Vegan Delight Twix Bars

Get ready to treat your tastebuds to a vegan version of the classic Twix bar. Buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, and luscious dark chocolate – all vegan and can be made gluten-free! A pinch of sea salt adds a gourmet touch, making it a dessert to remember.

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Base:

• Plain flour (or gluten-free plain flour): 300g
• Caster sugar: 10g
• Dairy-free block butter (cold and cubed): 200g
• Vanilla extract: 1 tsp

For the Caramel:

• Vegan sweetened condensed milk: 640g
• Dairy-free block butter: 270g
• Light brown sugar: 100g

For the Chocolate Coating:

• Dairy-free dark chocolate: 250g
• Flaked sea salt (optional for finishing)

Instructions

Shortbread Base:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan). Line a square baking tin with greaseproof paper ensuring both the base and sides are well-covered.
2. In a mixing bowl, sift the flour and sugar. Add butter and vanilla extract. Rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until you have a dough.
3. Press this dough evenly into the lined tin. Prick with a fork.
4. Bake for 30 minutes or until it turns a light golden shade. Once baked, remove and cool on a cooling rack. Keep the shortbread in the tin for the caramel layer.

Caramel Layer:

1. In a saucepan, combine all the caramel ingredients.
2. On a low to medium heat, keep stirring the mixture until it turns amber – this should take about 15-20 minutes. The caramel should be thick enough that when dropped into cold water, it forms a firm, non-sticky ball.
3. Pour this caramel over the shortbread base, quickly leveling with a spoon.
4. Place in the fridge for 3-4 hours or until the caramel is firm.

Chocolate Coating:

1. Create a bain-marie: Fill a saucepan 3/4 full with water and heat on low to medium.
2. Chop the chocolate finely and put it in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl on the saucepan, ensuring it doesn’t touch the water, and allow the chocolate to melt.
3. Cut the set shortbread and caramel layer into thin, finger-width bars. Use a sharp knife for a clean cut.
4. To coat the bars, place each on a fork or spatula. Spoon the melted chocolate over each bar, letting excess chocolate drip off.
5. Set the coated bars on greaseproof paper. Place them in the freezer for 10 minutes or the fridge for 30 minutes to set the chocolate.
6. Optionally, drizzle any leftover melted chocolate over the bars for decoration.

Serving: Serve your Vegan Twix Bars with a sprinkle of flaked sea salt if desired. Enjoy this delicious homemade treat with a twist on a classic!