachel says
Yaaaas you’ve got to try it in these bars, Sarah! Way better than plain :D thanks girlie!
David @ Spiced says
So I’ve used millet in my bread recipes before…but it was the unpuffed version. This is the first time I’ve heard of puffed millet, and I am intrigued! These bars seem like an excellent way to use the puffed up version. Gorgeous! And now I’m going to be thinking about these for the rest of the day…and probably part of the day tomorrow, too! :-)
Rachel says
I’ve never tried the regular version, haha! The puffed version is PERFECT for these bars though – thanks so much for your kind words, David!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I haven’t tried puffed millet yet, but obviously that needs to change because these bars look delicious! You packed these chocolaty bad boys with so much yum!! These look perfect for snacking.. or eating like 5 and calling it a meal. ;) cheers, girlfriend!
Rachel says
Hahaha they’re definitely meal worthy ;) thanks, Cheyanne!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I need to find puffed millet Rachel because these bars look and sound wonderful! And way healthier than the usual cereal bar…perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Rachel says
Thanks so much, Mary Ann!
Mary Frances says
Oh my, that looks and sounds so delicious!! Also love the fact that it’s vegan!
linda \\ the baker who kerns says
I’ve always wanted to make my own puffed millet bars! I’ve seen them in my health food store and I haven’t grabbed them yet cause I don’t know what to make! Didn’t know they were used for bird feed! Hahaha that will make me feel like I am bonding with birds in someway when I make these cause they look way too yummy!
Rachel says
Hahaha I know I was totally laughing when I saw millet is usually used in bird feed. These definitely taste better than bird feed though, LOL! Thanks Linda :D
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
I have seen puffed quinoa and millet but never tried it! I always thought it would be so great in treats like this! The perfect crunch with that almond butter and chocolate ;)
Dwn @ Girl Heart Food says
These are totally up my alley! I don’t think I’ve tried millet before, but this looks like a great place to start! I would totally eat these for breakfast or mid morning or mid afternoon snack. Who am I kidding? I guess I could eat these anytime. Great recipe, girl :)
Rachel says
Thanks so much! You can definitely eat these anytime :)
Liora (Allthingsloveli) says
Your recipes always look so amazing- i seriously find myself pinning every one! I ate millet a lot growing up and recently started eating it again. I enjoy having it for breakfast, and now look forward to it as dessert :)
Florentina says
Oh my God , i’m licking my screen over this awesomeness ! Perfection I tell ya ! Well done!
Rachel says
Thank you so much, Florentina!
Kevin | Keviniscooking says
Be still my heart. Completely drool worthy, insanely delicious looking and healthy? OK, I’m sold. Plus, I have a bag of puffed millet I was going to make some granola with but too late now… WOW!
mira says
These look wonderful! I actually have puffed millet in my pantry and will definitely try these! I’ve only used it in salads so far! Pinned!
Lisa | Mummy Made.It says
Yum! I think I might whip up a batch of these today!!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
Saw these on Insta and needed to shoot right over here! These are a perfect treat if ever there was! YUM!
Rachel @the dessert chronicles says
These look so fun and delicious, Rachel! I’ve never cooked with millet but now I am definitely intrigued.
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
No bake? Chocolate? Bars? OMG you have a serious talent girl, these look and sound absolutely amazing! I’ve never used puffed millet, but there’s no time like the present, right? Definitely need to try these
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I love that these are healthier versions of those rice crispy/granola bars masquerading as healthy snacks! And bonus points that this is no bake. I wish I was eating one right now!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
I don’t know if I want to make these chocolatey delicious little bars because I’ll eat the whole pan of them in one sitting! Well, they are healthy, right? So it would be perfectly fine to eat all of them at once. Yay! ;)
Rachel says
Haha, totally! Thanks so much Karrie!
Denise @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I saw you making these on snapchat and have been thinking about them ever since!! They look so delicious, and now I am curious about millet…might need to pick up a bag on my next trip to the grocery store :)
Rachel says
I love trying new products! You should pick up a bag, Denise :) thanks so much, girl!
marcie says
I haven’t had millet yet but I sure do want to now! These bars look so delicious and your photos are gorgeous, Rachel! I want to reach right in a grab a few of these bars!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
These look incredible, Rachel! I’m embarrassed to admit that I really had no idea what millet was or how to use it. But I can’t wait to try ti out. Oh and I have a total girl crush on Kayley too! :-)
Rachel says
I had no idea what it was either, haha! Thanks Liz :)
Olivia @ Olivia's Cuisine says
Absolutely stunning!!!
Rebecca says
Unfortunately we have a tiny freezer, so I don’t have any freezer space. Do you think I would be possible to put the bars in the fridge for longer instead of the freezer before coating them with chocolate?
Rachel says
Hi Rebecca, that should work just fine. Just let them get fully chilled before dipping! Enjoy :)