These homemade paleo Twix bars are one of my most popular recipes, and there’s good reason for this. With just a few basic ingredients, you can have delicious layers of crunchy shortbread, gooey caramel and a dark chocolate layer that taste like one of your favorite candy bars. These are such a crowd pleaser and the best part about these homemade treats is that you can fully control all of the ingredients.

Afternoon Indulgence

My Paleo Twix Cups have quickly become one of my favorite afternoon indulgences. What’s not to love about a buttery shortbread crust cradling luscious caramel filling all cloaked in creamy chocolate? Yet these tasty candy cups align with my healthy eating goals thanks to swapping in unprocessed ingredients like coconut flour, maple syrup and sunflower seed butter. Who knew eating paleo could be so delicious?!

Traditional Twix rely on refined sugar for sweetness along with artificial flavors and preservatives I aim to avoid. But my clean take on the beloved candy bar delivers incredibly similar texture and flavor, only using wholesome real-food alternatives. There’s just something about that first bite sinking your teeth through the crisp outer shell and into the soft caramel center that creates the ultimate treat experience. I dare you to eat just one!

What makes these so perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up is that they come together quickly with minimal effort. Even just 1 or 2 little candy cups curbs a craving and energizes me in the best way possible, hold me over nicely until dinner. Yet they taste special enough to gift or bring to a gathering so everyone can indulge while sticking to their healthy goals. My Paleo Twix Cups prove you really can have your wholesome dessert and eat it too!

What You Need to Make Twix Cups

Shortbread Layer

This crisp, buttery shortbread forms the base of the Twix cups, made paleo by using grain- and gluten-free flours along with healthful fats and natural sweeteners.

Coconut Flour – Super absorbent coconut flour lends structure, binding the dough even with no grains. Its high fiber content balances out the sugars for a less spiking effect. For paleo diets, it works perfectly.

Arrowroot Starch – Arrowroot starch helps lighten coconut flour’s denseness and adds a shortbread-like crumble. It turns deliciously crispy in the oven. Tapioca or flour can also work.

Sea Salt – A tiny pinch of sea salt balances out sweetness and makes all the flavors pop. Fine grain Himalayan or Celtic salt would work too.

Coconut Oil – The naturally high saturated fat content of coconut oil makes it perfect for achieving the signature texture of shortbread once chilled. It firms up nicer than other oils. If tolerated, you could use unsalted butter, although I like how the coconut oil firms up better in the refrigerator, giving the crust a crunchy texture.

Maple Syrup – Pure maple syrup lends authentic caramelized sweetness without refined sugar and chemicals. A touch of honey or date syrup could also be used, although my preference is maple syrup. Rather than use corn syrup, you can use some of the healthier yet equally delicious alternatives.

Caramel Filling

The sweet maple-kissed caramel layer is what really takes these paleo Twix cups over the top.

Nut Butter – Sunflower seed butter is my personal choice for its smooth, mildly nutty flavor that complements the maple nicely without overpowering. But almond butter or peanut butter also work wonderfully depending on your tastes and dietary needs. Cashew butter is another great alternative resulting in cashew butter caramel.

Maple Syrup – Pure maple syrup is key for achieving that sticky, subtly sweet caramel-like consistency the filling layer is known for. Honey makes a fine substitution, lending its own unique flavor notes.

Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is chosen for its slightly sweet and nutty taste. Substitutions like ghee, butter or avocado oil can work as well.

Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract heightens all the dessert flavors and adds familiar warmth. Vanilla bean paste would also be delicious for flecks of real vanilla.

Kosher Salt – A small amount of kosher salt, or even better, Himalayan pink salt, balances flavors and makes the caramel pop. A tiny pinch goes a long way.

Chocolate Coating

What would a Twix copycat treat be without the signature smooth chocolate shell? This dairy-free chocolate coating encases the caramel for the finale.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips – To keep paleo and vegan, high quality dairy-free chocolate chips like Enjoy Life work wonderfully. The creamy melted chocolate binds nicely with just a bit of added coconut oil. For refined sugar-free, Hu Chocolate makes a version sweetened with monk fruit instead. For a chocolate-free alternative, I love Missy J Snacks & Treats carob chips.

Coconut Oil – A spoonful of melted coconut oil helps the chocolate remain glossy, fluid and thin enough to drench the cups during dipping before setting up firm. Cocoa butter could alternatively lend its pleasant aromatic quality.

The chocolate coating puts the last touch of perfection on these homespun Twixy bites! Using dairy-free chocolate lets you replicate that iconic candy bar texture exactly for a heavenly experience from the very first crunch.

Here are some tips for getting perfect paleo twix cups using the provided recipe:

Be sure to use very ripe maple syrup in the crust and filling recipes for maximum flavor and sweetness. The higher quality, the better the outcome.
Press the crust mixture quite firmly into the parchment lined muffin cups before baking to achieve a crispy base that holds the filling well. Bake at 325°F just until lightly golden, 10-12 minutes.
Allow the baked crusts to cool completely before adding the fillings so they retain their crunchy texture. Warm cups will soften.
In a medium saucepan, stir the caramel filling gently while heating to prevent boiling. Boiling will yield a tough, chewy caramel. Take off heat as soon as fully combined.
Evenly distribute the caramel filling over the top of the cooled shortbread cookie layer. Fulling cooling before adding the caramel will help keep the shortbread layer crisp.
Freeze the assembled Twix cups before adding chocolate coating so the caramel sets up firmly against the crust. This prevents it from oozing out the sides later.
Use high quality dairy-free chocolate chips with complementary undertones. The quality of the chocolate hugely impacts the flavor.
Apply chocolate coating thickly over the frozen assembled twix to seal in the layers. Return to freezer 10 minutes to harden chocolate.
Store completed paleo Twix cups chilled in airtight container, either refrigerated or frozen. Allow to come slightly closer to room temperature before enjoying if frozen.

How to Make Twix Bars

However, you can also make this into bars rather than cups. To do so, you will place the shortbread layer in the bottom of a square pan rather than muffin tins. Fully grease the pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal later. Pour the shortbread ingredients into the bottom of the prepared pan and use a spatula or your hands to push down into an even layer. The baking time for the shortbread may increase slightly when making a flat layer, so keep an eye on it and remove from the oven when it is evenly golden brown.

Pour the homemade caramel sauce evenly over the cooled crust and freeze to harden. At this point, you have two options for finishing with chocolate. You can pour melted chocolate directly over the hardened caramel layer and freeze again before slicing into tidy squares. However, the chocolate coating may crack some when cutting if you do it this way. It will still taste delicious, but the bars won’t look as neat and uniform.

For best presentation, it works better to first slice the chilled shortbread and caramel layers into individual bars. Then dip each bar separately into the melted chocolate to fully coat all sides. While this method takes more time and uses more chocolate, you end up with very professional looking homemade twix bars that look store-bought! The choice comes down to how much effort you want to put in for appearances. Either way leads to a tasty treat!